Last year, the Lord gave me an appreciation for Mary Magdalene as a picture of devotion. She wouldn’t leave the empty tomb when the disciples went home (John 20:10-11). Such was her love and devotion, that the Lord revealed Himself to her first. Her eyes were the first to see the firstborn of the new creation, etc.
Even though John tells the story about Mary Magdalene:
“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.”
John 20:1 NASB
Yet I was blessed to see that apparently, it wasn’t only Mary Magdalene there at the tomb:
“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.”
Matthew 28:1 NASB
It appears that when Jesus revealed Himself, it was actually to both of them:
“And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.””
Matthew 28:8-10 NASB
What a blessing to see the devoted heart of “the other Mary” as well! What blessed me especially was, “the other Mary” didn’t mind to be written out of the story altogether. Like Jesus, Who was
content to "sprout up" before His Father alone, Mary was only interested in the Lord's nearness.
She wasn’t bothered by being left out of John's account. All that mattered to her was that she had seen and been with her beloved Lord. She was so taken up with Jesus that she wasn’t even interested in setting the record straight!.
And I love how she is called "the other Mary." She's not "the Mary who chose the better portion" (Luke 10:42); she's not "the Mary who witnessed a resurrection" (John 11:43-45); she's not "the Mary who anointed Jesus for burial" (John 12:3-7); she's just "the other Mary," someone whose identity and accomplishments and experience and history all melt away in the presence of the Risen Lord. I want that same loving devotion to Christ:
"Lord Jesus, it doesn't matter whether anyone ever sees me. As long as I see You, that is enough for me. Reveal Yourself to me, just like You did for the other Mary, Lord."