Mary Magdalene

*Mary Magdalene’s story is told in Matthew 27-28; Mark 15-16; Luke 23-24; John 19-20

Who is Mary Magdalene?

  1. Background
    • Mary from the town of Magdala, hence “Magdalene.”
    • Appears in all four canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
    • Not to be confused with Mary, the mother of Jesus, or other Marys in the Bible.
  2. Follower of Jesus
    • Became a close disciple of Jesus after He cast seven demons out of her.
    • Travelled with Jesus and the Twelve Apostles, providing for them out of her own resources.
  3. Witness to Crucifixion and Resurrection
    • Present at the Crucifixion.
    • First to discover the empty tomb and see the risen Jesus.

Strengths and Accomplishments

  1. Faithfulness
    • Remained by Jesus’ side, even during His crucifixion, when many other followers had abandoned Him.
  2. Courage
    • Went to Jesus’ tomb despite the risks involved.
  3. Witness to the Resurrection
    • She was one of the first witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus and was given the task to announce this to the other disciples.
  4. Financial Supporter
    • Supported Jesus’ ministry financially, indicating her commitment and faith.

Weaknesses and Mistakes

  1. Initial Possession by Demons
    • Before meeting Jesus, was possessed by seven demons.
  2. Misidentification
    • Mistook the resurrected Jesus for a gardener initially.

Lessons from Her Life

  1. Radical Transformation
    • Her life is a testimony to the transformative power of Jesus’ love and healing.
  2. Faithfulness Rewarded
    • Her devotion to Jesus led her to be the first to witness and proclaim His resurrection.
  3. Women in Ministry
    • Breaks cultural barriers of her time, showing that women can be significant contributors to spiritual and communal life.
  4. The Danger of Mislabeling
    • History has often mischaracterized her as a prostitute, but the Bible does not support this; it teaches us to be cautious in how we label others.

Key Verses (NIV)

  1. Luke 8:2-3
    • “and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
  2. John 20:16-18
    • “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’). Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’’ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.”