Mary, who was called Magdalene
It is the dedication of Mary Magdalene to Jesus that is her greatest attribute. This is the quality we can all learn from.
Luke 8:1-3; Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 23:27-31, 48-49;
John 19:25
There is probably more mentioned about Mary Magdalene than there is about any other woman other than Mary, the mother of Jesus. The first time she is mentioned in in Luke 8:1-3. Jesus was going throughout the city and village preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God with his twelve disciples and “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.” (Luke 8:1-3).
Her name indicates she probably came from Magdala, which is on the South west coast of the Sea of Galilee, three miles north of Tiberias. (Matthew 15: 39). Mary Magdalene became a devoted disciple of Jesus after Jesus cast out the seven demons out of her. (Mark 16:9).
Mary Magdalene was devoted to Jesus and ministered to Him of her own substance. Substance is possessions, goods, wealth, and property. This suggests that Mary Magdalene has wealth of her own and she and Joanna, the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna and many others.
The next mention of Mary Magdalene is in the gospel was at the crucifixion of Jesus. It was the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene who stood by the cross of Jesus. When Joseph of Arimathaea, a rich man, who was also a disciple of Jesus. Whet to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped the body of Jesus in clean linen and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewed out in the rock and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and then departed. There was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher. (Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 23:27-31, 48-49; John 19:25).
The next appearance of Mary Magdalene was the end of the Sabbath the first day of the week when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the sepulcher to bring sweet spices to anoint Jesus. There was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. It was the angel of the Lord that told them Jesus was not there for He is risen. Mary Magdalene was commissioned to go tell the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and tell them that He had risen from the dead. Jesus was going before them into Galilee and it was there they shall see Him. Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-18; John 20:1-10.
Mary Magdalene was the first one to be credited with seeing the risen Jesus. She was at the sepulcher weeping when she looked into the sepulcher she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had laid. They ask her why she was crying. Mary Magdalene said it was because they had taken away Jesus and she did not know where they had laid Him. When she turned back she saw Jesus standing and she did not know it was Jesus. Jesus had identified Himself saying not to touch him for He had not yet ascended to His Father. Jesus commissioned her to go to the disciple and say unto them, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20: 17). (Mark 16:9; John 20:18)
Mary Magdalene was a woman who had been transformed and certainly improved by Jesus when He removed seven demons from her and healed her. She showed her gratitude by being totally committed to Jesus and His ministry. She dedicated herself and all she had to Jesus and the disciples. She stayed close with Jesus from the time of her healing, or conversion until the His crucifixion, death, burial and His Resurrection.
There have been many speculations as to the character of Mary Magdalene. The Western Christian Traditions, mainly the Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglicans and Lutherans churches consider Mary Magdalene to be a saint. It was Pope Gregory the Great, 591, in one of his sermons that suggested that she was a prostitute. There is no evidence given in the Scripture that she was a prostitute it came from tradition. The Eastern Orthodox Church did not agree with Mary Magdalene being a prostitute but instead being a virtuous woman all her life.
It is the dedication of Mary Magdalene to Jesus that is her greatest attribute. And the quality we can all learn from. She had been a sinner, as we all are. She had seven demons and did things I am sure she did not know what she was doing. Yet, once Jesus said those words “Go and sin no more” Mary Magdalene believed and went forward with her life and served the Master with such dedication.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Mary, who was called Magdalene:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Dec 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1824,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014,December) “Mary, who was called Magdalene: .” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1824,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “Mary, who was called Magdalene:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (December), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1824, (accessed).
