Mary Magdalene’s Encounter With Jesus Left Her Completely Different
Though women’s month is over, I have one more woman to highlight: Mary Magdalene. She symbolizes for women what Jesus can do for us if we let Him into our brokenness
Mary’s name is mentioned fourteen times in the Gospels. Eight times, her name is mentioned first, before other names, which implies that she was first among other Godly women. She was from the town of Magdala on the Western shores of the Sea of Galilee, a town known for its fishing and its dyeing of textiles. Many textile factories inhabited her town, showing a wealth of the city, as in her day, the ability to dye cloth was for wealthy people. It has been deduced by many that Mary was from a well off and comfortable family, which also contributes to her ability to join Jesus’ ministry with no commitments of needing to be home (also a nod to believe she was single with no responsibilities). We can also infer her place of wealth in society, as it was Mary and other women who financed Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8: 1-3).
As you see in the video clip from the series The Chosen, Mary had an encounter with Jesus, and after that encounter she was never the same. It’s the same for us, that when we encounter Jesus and are born of the Spirit, we too are never the same again.
The Bible tells us Mary suffered. Some scholars say she suffered from epilepsy, others say emotional or psychological stress, but the Bible says she had seven demons. Biblically speaking seven is the number of completion, and many have implied that her tormenting suffering was complete, as her pain was very severe and unbearable. When Jesus touched her, His healing power touched her and she was freed. As was the woman at the well, who had been with six men, but it was Jesus the seventh man that completed her and she too was never the same.
It was after her healing that Mary left Magdala and joined Jesus and the twelve disciples for the duration of Jesus’ time on earth, evangelizing and telling people that He was indeed God in the flesh and the savior for all of humanity’s soul. Mary was loyal and as Americans say “tied to the hip” of Jesus, her friend and like other women, was always there because she deeply knew who He was. And, it was Mary, along with a few other women who was at the crucifixion site, she was there to the very end with Her friend and Master. “The reason why the women watched the crucifixion even after the many disciples had fled may have been because they were less likely to be arrested, because they were braver than the males, or because of some combination thereof," notes EP Sanders. And, it was Mary Magdalene, the first human to see the resurrected Jesus. This shows the message Jesus was sending to women at that time that they too have a place and are valued in Christian ministry. Also, it shows how much He valued Mary as a friend.
You see, when Mary saw the empty tomb, she rushed to the disciples to tell them and they ran to see if she was telling the truth. And when they too saw the empty tomb, they left the site but Mary was so deep into Jesus and filled with the knowledge of the truth of who He is that she could see the two angels in the empty tomb- the male disciples didn’t. Weeping, they asked her why she’s was crying and she stated she didn’t know where Her Jesus was. Even in death Mary wanted things to be perfect for her Savior, and to make sure He had a beautiful resting place. But then she heard Him call her name, and she knew it was Jesus and wanted to touch Him, but He wouldn’t allow her and gave her instructions. Mary Magdalene began to understand in that moment, like the mother of Jesus, who realized years before that the transcendence of Jesus went far beyond her friendship with Him. Now, He was her resurrected Savior, in a new form and she had to learn like the disciples to see Him in a higher elevation place of all things heavenly. He was no longer her friend and ministry leader, Jesus was her salvation.
Jesus coming to earth and spending the last three years of His life doing ministry was a radical thing. He allowed women to be a part of his ministry team, he taught women, He ministered to women, He healed women, and He revealed His first resurrected state to a woman- to Mary Magdalene.
We women have a place on this earth. We are valued by God, equal image bearers of Him, destined with a purpose. But, the first step of this journey, this identity change, and this realization is letting Jesus into our hearts to let Him heal us as He healed Mary’s brokenness. And after He touches us, we begin a new life in Him to be used to shine His light on this earth and be a blessing to others. We won’t be fully filled and whole until we let Jesus in. Mary would spend the rest of her life serving Jesus, who had ascended into Heaven, but she understood the significance of Who Jesus is, and she is our model showing us that we too can live a transformed life.
If you don’t know Jesus and aren’t in relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all you have to do is simply ask God to reveal Himself, admit you’re a sinner and confess you’re a sinner, believe in Jesus by faith, and commit your life to Him and trust me, it will be the best and most important decision you will ever make.
Happy Friday and with love! God bless you and go bless someone else this weekend!
*Photos and video from The Chosen
