And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
After His resurrection Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils. Christ had lifted her from despair and ruin, and through His grace she came to share in the divine nature and to serve in close fellowship with Him, becoming the first to proclaim the risen Saviour. She went with the other believing women and told those who had been with Him, the disciples, while they were mourning. Her own weeping was over and her heart was filled with joy and rejoicing.
Those she told were mourning and weeping in terrible depression after seeing their Master die on the sixth day and finding His body gone on the first day of the next week. Their mourning was joined with astonishment and perplexity over news that should have filled them with joy, and with despair under the stigma of having stolen the body to deceive the people with no hope of correcting the false impression. With this was mingled yearning for their beloved Master who had always explained mysteries and smoothed difficulties.
Though the report recalled Christ's words foretelling His resurrection, their faith was too weakened by disappointment and blighted hope to accept the fact. They dismissed the women as subjects of illusion. Even when Mary testified that He was alive and that she had seen and spoken with her Lord, they refused to believe He had risen.
After His resurrection Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils. Christ had lifted her from despair and ruin, and through His grace she came to share in the divine nature and to serve in close fellowship with Him, becoming the first to proclaim the risen Saviour. She went with the other believing women and told those who had been with Him, the disciples, while they were mourning. Her own weeping was over and her heart was filled with joy and rejoicing.
Those she told were mourning and weeping in terrible depression after seeing their Master die on the sixth day and finding His body gone on the first day of the next week. Their mourning was joined with astonishment and perplexity over news that should have filled them with joy, and with despair under the stigma of having stolen the body to deceive the people with no hope of correcting the false impression. With this was mingled yearning for their beloved Master who had always explained mysteries and smoothed difficulties.
Though the report recalled Christ's words foretelling His resurrection, their faith was too weakened by disappointment and blighted hope to accept the fact. They dismissed the women as subjects of illusion. Even when Mary testified that He was alive and that she had seen and spoken with her Lord, they refused to believe He had risen.