John 20:18
“Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The risen Jesus first appears to Mary, and she becomes the bearer of the resurrection message to the disciples.
Context
Mary Magdalene at the tomb, early on resurrection morning, encounters the risen Jesus who has appeared to her alone.
What Does John 20:18 Mean?
Mary arrives at the tomb expecting to anoint a dead body, but encounters the living Christ. She grasps his feet, holds fast to him. Her tears turn to joy. She becomes the first herald of Easter, rushing to find the disciples with news that will remake their world. In that moment, a woman, often last in a patriarchal society, is first to see, first to touch, first to proclaim.
We stand where Mary stood: confronted by Christ's presence when we expected absence, by his aliveness when we feared finality. Our task, like hers, is to carry that testimony into the world, to let the joy of the risen Christ remake how we speak and live.
Application
When you encounter the reality of the risen Christ, you become a witness. What would it mean today to carry resurrection joy to those who live in fear or despair?