Mary Magdalene

Extraordinary Women of the Bible

"Women in Christ's Time"

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene: Faithful friend and disciple.

Key Scripture: Matthew 27:56. 61; Mark 15:40, 47; 16:1-19; Luke 8: 2; 24:10; John 19:25; 20:1-18.

Her Name Means: "Wise Woman/Lady".

Her Character: Mary Magdalene was loyal and generous. She is listed among women who helped support Jesus' ministry from their own funds. Her great faith earned special affection from Jesus.

Her Sorrow: To watch Jesus agony on the cross.

Her Joy: To have been the first witness to the Resurrection.

Pre-Story: In the gospel story she is first mentioned in (Luke 8:2-3), which says that she had been cured of seven demons. Because this passage comes immediately after the description of a "sinner" who anointed Jesus' feet (Luke 7:36-50), some later writers identified both women as the same person, and concluded that Mary had once been a prostitute. Mary Magdalene is mentioned in each of the four gospels in the New Testament, but not once does it mention that she was a prostitute or a sinner.

Her Story: Mary Magdalene, also known as Mary Magdalen and Mary Magdala. Her hometown was a village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. She become a follower of Jesus when he taught in that area during the early part of his ministry.

As Jesus moved throughout the country, teaching and talking about God, he was accompanied by a group of women. Mary Magdalene led a group of women who provided for Jesus and his followers from their own resources. She was there during his ministry in Galilee and Judea, heard him teach, and may have been his financial backer, dealing with the practical details of sustaining a group of men and women. It was the common practice for men and women to accompany each other when traveling, but they moved in separate groups.

The gospels say very little about Mary Magdalene until the story reaches the day of the crucifixion. But then she suddenly becomes very prominent.

The women remained, standing as near as they dared to the spot where the soldiers were carrying out the brutal execution. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James were standing from afar when "Jesus cried out in a loud voice and breathed his last." (Mark 15:37). Mary watched as Jesus’ body was sealed inside the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. "When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him." (Mark 16:1)

On the third day; "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." (John 20:11-18).

"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." (John 20:16-18). Mary Magdalene had been close to Jesus during his life. She stayed close to him as he faced death.

The bible says nothing about her later life, other sources do preserve some stories about her. According to one well-known tradition, she went to southern France and lived for thirty years at a place called La Sainte-Baume. Some scholars think that Mary's prominence in the early traditions was an obstacle to later attempts to exclude women from leadership positions in the church, and that the story of her previous life as a prostitute was a later fabrication created to discredit her.

Her Place in God's Divine Plan: Mary Magdalene witnessed most of the events surrounding the crucifixion. She was present at the mock trial of Jesus; she heard Pontius Pilate pronounce the death sentence; and she saw Jesus beaten and humiliated by the crowd. She was one of the women who stood near Jesus during the crucifixion to try to comfort Him. The earliest witness to the resurrection of Jesus, she was sent by Jesus to tell the others (John 20:11-18). Although this is the last mention of her in the Bible, she was probably among the women who gathered with the apostles to await the promised coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14).

Her Challenges Along the Way: Mary stayed with Jesus during his crucifixion when others fled in fear.

Her Victories: Mary proved to be more loyal to Jesus than his own 12 Apostles.

Lesson We Can Learn from Her Legacy: Though mistakenly characterized as a prostitute in may popular writings, the Bible says only that Mary was possessed by seven demons. She probably suffered a serious mental illness from which Jesus delivered her. She is a beautiful example of a woman whose life was poured out in responses to God's extravagant grace. Being a follower of Jesus Christ can result in hard times. Mary never wavered. As Christians, we too will be the target of ridicule and distrust, but we must hold onto the truth.

Genealogy:
Birthdate: Between circa -10 and circa 10 (73).
Birthplace: Magdala, Israel.
Parents: Cyrus of Magdala, King the Benjamite (Father) - Eucharis of Magdala (Mother).
Death: Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte--Baume, France.