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The Saviour's first appearance after resurrection was to a woman. For all He had died. But not to an assembled world does He manifest Himself now that He has risen victorious o'er the grave; not to angels, or apostles; not to the faithful Joseph, or the true-hearted Nicodemus; but to a woman!

I. THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSON TO WHOM CHRIST APPEARED. A woman, and an inhabitant of a distant and unimportant town bordering towards the Gentile frontier, who had been possessed of demons, until Christ reached forth to her the hand of pity.

II. THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH HE APPEARED TO HER. He called her by her name.

III. THE GRAND TRUTH HERE ILLUSTRATED.

1. It was not a mere chance encounter. Christ having already left the tomb, must have purposely concealed Himself from all His disciples save the one whom He wanted to see and comfort.

2. Jesus revealed Himself to her, unaccompanied by any. No angel hosts: Christ was "all in all."

3. The manifestation was afforded in a garden to a woman. Eden: Eve.

(George Venabbes.)

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KJV: Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

WEB: Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.