Evening, July 16, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening  (Note: this was a dating error, this is actually the devotional from the 15th)

“He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.” — Mark 16:9

Jesus “appeared first to Mary Magdalene,” probably not only on account of her great love and persistent quest, but because, as the context indicates, she had been a special example of Christ’s delivering power. Learn from this, that the greatness of our sin before conversion should not preclude us from being especially favored with the very highest grade of fellowship. She was one who had left all to become a constant attendant on the Savior. He was her first, her chief object. Many who were on Christ’s side did not take up Christ’s cross; she did. She spent her substance in relieving his wants. If we would see much of Christ, let us serve him. Tell me who they are that sit most often under the banner of his love, and drink the deepest from the cup of communion, and I am sure they will be those who give most, who serve best, and who abide closest to the sacrificial heart of their dear Lord. But notice how Christ revealed himself to this sorrowing one–by a word, “Mary.” It took but one word in his voice, and at once she knew him, and her heart declared allegiance by another word; her heart was too full to say more. That one word would naturally be the most fitting for the occasion. It implies obedience. She said, “Master.” There is no state of mind in which this confession of allegiance will be too cold. No, when your spirit glows most with the heavenly fire, then you will say, “I am your servant, you have broken my bonds.” If you can say, “Master,” if you feel that his will is your will, then you stand in a happy, holy place. He must have said, “Mary,” or else you could not have said, “Master.” See, then, from all this, how Christ honors those who honor him, how love draws our Beloved, how it needs but one word of his to turn our weeping to rejoicing, how his presence makes the heart aglow with sunshine.