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38th Street Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“Mary Magdalene: Out Of |
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I. Introduction.
A. Mary Magdalene is one of the best-known, yet least
understood, characters in Scripture. The Bible does not
reveal much about her life and background. But, she is
mentioned by name in all four gospels, especially in
connection with the crucifixion, and resurrection, of Jesus.
She has the distinction of being the first person to whom
Christ revealed Himself after He emerged from the tomb.
B. Some of what people think they know of Mary Magdalene
comes, not from the scripture text itself, but from tradition.
1. Mary has been connected with the anonymous
woman, referred to only as a “sinner,” of Luke 7
(read verses 37 and 38). There is no reason to say
this woman was Mary Magdalene.
2. Luke introduces Mary Magdalene, by name, in a
wholly different context, at the beginning of
Chapter 8 (read verses 1-3). This reference comes
only a few verses after Luke concluded his
narrative about the anointing of Jesus. This close
proximity of the two incidents, in the second of
which Luke names Mary Magdalene, would appear
to make it unlikely that the same woman, unnamed,
was the person in Luke 7. Luke paid careful
attention to detail, and would probably have named
Mary Magdalene as the one who anointed Jesus
if she, indeed, was that person.
3. Some have also associated Mary with the woman
talked about in John 8 (1-12), the “. . . woman
caught in adultery.” (verse 3). There is no
evidence to support this presumption, either.
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C. Since medieval times, Mary Magdalene has also been the
subject of much extrabiblical mythology. During the
Middle Ages, some of the Gnostic heresies virtually
attached the name of Mary Magdalene to a multitude of
fanciful legends. Apocryphal books were written about
her, including one purporting to be her own account of
the life of Jesus, “The Gospel Of Mary.”
D. In recent years, the Dan Brown book, “The Da Vinci
Code,” adopted several of these long-forgotten Gnostic
legends and concocted an elaborate conspiracy theory
which included the suggestion that Jesus and Mary
Magdalene were secretly married and even had children.
According to this view she, and not the apostle John, was
the “beloved disciple” mentioned in John 20:2 and 21:20.
E. What the Bible actually does say about Mary Magdalene is
extraordinary enough, without any false embellishment. As
we look at the true Mary, we sweep away the fog of old
heresies and more contemporary fantasies.
II. In Darkness.
A. We can accurately say, Mary Magdalene did have a dark
past. What we do know is that Jesus liberated her from
demonic bondage.
1. Luke introduces her as, “. . . Mary, called
Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons”
(Luke 8:2). Mark 16:9 also mentions the seven
demons. It’s the only real detail we have about
Mary’s past, except for what can be deduced from
her surname, “Magdalene.”
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2. This is really not a name in the sense we generally
use that term (at least, not the name of a person’s
family). It signifies that she came from the village
of Magdala. She was called “Magdalene” to
distinguish her from other woman with the name
“Mary” mentioned in the New Testament.
3. The small fishing village of Magdala is mentioned
only once, by name, in scripture, in Matthew 15:39
(And He [Jesus] sent away the multitude, got into
the boat, and came to the region of Magdala”).
It was located on the northwest shore of the Sea of
Galilee, about 2 or 3 miles north of the Roman town
of Tiberius, and about 5 ½ miles south and west of
Capernaum, Peter’s residence and a base for Jesus’
Galilean ministry. Jesus’ ministry involved a
number of exorcisms in that region, so it appears it
was an area of much demonic activity.
B. In those times, demonic possession was not just a matter of
peoples’ superstitions, which might lead to the
characterizing of such possession as just natural afflictions,
such as epilepsy or dementia, a psychological disorder.
1. Scripture does make a clear distinction between
demonic possession and diseases. Demon
possession involved bondage to an evil spirit –
a real, fallen, spiritual being – that dwelt in an
afflicted individual’s physical body.
2. In a number of instances, the Bible describes the
evil spirit speaking through one whom they
tormented. Jesus sometimes forced the demon
personality to reveal itself verbally, maybe to
allow Him to give clear evidence, proof, of His
power over such spirits.
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C. Demon possession was an affliction, not a sin. Of course,
lawlessness, superstition, and idolatry no doubt played a
role in opening a person’s heart to such possession, but
none of the possessed people in the New Testament is
openly associated with immoral behavior. They are, rather,
portrayed as tormented people, not willful sinners. We see
them pictured as miserable, sorrowful, lonely, heartsick,
forlorn, and pitiable creatures, outcasts from general
society, victims whose lives were ruined, living in a
perpetual darkness of mind and spirit.
D. Mary Magdalene lived in such darkness, afflicted with
seven demons. There was nothing any mere mortal could
do for her, spiritually imprisoned as she was. She was
tormented by not one, but multiple demons. Friendless
(except for devoted family members who loved them),
restless (unable to escape the constant torments of their
demonic captors), joyless (because all life had become
darkness and misery). Finally, she was hopeless, because
no earthly remedy could take away the demons’ powers.
1. We have no details of Mary’s demon possession.
2. What we are told is that Jesus delivered her from
this darkness and torment. In her, the power of
God, through His Son, is magnified for all who
knew of her.
E. One very interesting fact stands out about all the demonic
deliverances recorded in the Bible. Demon-possessed
people never came to Christ for such deliverances. They
were brought to Him, or, sometimes, He called them to
Himself, or they were present somewhere when Jesus
arrived, causing the evil spirits to speak out with dismay
(read Mark 1:23-24).
