"Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him, 'Rabboni!' (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to
Me . . . ' "
It just dawned on me today, for the first time, as I read these verses, that the first person the Risen Christ talked to, and was in human physical contact with was this woman Mary Magdalene. This is intri-
guing. It was not Peter, John, James, or any of the other disciples. In-
stead, it was Mary, out of whom Jesus had driven seven demons--not that many months prior (cf. Mk. 16:9).
Mary is a graphic picture of the redeemed church: originally dirty, dis-
gusting, depraved--but, upon regeneration made clean, pure, and precious. If any of us are tempted today to feel like we cannot have access to Jesus, because we are too sinful, use the example of Mary as encouragement to come to Him, and fellowship with Him.
[Puritan quote of the day: "We answer with Augustine: 'If no sin were punished here, no Providence would be believed; and if every sin should be punished here, no judgment would be expected.' " --John Flavel, in, "The Providence of God"]
