Mark 16:9-11. When Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told the others, who were mourning and weeping, that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, but they would not believe it.

First, did the casting out of the seven demons somehow make Mary Magdalene more open to seeing Jesus in His glory? Mark makes a point of mentioning it here, so I am thinking there is some connection. Perhaps, having been actually possessed, Mary truly knows who Jesus is in a way only the demons know (and they always know who Jesus is!). Maybe some of the truth of what they know, as fallen angels, lingers in those who have been possessed by them.

Second, the disciples don't believe Mary - how frustrating that must have been for her! But also, how typical! She is telling a rather unbelievable story, but one would think that the disciples knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't make up something like that. The disciples will eventually come to believe her, but will they remember that Mary told them first? Will they apologize for not believing her? Probably not. I don't know how Mary Magdalene felt about that, but I know that I would have been annoyed to say the least! 

That is something I am struggling with a lot these days - bitterness at not being believed when i am speaking what i know to be the truth, even at great personal cost! But I am learning that sometimes God reveals things to us that we must tell others but that are so unbelievable that the people are simply not ready to believe us. I think the purpose of this that God is uses the people who are more 'in tune," for whatever reason, and can see can receive his messages, to begin softening the ground and getting people ready for when He is ready to reveal the full Truth to all of them. It is His Truth to reveal, not mine, and He if He allows me or Mary Magdelene to hear or see  it first, and then try to begin telling others, that is a gift and a blessing. It is not something that should make me resentful. I have to remember, it is not me who came up with this, it is God's Truth. And He will reveal it in the way he knows best.

Finally, note that Mary Magdalene does ultimately get the credit. Jesus appearing to her first is written in the Gospel itself! So ultimately the Truth does come out, and God vindicates those who do His will.