The story of Mary Magdalene is one of the most touching in the New Testament. And this is likely why John focuses on her experience in his Resurrection account.
In the Gospels we meet Mary as a woman who has been delivered from seven demons (Lk. 8:2; Mk. 16:9) and as one so deeply grateful for Jesus' forgiveness and liberating ministry to her, she spends all her savings to anoint Him as King, she supposes. Only, He explains, she has actually anointed Him for His death (Lk. 7:36-50).
After that, Mary follows Jesus as a devoted disciple helping other women who have also been delivered or healed of disease, to care for his needs.
Luke pictures her sitting in rapt attention at the feet of Jesus, drinking in His words as her sister Martha "slaves" in the kitchen and complains that Mary isn't helping her (Lk. 10:38). Jesus replies that Mary has chosen what is better, a devotional spirit and a hunger for truth which cannot be taken away from her. Food, clothing, and shelter can be lost, but a heart for God cannot be stolen.
As I mentioned yesterday, Mary is a prime example of those Jesus came to help. Isaiah 61 describes how Messiah would deliver the captives of Satan and restore them to wholeness. When the Pharisees criticized His work, Jesus said the prostitutes and tax collectors, who felt their need of His grace, were entering the Kingdom before them (Mt. 21:31-32).
Mary may have been one of those He referred to. She is always identified in the Gospels as Mary Magdalene, or Mary from Magdala, a town near the Sea of Galilee on the ancient Roman road, the Via Maris, which linked
Later in the Gospels, we find Mary living with her brother Lazarus and sister Martha in
One more powerful story of Mary is told by John, which explain her devotion to Jesus. Her brother Lazarus had died, but Jesus traveled to
Mary is at the cross when Jesus is crucified, and she stays through His agony until He dies. After His death she accompanies His body with other women to the tomb and then goes home with them to prepare spices for his burial.
Now, in John 20, she is among the first (while it is still dark) to arrive at the tomb on Sunday morning..
When she and the other women (John mentions only Mary, but the other Gospels make it clear other women are with her), see the stone has been rolled away, and the body is gone, Mary runs back to the city to tell John and Peter, who race back to the tomb. They look in, but see only the grave cloths, the head covering folded up neatly by itself (clearly not the work of grave robbers).
Mary cannot bear to be separated from her Savior and Friend either in life or death. After Peter and John leave, Mary lingers at the tomb, crying. The memory of His life and death overwhelming her, she weeps.
In her grief and tears, she stoops over and looks in again at this place where she last saw her Lord. But this time sees "two angels in white seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot" (v. 12). They ask, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," Mary answers, "and I don't know where they have put Him" (v. 13).
Mary is not thinking clearly. If you have ever grieved deeply, you know the fog that settles over one’s mind. Though John mentions the men in white are angels that probably doesn’t dawn on Mary at first, just like what happened next.
Turning, she sees another figure through her tears, who says, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking the man was the gardener, Mary answered, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him" (v. 15). At that, the unknown individual said, in a familiar tone, "Mary."
Immediately, Mary recognizes that voice that had set her free and reassured her spiritually a thousand times. She cried out "Rabboni!" (Aramaic for Teacher) and fell in worship, clasping His feet in her hands" (see also Mt. 28:9).
Jesus words are deeply meaningful: "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (v. 17).
Mary was holding onto Jesus as if to never let Him go, but He explains He as to make a quick trip to heaven to see His Father Whom He had been separated from for so long. Then He would return again to take up ministry to His grieving disciples that afternoon.
Through Mary, Jesus sends an encouraging message to His disciples: "My Father is also your Father. You abandoned Me and denied Me, but your sins have not caused Him to reject you; He still loves you. Do not despair and think you are discarded as too sinful for Him. Though you failed, you did not turn your back on me completely, and my death provided the grace that will cover your sins and keep you as God’s children. If you confess your sins, He will be faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9). His love is not easily turned away.” What a heartening message for those beleaguered disciples!
Friend, do you think your sins and failings cause God to reject you? Receive these words of Jesus as spoken to you too.
Ancient Christian teaching called Mary "The Apostle to the Apostles." Apostle means "sent," and Mary was the first person sent by Jesus to announce His resurrection. It was her grateful devotion to Him that gave her that wonderful privilege. Because she refused to be separated from Him in life or death, Jesus revealed Himself to her first and then sent her to proclaim the good news of His resurrection.
That is always the way the Christian message is carried. Those who receive it gratefully are the first to herald it to others, whether they are rich or poor, male or female, slave or free. Grace, gratefully received and motivated by love, makes one a witness for Christ.
Pastor Michael Brownfield
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