Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

Mark 16:9

Now when He rose early on he first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

As I read this and thought about it I began to wonder. Why did Jesus appear to Mary Magdalene first? I mean, why not to His disciples or to His mother, Mary? Is there any significance to Mary Magdalene being the first to see the risen Jesus? Or was she just at the right place at the right time? Dispite the lack of hard Biblical confirmation, tradition says it was Mary Magdalene who anointed Jesus' feet with perfume. If it was the same Mary, was being the first to see Jesus some kind of reward for her love and devotion? If the other's had know Mary would recieve this kind of honor, would their attitude have been different at the time she poured the perfume on Jesus' feet? Would they have humbled themselves and done that?

I know doing things, even good things, just for a reward shouldn't be the motivating thing. But if I am living a life devoted to Jesus and loving Him through my actions there may be some wonderful side-benefits beyond my expectations. And even if there aren't, He has already given me so much more than I deserve. A life of love and devotion is still not enough to offer Him.