“He appeared first to Mary Magdalene” (Mark 16:9)

According to church tradition, Mary Magdalene was the prostitute who wiped her tears from Christ’s feet, and was “forgiven much”. This is what Christ said about her: "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little" (Luke 7:44-47).

Mary would not be separated from her Lord. She stayed with Him when the disciples ran. She watched Him die on the cross. At first light, she came weeping to the tomb. She was the first person Christ appeared to. “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, ‘Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’” (John 20:15-16).

Mary Magdalene went from being a despised sinner, to the most faithful saint. If you want intimacy with Christ, do the things you know He wants you to do. Don’t ask “what can I get away with, and still stay saved?” Ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do”, and do it. When you step out in faith, the Holy Spirit will give you what you need to overcome the world. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith” (1 John 5:4).