After the crucifixion of Jesus, his followers were mourning and wondering what would happen next. However, on the third day after his death, Jesus miraculously rose from the dead.
The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most significant events in Christianity, and it is said that he appeared to his followers after his resurrection. But who did he appear to first?
According to the Bible, there were several accounts of Jesus appearing to different people after his resurrection. However, most biblical scholars agree that Mary Magdalene was the first person to see Jesus Christ after he rose from the dead.
Mary Magdalene was a devoted follower of Jesus and was present at his crucifixion. She went to visit his tomb on the third day after his death and found that it was empty. Distraught and confused, she encountered a man whom she initially thought was a gardener but later realized was Jesus.
This encounter is documented in John 20:11-18 where Mary Magdalene is described as weeping outside the tomb when she encounters two angels who ask her why she is crying. After this encounter, she turns around and sees a man whom she believes to be the gardener.
The text says that “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir if you have carried him away tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away.'”
It’s only when Jesus calls her by name that Mary realizes who he truly is. She then tries to touch him but he tells her not to because he has not yet ascended into heaven.
Mary Magdalene’s testimony about seeing Jesus alive was vital in spreading Christianity throughout the world. This event is also significant because it represents a turning point for Mary Magdalene herself; before this encounter, she had been associated with a sinful past, but after it, she became one of the most important female figures in Christianity.
In conclusion, while there were multiple accounts of Jesus appearing to his followers after his resurrection, Mary Magdalene is widely believed to be the first person to see him alive. Her encounter with Jesus is documented in the Bible and has been a crucial event in the history of Christianity.