Bulletin Article March 18, 2007

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 From demons to discipleship -- that's the story of Mary Magdalene. Yet, men have tried to tarnish her reputation. Without Biblical evidence she's been called a prostitute and even the more recent Da Vinci Code has presented her as the wife of Jesus and the mother of His children. Her detractors have told us nothing about her but much about themselves as they base their ideas on either non-existent documents or Gnostic documents written many years after Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is amazing what some are willing to do to discredit the dead who cannot speak for themselves.

Mary Magdalene

Jeff May

From demons to discipleship -- that's the story of Mary Magdalene. Yet, men have tried to tarnish her reputation. Without Biblical evidence she's been called a prostitute and even the more recent Da Vinci Code has presented her as the wife of Jesus and the mother of His children. Her detractors have told us nothing about her but much about themselves as they base their ideas on either non-existent documents or Gnostic documents written many years after Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is amazing what some are willing to do to discredit the dead who cannot speak for themselves.

The story of Mary Magdalene is a great one. She serves as a wonderful example to women living in the 21st century. Consider these seven points about her life.

She was possessed by Satan, but repossessed by Christ: - The Bible says that seven demons came out of her (Lk 8:2). Demon possession was prominent during the ministry of Jesus. It gave Jesus the opportunity to demonstrate that Satan's kingdom at its strength was no match for Jesus who would soon establish His kingdom (Lk 11:20). Even the demons were subject to Him (Mk 1:27). One did not have to be a rank sinner for demons to possess him. Nevertheless, the demons did take control. Satan brought her into bondage but Jesus gave her freedom (Lk 11:21-22). Beyond all doubt, the greatest day of her life was the day she met Jesus. Her life was forever changed.

She allowed her life to glorify Jesus: -- The chief aim of life is to glorify God. When Jesus cast the demons from her, it spoke volumes about who He was. It was a sign that He was the very Son of God. We too should desire for Jesus to be magnified in our bodies whether by life or by death (Phil 1:20).

She would become noted for her fierce loyalty to Jesus: -- Where was Peter when Jesus was crucified? I don't know. Where was Judas when they laid Jesus in His tomb? He was hanging somewhere. Where did they all run to during Jesus' darkest hour? With the exception of John, they are nowhere to be found. Perhaps it was too risky to be associated with Jesus. But Mary was loyal. She would not abandon Him. She was at the cross (Jhn 19:25) and later came to bring spices to the tomb (Lk 23:56; Mk 15:47). She discovered the empty tomb and ran to tell Peter and John (Jhn 20:2). They came, observed the tomb and left. But Mary stayed. It's easy to weep with her as you listen to her speak to the one she thinks is a gardener but is really Jesus. "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell where you have laid Him, and I will take HIm away" (Jhn 20:11-15). Her loyalty was greatly rewarded. Jesus says, "Mary!" She responds, "Rabboni" -- which means "my teacher!" What a moment!

Her presence at the tomb destroys the "wrong tomb theory": -- Skeptics have tried to say that Jesus didn't rise from the dead and the disciples went to the wrong tomb. Mary knew where it was. She was there when they put Him in it (Lk 23:35; Mk 15:47). When the only body in the tomb came up missing, she knew whose it was. She knew the tomb. Thanks be to Mary.

She supported the Lord from her own means during His ministry (Lk 8:3). She exemplifies the words of Gal. 6:6, "Let him who is taught share in all good things with him who teaches." She had received such great spiritual blessings from the Lord, she wanted to bless Him by providing His physical nourishment.

She went and told the good news!: -- She knew what to do with the resurrection of Jesus: tell others! This is our hope (1Cor 15:20). Jesus came forth from His tomb and I will too. As we sing, "When I shall lie within my tomb and none believe He has the power, the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout to take away the stone." Almost every sermon in Acts is centered on the resurrection of Jesus. This is still our great story. Like Mary, we need to go and share the news.

She can rest easy in knowing that "the Lord knows those who are His" (2Tim 2:19). God's faithful servants are often maligned and misrepresented. Let the world tarnish Mary Magdalene. She will not care. For her, men's judgments mean nothing. The One who judges her is the Lord (1Cor 4:3-4). Based on the Biblical text, I have hopes of seeing her among those to whom the Lord says, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21).

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord...that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them"

Rev 14:13