As a scholar of religious studies with a focus on Christianity, I am well-versed in the narratives of the New Testament. The question of who was the first person to see Jesus after he rose from the dead is a topic that has been discussed and debated by theologians and scholars for centuries. The answer, according to the canonical gospels, is not entirely straightforward due to the varying accounts provided.

In the Gospel of Matthew, it is indeed Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" who are mentioned as the first to visit the tomb after the Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10). However, the Gospel of Matthew does not explicitly state that they were the first to see Jesus post-Resurrection. Instead, it describes an angel who first speaks to the women, and then Jesus appears to them as they leave the tomb.

The Gospel of Mark ends rather abruptly at 16:8, with the women fleeing the tomb out of fear and saying nothing to anyone, as they were afraid (Mark 16:1-8). This leaves the reader without a clear account of the first post-Resurrection appearance in Mark's narrative.

The Gospel of Luke, on the other hand, tells a different story. According to Luke 24:1-12, it was again Mary Magdalene, along with Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others, who visited the tomb. However, the first person to see the risen Jesus in Luke's account is not explicitly stated. It is only later in the same chapter that Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), and then later that same day, he appears to the eleven apostles and others gathered together (Luke 24:36-53).

The Gospel of John provides a unique perspective. In John 20:1-18, Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb and runs to tell Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom John identifies as the one Jesus loved. It is these two disciples who first arrive at the tomb, but it is Mary Magdalene who is explicitly stated to have seen the risen Jesus first, as she encounters him outside the tomb after the other disciples have left (John 20:11-18).

Given these accounts, it is generally accepted among scholars that Mary Magdalene is the figure most frequently mentioned as having been the first to encounter the risen Jesus. However, it is important to note that the gospels do not always agree on the details, and interpretations can vary.

The significance of Mary Magdalene's role is further highlighted in that she is often regarded as a key disciple and a witness to the Resurrection, which is central to the Christian faith. Her encounter with the risen Jesus carries theological implications, emphasizing the role of women as active participants and leaders in the early Christian community.

In conclusion, while there are variations in the gospel narratives, Mary Magdalene is most commonly identified as the first person to see Jesus after he rose from the dead, particularly in the Gospel of John. Her witness to the Resurrection is a testament to her faith and her importance in the early Christian tradition.

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Matthew has two post-Resurrection appearances, the first to Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" at the tomb, and the second, based on Mark 16:7, to all the disciples on a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus claims authority over heaven and earth and commissions the disciples to preach the gospel to the whole world.read more >>