Mary Magdalene

I heard a sermon yesterday (a very good sermon by the way) that was entitled, Dead or Alive. It was an excellent sermon on apologetics and defending your faith, I know that, however, what I brought away from the sermon was something a bit different. The Pastor made a point that you know the Bible is true because when Jesus arose in all four Gospels the account of the resurrection tells that Jesus first appeared to a woman. He then went on to explain (no offense to the women) that a woman’s testimony in that day was completely worthless. So for all four authors’ of the Gospel’s to include this fact wouldn’t really be a desirable thing. It would have been far more believable if He’d chosen to appear to a man, then the testimony would have been more accepted.  Wow!

I sat there letting that soak in for a bit. Jesus chose who He would appear to, He knew in advance exactly not only that He would appear to a woman but which woman it would be. Mary Magdalene, the demoniac who had been set free by Jesus and she loved Him so much she left all behind and followed Him. She was a devoted disciple. Yes, she was a disciple. Jesus drove seven demons from her. The number of demons driven from her was important. Seven represents completeness, totality. She was in complete and total darkness and depravity. So she knew what darkness was. Plain and simple, she knew her state. Her self-perception was clear, she knew where she stood before God and she knew what the Son of God had done for her and she owed Him EVERYTHING!

We know she was a committed disciple. She left her home and devoted her whole life to Jesus and His ministry. Matthew 27:55-56 says, “And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” She left it all and supplied the needs of Jesus and His followers. Her gratitude prompted her to follow Jesus wherever He went, even to a garden tomb one morning to anoint the body of the one who had set her free.

She went and bought spices to anoint Jesus after the Sabbath ended and she arrived early the first morning after the Sabbath. I love John 20. The whole chapter and I hope you’ll check it out. When Mary is standing outside the tomb weeping and Jesus appears to her and asks, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answers, “Because they have taken away my Lord…”  MY Lord. He was hers and she was His. Not in a sexual way but in a way that is so much deeper.  She was yielded to Jesus because she called Him Lord, He was her Master. She bowed down to His authority. And she got to be an eyewitness to the resurrection of the Risen Savior of the World, Jesus Christ! Imagine that! What an honor and a privilege.

And what about Jesus appearing to a woman? That shows the compassion and love of our Savior. A God who loves so completely that He is willing to send His only Son to die for murderers, liars, and thieves. ”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

 A God who loves the unlovely and the outcast so much that He would die a horrific death for me, for you, is worthy of all we have to give. This God, this Jesus, I call Him Lord, I surrender all my will to Him and no matter what He asks of me I say yes because He set me free. Have you been set free or are you still in darkness. If you haven’t met the Man who Mary Magdalene met in the garden on the third morning but you’re ready to make Him your Lord here is a prayer you can pray…

“Father, I know that I have broken Your laws and my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward You. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. Jesus, please come into my heart and forgive my sins, cover me with Your blood and wash me clean,  become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to fill me and help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”