Mary Magdalene
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Was she the wife of Jesus, the mother of his children, or the Holy Grail, as The Da Vinci Code claims? Or the repentant prostitute of Jesus Christ Superstar, throwing herself at the Master's feet and singing, "I Don't Know How to Love Him"?
According to Scripture, Mary Magdalene was none of the above. And more than the above.
We find her story in all four gospels, where she's mentioned by name 14 times—significant, since many women of the Bible are nameless.
Here's her eye-opening, one-line biography: "When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons" (Mark 16:9). Possessed by Satan, she was repossessed by Christ, then privileged to witness his resurrection. Oh! She has a story, all right—but not a scandalous one.
The Many Marys
So how did we get so off the mark on Mary Magdalene?
Well, she was from Magdala, a town known for vice and violence. Additionally, there are seven Marys in the New Testament: Mary Magdalene; Jesus' mother; Clopas's wife; Mary of Bethany; John Mark's mother; a diligent worker; and James and Joses' mother, who's also called "the other Mary."
Two thousand years of art and literature haven't helped her cause. Mary Magdalene often is depicted as the unnamed prostitute who washed Jesus' feet with her tears (Luke 7:37-50), or the woman caught in adultery (John 8:2-11), or as Lazarus' sister—who was from Bethany, not Magdala—who anointed the Lord's head with costly perfume (Mark 14:3-9, John 11:2). Fascinating women, all—but not our Mary M.
The real Mary Magdalene led the faithful sisters in financing the Lord's work "out of their own means" (Luke 8:3) and following Jesus wherever he went.
For her devotion alone, Mary Magdalene serves as a fine role model for twenty-first-century believers. Follow her to the tomb on Easter morning, and you'll learn the greatest lesson Mary M. has to offer.
Go And Tell
When Mary Magdalene "saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance" (John 20:1), she hurried to Jerusalem and convinced Peter and John to see the empty tomb. I might have started with a lesser disciple, but this leader among women went right to the top. Clearly they respected her, because they wasted no time running back with her.
Finding it empty, the two disciples returned to their homes, while Mary remained weeping outside the tomb, unwilling to abandon her Lord. Such faithfulness was soon rewarded. Two angels in white appeared, followed by a stranger whom she mistook for a gardener, until the moment he spoke her name: "Mary" (John 20:16).
Her response was immediate. And it wasn't "Honey" but "Rabboni!" The meaning is "my great teacher," and the nature of their relationship is clear: teacher and student, leader and follower, but not husband and wife.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2006, May/June, Vol. 28, Issue 3, Page 28
Related Topics:
History, Jesus, Life of, Obedience, Testimony
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swalle
put some more info on!
ha
f u
Mrs. Noah
I am so glad that you have cleared up the "prostitue" issue. I do not like it when Bible so called "Know it alls" call Mary Magdalene one. She was a strong and faithful follower of Jesus and it's high time people knew this.
C.A. Thomas, author King & Queen
I actually believe that the woman named Mary the Magdalene was married to Yeshua the Nazarene. Yeshua (Jesus) was the embodiment of absolute love. Some imply that being married and having children may be 'evil', or 'sinful'. Being celibate and not having children DOES NOT make anyone perfect or without sin. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and I certainly honor yours. Jesus was of a highly evolved consciousness who came to the world to show people how to LOVE. In ancient times, most men were required to marry and produce heirs to carry on the tribal lineage. Tribes still existed in the time of Jesus. Rabbis especially were required to be married to teach in the temple. The Jewish people held marriage and children as sacred. Jesus is STILL PERFECT, he is STILL the Son of God just as we are ALL children of the Father God and the Great Mother Goddess. Author, King & Queen: The Greatest Lovestory Ever Lived - http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=1432707302
james
there are some equally valid less rigid extensions of biblical interpretation which are just as embraceable as the typical ones ... where is the expansion of the heart and mind which has been the gift of God .. if you look within you will find infinity .. and then find your story about Mary ...
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