When did Mary Magdalene meet Jesus?

Answer 1

This is certainly possible, since she appears to have remained outside the tomb weeping after the disciples Peter and John and other women may have left. Jesus then appeared to the other women who, along with Mary Magdalene, had come to anoint the dead body of Jesus with spices and ointments. Probably He then left to catch up with the Emmaus disciples, at least, this is the next recorded appearance on the same day. Given the importance of the resurrection it seems highly likely that any further appearances would have been recorded had they occurred.

As well as it being possible, the Gospel of Mark makes it clear that Mary Magdalene was indeed the first.

9Now 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.

Who were the first to see the resurrected Jesus? John 20:1: "Mary Magdalene" Matthew 28:1: "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary" Mark 16:1-2 "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome" Luke 24:1-10 Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women"

The different accounts which compliment each other were only aiming to attest to the one central fact of the factuality of the resurrection. The people who Jesus saw were important as witnesses to the resurrection and it is not possible to construct an exact chronology of events. The fact that Mark records that Mary was indeed the first certainly is allowable under the chronology of events which the other Gospels record.

In this connection we should note that not one of them claims to record every single thing that Jesus said and did. This is the same as what occurred in the resurrection accounts as in the rest of His life and teaching. John points out that it would not be possible to record everything the master said and did, in every single detail. What we have in the Gospels is a record of important events, largely written by eyewitnesses and by those who spoke with them. Since it is recorded elsewhere that Mark's chief source was Peter, (Church Historian Eusebius referring to Papias) it is not surprising that Peter was aware of Mary Magdalene's contact with Jesus that morning, since she was the one from among the group of women who ran back and told the disciples of the empty tomb. Following this, Peter and John went to the tomb and then returned, as it appears, did the other women separately, leaving Mary there alone. Jesus then appeared to her first. Mark is the only Gospel to record this fact, since such 'me first' priorities were not particularly relevant to the Gospel writers, especially when compared to the stupendous life-changing fact of the resurrection. That the others merely recorded, in no particular sequence, who Jesus appeared to cannot at all be taken as any kind of contradiction to Mark, since they simply do not mention who was first.

Answer 2

AnswerThe information on the first to see Jesus is from the four gospels:

• Matthew's Gospel says that Mary Magdalene was one of two women who went to the tomb, but were met outside by an angel, who told them that Jesus was risen. They met Jesus on the road away from the tomb. Mary Magdalene was one of the first two persons to see the risen Jesus.

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• Mark's Gospel says that Mary Magdalene was one of two women who entered the tomb and saw that Jesus was missing. Markoriginally ended at verse 16:8, with the young man telling them that Jesus was risen and they fled, telling no one.

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  The "Long Ending" was added much later to provide some evidence of the resurrection. This additional material specifically has Mary Magdalene the first to see the risen Jesus, but nothing seems to have been intended by this appearance other than perhaps to comfort her, since the disciples did not believe her when she told them.

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• In Luke's Gospel, certain women went to the tomb, entered and saw that Jesus was missing. Two men, apparently angels, told the women that Jesus was risen. Jesus first appeared to two of the disciples, Cleopas and possibly Peter, on the road to Emmaus.

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• John's Gospel says that Mary Magdalene, apparently alone, went to the tomb and saw the stone had been moved. The Gospel does not record her as looking in, but states that she ran to tell the disciples that the tomb was empty. After the two disciples had run to look for themselves, Mary Magdalene was again at the tomb and was the first to see Jesus.

ConclusionsIn its original form, the first gospel, that of Mark, does not record the risen Jesus as being seen by anyone at all. The added "Long Ending" does have Jesus appear to Mary Magdalene first of all, probably to comfort her.

In Matthew's Gospel, Mary Magdalene was one of two women to first see Jesus, because they had visited the tomb early and saw Jesus while they were returning.

In Luke's Gospel, Mary Magdalene was not the first to see Jesus - the two disciples on the road to Emmaus were.

John's Gospel says that Mary Magdalene was indeed the first to see Jesus, but later and in different circumstances than in the addition to Mark. Again no reason was given, but it is clear that Jesus sought to comfort her.

Answer 3

Mary Magdalene is said to have met Jesus during his ministry in Galilee. She is believed to have been present at the crucifixion and was the first to witness the resurrected Jesus.

Answer 4

Mary Magdalene is first mentioned in Luke 8:2 as being someone out of whom Jesus cast seven demons. Presumably this was the first time they met.