His Kingdom. John 20:11-18

John 20 NLT
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 
11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them His message. 

It's very fitting Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene first. She has such faith in Jesus. Throughout Jesus's ministry she followed Him and served Him, all the way to the cross and then the grave. Mary, Jesus's mother, John and Mary Magdalene were the only three bold enough to stand at the foot of the cross and the foot of the Crucified Christ. They didn't care about the consequences, they didn't care about the Jewish authority, they only cared about Jesus. Now they will experience the joy of the resurrected Christ and the freedom only He can give. The freedom of knowing their sins are forgiven, they are washed clean by His sacrifice and one day will unite with Him in His kingdom. 

We can experience that joy also. We, like the three at the foot of the cross, just have to believe. It's child like faith, total trust, complete surrender. It's loving Christ first and best. It's surety we will be with Him in His kingdom. That's the reward of faith in Christ. 

Blessings, Cecilia