5 Ways Mary Magdalene’s Encounter with the Risen Jesus Reveals the Power of Closeness with Christ

Mary Magdalene was the first person to meet the risen Christ. She remained devoted to seeking Jesus, even after his crucifixion. Mary’s faithfulness placed her in a strong position to receive revelation from God. Unlike Peter and John, who had come to the tomb and then left, Mary lingered, refusing to walk away without understanding where Jesus was. Her faithful love kept her searching when others had given up. John 20:11-14 reports: “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.” Soon, Mary would encounter Jesus himself. Even though Mary didn’t yet understand what had happened, she continued looking. Her willingness to remain at Jesus’ tomb, even in her sorrow, opened the door for an extraordinary encounter – first with the angels and then with Jesus.

Mary’s experience reminds us of God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jesus rewarded Mary’s devotion and determination by showing up for her. If we wholeheartedly seek Jesus, we will always find him eventually. What happened with Mary that day shows us that God’s revelation often comes to those who refuse to let go. If Mary had given up when she didn’t immediately find answers, she would have missed the greatest revelation in history! In our lives today, Jesus reveals himself to us in ways that strengthen our faith when we stay close to him – consistently seeking him through ways like prayer, meditation, and Bible study. We’ll find Christ by doing more than just reaching out occasionally or halfheartedly. We’ll find him by wholeheartedly pursuing his presence, even when we’re struggling.

Photo Credit: Yuri Manei from Pexels via Canva Pro 

Mary’s determination to find Jesus despite her grief demonstrates how persevering in faith opens the door to personal encounters with Christ. She was so focused on her search that she didn’t initially recognize Jesus when he stood right in front of her. However, the moment Christ called Mary by name, everything changed. John 20:15-16 records: “He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).” Mary didn’t recognize Jesus at first, but when he spoke her name, she immediately knew him.

This encounter shows us that Jesus seeks a loving personal relationship with us – a relationship in which he knows us intimately and calls us individually. When we stay faithful no matter what and keep seeking Jesus, he will respond to us personally in awe-inspiring ways. Beyond simply knowing about Christ, staying close to him allows us to experience the wonder of his presence day by day. The awe of encountering Jesus can leave us changed forever, just as it did for Mary. Habakkuk 3:2 declares: “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. …”. When we pursue Jesus with open hearts and minds, we can discover an awe-inspiring personal encounter with him, just as Mary experienced on the first Easter. 

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Boonyachoat 

Mary came to the tomb in deep grief, but her sorrow turned into overwhelming joy when she recognized Jesus. Her tears of loss were replaced with tears of awe. Psalm 30:5 encourages us: “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Mary’s grief was real, but because she stayed close to Christ, her grief changed into joy. Her heart, which had been broken by her loss when Jesus died, was suddenly filled with joy. This shows us that in Christ, we can always find hope when we’re struggling with sadness. Christ’s victory over death through his resurrection proves that even the deepest grief can be turned into joy. Jesus didn’t rebuke Mary for her sorrow, and he didn’t tell her that her crying was unnecessary. Instead, he met her where she was in her grief and revealed his love in a way that healed her heart.

This reminds us that Jesus cares about the pain we suffer. He comes alongside us, walking with us through our sadness until he brings us to a place of joy. He meets us where we are, but he doesn’t leave us there – he lifts us into the joy of his presence. Remaining close to Christ doesn’t mean we will never experience sorrow, but it does mean that our pain will never be without hope. Jesus has the power to redeem even our darkest circumstances, bringing us joy in any kind of circumstances. Mary’s transformation from grief to joy encourages us that how matter how deep our sadness is, Jesus will meet us in our sorrow and make it possible for us to find joy in his presence with us. Our struggles and tears are temporary, but the joy that comes from encountering Jesus is eternal. 

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/torwai 

Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus shows how staying close to Christ helps us overcome fear and doubt. In the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion, Mary and everyone who knew and loved Jesus in his earthly life were afraid and doubtful. They were struggling with grief, confused about what had happened, and unsure about what was to come. But instead of hiding like some of the disciples did, Mary remained as close as she could to Jesus, visiting Jesus’ tomb even when all seemed lost. Her devotion positioned her to be the first person to meet the risen Christ. In that encounter with the resurrected Jesus, Mary’s fears and uncertainties were replaced with powerful faith and purpose.

John 20:19 describes the fear that Jesus’ disciples felt: “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” The disciples had retreated in fear, but Mary had pressed forward in faith. Because Mary stayed close to Christ, she received the peace that only God can give, but the others didn’t. Her story shows that when we hold onto our faith in Jesus, he fights anxiety for us. Jesus’ words to Mary also played a role in overcoming doubt – not just for her but for the disciples too. When he told her: “Go instead to my brothers and tell them” (John 20:17), he was commissioning her as a messenger of truth. Mary had to make a choice: Would she allow lingering uncertainty to silence her, or would she trust in the reality of Christ’s resurrection and share it boldly? Because she remained close to Jesus, she was empowered to share the wonderful news of his resurrection with courage. In the same way, when we stay close to Christ, he gives us the faith we need to move forward boldly rather than be stuck in doubt. God doesn’t want us to live in either fear or doubt.

In Isaiah 41:10, he reassures us: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Just as Jesus empowered Mary, he strengthens us when we seek him in our own fear and doubt. Mary’s encounter shows that in Christ, we have nothing to fear because Jesus has conquered even death itself. Ultimately, we can overcome fear and doubt not by having all the answers but by staying close to Jesus. When we remain close to Christ by constantly seeking him, he gives us the peace and courage we need. 

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/littlehenrabi  

When Mary encountered the risen Jesus, he immediately trusted her with a mission that reflected God’s greater purpose for her. Mary wasn’t just a passive witness to the resurrection; she became the first messenger of this world-changing event. Her faithfulness in staying close to Christ positioned her to share the good news of the Gospel message with the disciples. This highlights an important truth for us: When we stay close to Christ, he reveals our greater purpose and calls us to be active participants in his work.

John 20:17-18 reports: “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’” In the cultural context of the time, it was remarkable that Jesus chose Mary to be the first witness and messenger of his resurrection since women were not typically trusted with important testimonies then. This shows us that those who stay close to Christ are given significant roles in his kingdom – regardless of our background or status. Mary’s response to Jesus’ call was to obey immediately. She didn’t hesitate or question her ability – she simply went and told the disciples what she had seen and heard. Her example shows that when Jesus calls us, we should respond with the same willingness to live according to our purpose.

Staying close to Christ lines us up with God’s will, which helps us to step into the purpose God has prepared for us. Jesus reveals our role in God’s plan when we stay close to him. Mary’s encounter also teaches us that our past doesn’t disqualify us from being used by God. She had once struggled with demons before Jesus cast out seven demons from her (Luke 8:2), yet she was chosen to be the first person to carry the message of the resurrection. Christ’s grace transforms us, and staying close to him empowers us to walk in our new identity and purpose. No matter what’s in our past, Jesus can use us for his glory when we remain faithful to him. Staying close to Christ not only deepens our relationship with him, but also directs us toward our God-given role in God’s work in the world. 

In conclusion, Mary’s story teaches us that staying close to Christ leads to revelation and inspiration, changes our sorrow to joy, helps us overcome fear and doubt, and points us toward our purpose. No matter what circumstances we’re going through, remaining close to Jesus brings many valuable blessings into our lives. Like Mary, let’s stay close to Christ and never stop seeking him!

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/KatarzynaBialasiewicz