Mary Magdalene has always intrigued me. She is mentioned fourteen times in the New Testament. She is mentioned more than the disciples: Bartholomew, James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus. She is usually listed first when a list of women is given in Scripture.
Mary came from the city, Magdala which is a city on the southwest coast of the Sea of Galilee. She appears to have little or no family connections. We first meet her in her in Luke 8:1-3, “Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”
When we look at the number “seven” in Scripture, it means complete. We can assume that if Jesus drove seven demons from her, it was a complete possession and was severe. She would have suffered greatly under this influence. The number of demons is not usually mentioned. Jesus commanded the demons to leave her. She began to serve and follow Jesus.
As Mary traveled with Jesus, she would have been a living testament to the healing power of Jesus. He changed her life so completly and her devotion to Jesus never waivered. He changed her life and restored her dignity. She used the resources she had to support his ministry.
Mary played a major role at the end of Jesus’s life. She was present at the crucifixion. John 19:25 tells us, “but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” Mark 15:40 also reads, “There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.”Can you imagine the heartbreak for Mary as she watched the one who completely changed her life suffer on the cross?
Mary remained when the disciples ran away. She watched where the body was laid and went to prepare his body. Mark 15:47 tells us, “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.” Mark 16:1 says,“When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.”
Mary was also the first to arrive at the tomb after it had been closed. She encounters an angel of the Lord who spoke to her and the other women with her. We read in Matthew 28:1-7, “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”
Jesus speaks to her in John 20:11-17, “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.”
Robin Sampson in her Discovering Women of the Bible Course sums it up this way, “Mary Magdalene’s story is more than a historical account; it’s a narrative rich with lessons for personal faith and practice. Her journey from despair to devotion, her courage in the face of adversity, and her pivotal role in the early church challenge us to reflect on our own spiritual path. Her story encourages us to embrace transformation, to share our faith boldly, to find our identity in union with Christ, and to serve with purpose and joy.”
“As we navigate the complexities of modern life, Mary’s story serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the transformative power of faith, the importance of our testimony, and the inclusive love of God that transcends time, culture, and gender. Let us draw inspiration from her life, allowing the biblical narrative to inform our beliefs, actions, and relationships in today’s world.”
Mary went through many trials and confusing events. However, her life is a reminder of the Lord’s transformational power. Only the Lord has the transformative power that we see in her story. While it will probably look different in each person, Jesus still has this kind of transformational power for our lives. He still has the same power today.
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