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1. Evil spirits never, voluntarily, entered the presence
of Christ. Nor did they ever knowingly allow one
whom they possessed to get close to Him. On the
contrary, they cried out against Him (as in
Mark 1:24).
2. They sometimes caused violent convulsions, in an
effort to keep the possessed person away from
Jesus (Mark 9:20: “Then they brought him to Him
[Jesus]. And when he saw Him, immediately the
spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and
wallowed, foaming at the mouth.”).
3. Jesus’ freeing those possessed was always
instantaneous, and complete. Mary Magdalene
was such a person. How, and when, this happened
we are not told. What happened to her is clear:
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine
out from darkness, who has shone in our hearts to
giving light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ.” (II Corinthians 4:6).
F. Mary Magdalene came out of darkness. She was delivered
by the power of God. Owing everything to Christ, she
expressed her gratitude in a deep love for Him.
III. From Disaster To Daybreak.
A. Mary Magdalene joined that close circle of disciples who
traveled with Jesus (Luke 8:3). She became one of the
godly women who devoted their lives to spiritual matters.
Evidently, they had no family responsibilities that required
them to stay home.
1. Most rabbis, at that time, did not allow women to be
their disciples. But, Jesus encouraged both men and
women to take His yoke and learn from Him
(Matthew 11:29).
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2. These women “. . . provided for Him [Jesus] from
their substance” (Luke 8:3). Perhaps Mary had
financial resources she used to support Jesus and
His apostles. That she traveled with Jesus and the
apostles suggests she was then unmarried and free
from obligations to parents or other family
members. Maybe she was a widow. Her age is
unknown.
B. Mary remained a faithful disciple of Jesus, even when
others forsook Him. She followed Him from Galilee to
Jerusalem, to that last Passover, and she went with Jesus
to the cross.
C. Matthew, Mark, and John all record that Mary Magdalene
was present at the crucifixion. When you combine the
three accounts, it’s clear she stood with Mary, the mother
of Jesus, Salome (the mother of the apostles, James and
John), and another, lesser-known Mary, the mother of
James the Less and Joses.
1. There was nothing these women, or any of Jesus’
disciples, could do but watch, pray, and grieve.
That day was a day of devastation. They stood in
a crowd that screamed for the death of a beloved
Son and Master.
2. These women, too, could have become victims of
the mob, but they never left the tragic scene. When
Jesus’ body was taken down, they still remained
close to it, in their love and loyalty to the Christ.
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3. It was because of these women, Mary Magdalene
included, that the disciples knew where Jesus’ body
was placed after His death. Joseph of Arimathea
asked the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, for
Jesus’ body in order to give it a proper burial. He
had access to Pilate as a member of the Sanhedrin,
the Jewish ruling council (Mark 15:43). All four
gospels mention this, and add a detail that tells us of
Mary Magdalene’s involvement in the burial
(Mark 15:47: “And Mary Magdalene and Mary the
mother of Joses observed where He was laid.”).
4. Mary Magdalene was determined to wash, and
anoint, Jesus’ body properly, after the Passover and
the regular Sabbath. Luke 23:56 says, “Then they
returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And
they rested on the Sabbath according to the
commandment.”
5. Mark 16:1 tells us more spices were purchased as
soon as the Sabbath was over (at sundown on
Saturday). Early the next morning, they planned
to give Jesus a burial worthy of One who was so
fondly loved and remembered.
D. Now, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary
Magdalene comes back to the tomb.
1. There was, evidently, no thought of resurrection
in Mary’s mind that day. Her mind was focused
upon one final expression of love for her Master,
the One to whom she owed everything.
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2. Now Mary, and the women who accompanied her,
find the sealed tomb opened, the massive stone
“rolled back from the door,” (Matthew 28:2), and
the grave empty. Both Mark 16:5 and Luke 24:3
say the women went inside the tomb and found it
empty.
3. Mary’s first thought was that someone had stolen
Jesus’ body. She immediately ran out of the tomb
and back along the same path she’d just traveled,
apparently planning to go for help. She
encountered Peter and John, on their way to the
burial site. She tells them of the empty tomb, and
they both start running to see for themselves.
(John 20:1-4).
4. John picks up the story in John 20:11-18 (READ).
a. Mary stood, alone, outside the tomb.
Evidently, she’d taken no notice of the
empty grave clothes. Apparently, she’d
not heard the angel’s triumphant news,
nor understood the excitement of Peter and
John as they left the tomb.
b. She turned away again, and saw the risen
Lord. But, she did not recognize Him.
c. But, when Jesus spoke her name,
recognition came, and so did joy.
(Comment on use of “Rabboni,” in
John 20:16).
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d. In her elation, Mary must have tried to clasp
Jesus as if not to let Him go again. His
words, “. . ‘Do not cling to Me, . . .”
(verse 17), testify to the nature of Mary
Magdalene. Unlike the apostle Thomas,
hesitant and pessimistic, unwilling to touch
Jesus when challenged to do so
(John 20:27), Mary did not want to let Him
go.
IV. Conclusion.
A. At daybreak, as a new era dawned in the spiritual history of
the world, Jesus conferred on Mary Magdalene a unique
honor, allowing her to be the first to see and hear Him after
His resurrection. Others had already heard, and believed,
the glad news, from an angel of God. Mary got it firsthand,
from Jesus Himself.
B. Her biblical epitaph is there in Mark 16:9 (re-read). No one can ever take that honor, that legacy, from her.
C. But, we can, and should, imitate her deep love for the
Christ, and her joy over moving out of darkness into the
light of salvation.