MARY MAGDALENE.
“Among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb” Matthew 27:56, 61.
Name: Mary (“loved by Yahweh”).
Magdalene (“from the town of Magdala”).
Main contribution: She was the first to see the risen Jesus on Easter morning.
And who had become one of His most devoted followers. Along with other women, among them Joanna and Susanna, Mary had provided funds to support Jesus and His disciples as they ministered, Luke 8:3 “And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.” This suggests that Mary had independent means.
The Gospel writers also place Mary near the cross when Jesus was crucified, and Mary is given a very prominent role in the account of Jesus’ last moments. Mary was present at the cross and at Jesus’ burial, Matthew 27:56 “Among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.”
And was one of the first to discover the stone had been rolled away. Matthew 28:1 “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.”
Mary and the others hurried to tell Peter of the resurrection, but Peter had not believed them (Luke 24:10-12; John 20:1-3). Mary then returned to the tomb, where she became the first to see and hear the resurrected Christ, Mark 16:9 “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.”
Each reference to Mary Magdalene indicates a special relationship with Jesus and a role in the Gospel story which, sadly, most people have ignored.
3. EXPLORING MARY MAGDALENE’S RELATIONSHIPS.
“And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons.”
While the New Testament often mentioned possession or oppression by demonic beings, we are not told how demons obtain a grip on a human being. It is clear from Scripture that those who engage in occult practices are particularly defenceless, but we are not told whether some choice of the person involved is necessary before demons can gain access to the personality.
Possibly the most suggestive New Testament passages on this theme are Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26. Each records Jesus’ warning about unclean or evil spirits. Jesus spoke of such a spirit going out of a man and then returning to find his life “empty, swept, and put in order” Matthew 12:44.
The evil spirit then enters with “seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there” Matthew 12:45. The key words are “empty, swept, and put in order.” The individual described has done his best to put his life in order, but he himself is empty. There is no presence of God to fill the inner life. Without God’s presence, the individual is vulnerable to other spiritual beings.
Whatever led to Mary’s demons, when she met Jesus she was firmly in the grip of evil spirits. However, the most powerful evil spirits are powerless against the Son of God, and Jesus cast them from her.
Once freed by Jesus, Mary no longer was an empty being. Her whole life was redirected toward Him.
C. Mary followed Jesus Luke 8:1-2.
“Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the
Luke notes that “He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the
To think of women as disciples in training for leadership dishonoured Jewish custom, but Jesus broke the mould in His relationships with women. Women most certainly were among His disciples.
Jesus’ twelve disciples had left their occupations to join Christ in His ministry. Luke tells us that it was primarily women who provided funds to buy food and other requirements. Early Jewish literature makes it clear that well-to-do women were common donors to well-known rabbis and their students. Rather than being paid to teach, Jewish rabbis were often responsible to feed and house their students.
Mary Magdalene was apparently well to do. She was so committed to Jesus that she not only followed Him as a disciple herself, but she also helped support His other disciples.
When the Gospel writers listed those who witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion, the only man mentioned was John. Yet a number of women, among whom were Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, were featured.
The experience in the Garden had disheartened the male disciples, and they had fled from
Mary Magdalene was commissioned twice. First, she and the other women who came to the tomb that first Easter morning were told by angels to “go quickly and tell His disciples” Matthew 28:7. This they did. Mary Magdalene was mentioned first when Luke listed the messengers who hurried to the apostles, and her words were dismissed as “idle tales” Luke 24:11 by the men.
Mary Magdalene returned to the garden tomb. Both Mark and John credited Mary with being the first to see the risen Jesus (Mark 16:9; John 20:14f). Even more, Mary was the first one to give witness to the resurrection, for she “came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her” John 20:18.
That the disciples did not believe Mary should not be credited to the fact that she was a woman. The disciple Thomas, nicknamed “Doubting” Thomas, did not believe the other ten male disciples when they announced that they, too, had seen Jesus after the resurrection. It was not the reliability of the witnesses that caused doubt; rather, it was the incredible nature of the news they bore.
The reaction of others to Mary Magdalene’s news does nothing to change the fact that she was chosen to be among the first to hear God’s good news and the very first to see and speak to the risen Lord.
Mary Magdalene was not a “loner.” With but one exception, she is always seen in company with others.
When Luke names the women who supplied to Jesus’ support, Mary and others are described as being with Jesus.
At the crucifixion Mary is named with other women followers of Jesus. The Gospels portray the little group of women standing uncertainly at a distance, watching (Luke 23:49), but then moving closer and closer until they stood “near the cross of Jesus” John 19:25 NIV.
We can imagine the arms of Mary and the others wrapped around the shoulders of Jesus’ mother, trying to comfort her. Yet, they suffered, too, as they watched the Saviour die and what they supposed was the death of their hopes.
Matthew states that “Mary Magdalene was there and the other, sitting opposite the tomb.” Mark also in particular places them there, along with other women (Mark 16:1).
Mary was not alone when she went to the tomb the first Easter morning. Matthew mentions “the other Mary” (who Mark identifies as the mother of James), while Mark also adds Salome to the delegation, and Luke mentions that Joanna and “other women” went with them. Clearly Mary was one of the leaders of the little group of women disciples.
Mary totally dedicated herself to Jesus and His cause. She joined the group of women who go along with Jesus as disciples. Mary gives funds to help Jesus continue teaching and preaching. She was mentioned first during Christ’s early Galilean ministry, and she was still with Jesus at the crucifixion.
While most of the men who were Jesus’ followers fled after His capture on the
When the holy days had passed, they brought the supplies needed to prepare His dead body. However hopeless Mary may have felt she remained faithful to the end. How her faith was rewarded! Mary was among the first to hear of Jesus’ resurrection, and she was the first to see and speak to the risen Lord.
It is forever stamped on the pages of sacred history that it was not a man, but Mary, who was granted this great opportunity. We can hardly doubt that Mary Magdalene, although overlooked by many who stress the roles of Peter and John, was among the most faithful and honoured disciples of Jesus Christ.
We are faithful when we need His help, but then our prayers lose their strength. Mary never seemed to lose her passion. She was healed of demon possession, and from that point on she never wavered in her commitment to Christ. Mary loved her Lord, not with a passion that would burn out, but with unceasing strength. May we all be like Mary in this?
It is curious that if Mary Magdalene were with us today, many church pulpits would be closed to her. How wonderful that whatever hindrances to ministry may exist, no one can keep us from sharing Christ with neighbours and friends.
