The verse highlights Mary Magdalene as the first witness to the resurrection, emphasizing Jesus' deliberate choice to appear to someone deeply broken and demon-possessed. This choice powerfully demonstrates that His new life and mission would begin not with the powerful or perfect, but with the marginalized and miraculously healed, showcasing His profound mercy and the radical inclusivity of His kingdom.
Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The women found the tomb empty and were told by angels that Jesus had risen, but they fled in fear and amazement, telling no one initially. Following this, Jesus, having been resurrected early that first day of the week, made His first appearance to Mary Magdalene, a woman from whom He had previously cast out seven demons. This encounter happened before He revealed Himself to the other disciples or apostles.
Who did Jesus appear to first after His resurrection? It wasn't Peter, or John, or even His mother. It was Mary Magdalene.
The Gospel of Mark highlights a powerful truth: Jesus chose Mary Magdalene, a woman deeply impacted by His healing power, as the very first person to see Him alive after His resurrection. While the disciples and other women had seen the empty tomb and heard the angels' message, Mary was the first human to have a personal encounter with the risen Christ.
This choice is significant. It wasn't a random selection; it was a deliberate act by Jesus to reveal Himself to someone who had experienced profound deliverance and healing from Him. This emphasizes God's heart for the broken and marginalized, and His desire to reveal His greatest victory to those who know His power most intimately.
The resurrection didn't just happen; it happened at a specific time with a specific significance.
Mark places Jesus' first appearance to Mary Magdalene on the 'first day of the week,' a pivotal moment that marked the dawn of a new era. This was the day the old covenant was fulfilled and the new covenant in Christ's blood began.
Jesus rising 'early' on this day signifies the decisive victory over darkness and death. It's the start of a new creation, a testament to God's power to bring life out of the grave. The fact that His first appearance was on this new day underscores that His resurrection is the foundation of all Christian hope and the beginning of our new life in Him.
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daimonion · Greek Noun
Spiritual beings opposed to God and humanity who inhabit or oppress people. Casting them out demonstrates Jesus' authority over the spiritual realm and his mission to liberate the captive.
penthēō · Greek Verb
A deep expression of grief, sorrow, or lamentation. In the New Testament, it often follows the death of a loved one or reflects a state of spiritual brokenness before God.
pisteuō · Greek Verb
To accept as true or hold as a matter of conviction. In the New Testament, it often implies a trust or reliance upon God or His revelation, especially regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ.
zaō · Greek Adjective/Participle
The state of being alive, specifically used here to denote Jesus' physical resurrection from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and death.
This passage highlights the profound grace of Jesus, appearing first to Mary Magdalene, a woman significantly impacted by his healing power, before revealing himself to his closest male followers.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial
Jesus is crucified and buried in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. The women who followed him, including Mary Magdalene, witness his burial.
c. AD 30 (Sunday morning)— this verse
Discovery of the Empty Tomb
Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and other women go to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body, finding the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
c. AD 30 (Sunday morning)
Appearance to Mary Magdalene
Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb, calling her name. She recognizes him and attempts to cling to him.
c. AD 30 (Sunday)
Women Report Resurrection
Mary Magdalene and other women go to tell Jesus' disciples about the resurrection, but their accounts are initially met with disbelief.
c. AD 30 (Sunday)
Appearance to Disciples
Jesus appears to his disciples, including Peter and the remaining eleven, first in Jerusalem and later during meals, calming their fears and commissioning them.
This passage directly links to Mark 16:9 by identifying Mary Magdalene as the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons, highlighting her past struggle and Jesus' power over it.
John 20:14-16John's Gospel provides more detail about this specific appearance, describing how Mary Magdalene mistook Jesus for the gardener before He revealed Himself to her, adding depth to the encounter.
John 20:11-13This passage shows Mary Magdalene's initial grief and confusion at the empty tomb before Jesus appeared, emphasizing her sorrow and the stark contrast with the joy of His resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:4This verse lists that He was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, providing theological context for the significance of the resurrection events described in Mark.
Matthew 28:9Matthew also records Jesus appearing to the women, including Mary Magdalene, shortly after His resurrection, corroborating Mark's account and showing the spreading news of the resurrection.
cambridgeMark 16:9: "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."
9–11 . The Appearance to Mary Magdalene 9 . Now when ] On this section from 9–20, see Introduction, pp. 15, 16. he appeared first ] As yet, it will be observed, no human eye had seen the risen Conqueror of Death. The holy women had seen the stone rolled away, and the empty tomb, and had heard the words of the Angels, and announced all that had occurre…
calvinMark 16:8-11: "And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid."
- And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to inform his disciples. 9. And while they went to inform his disciples, then, lo, Jesus met them, saying, Hail. [305] And they approached, and held his feet, and worshipped him. 10. Then Jesus saith to them, Fear not; go, tell my brethren to go into Gal…
The verse highlights Mary Magdalene as the first witness to the resurrection, emphasizing Jesus' deliberate choice to appear to someone deeply broken and demon-possessed. This choice powerfully demonstrates that His new life and mission would begin not with the powerful or perfect, but with the marginalized and miraculously healed, showcasing His profound mercy and the radical inclusivity of His kingdom.
The women found the tomb empty and were told by angels that Jesus had risen, but they fled in fear and amazement, telling no one initially. Following this, Jesus, having been resurrected early that first day of the week, made His first appearance to Mary Magdalene, a woman from whom He had previously cast out seven demons. This encounter happened before He revealed Himself to the other disciples or apostles.
The women found the tomb empty and were told by angels that Jesus had risen, but they fled in fear and amazement, telling no one initially. Following this, Jesus, having been resurrected early that first day of the week, made His first appearance to Mary Magdalene, a woman from whom He had previously cast out seven demons. This encounter happened before He revealed Himself to the other disciples or apostles.
"Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was aliv…" — The verse highlights Mary Magdalene as the first witness to the resurrection, emphasizing Jesus' deliberate choice to appear to someone deeply broken and demon-possessed. This choice powerfully demon…
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Last reviewed October 2026
