Mary Magdalene

An Honorable Servant of the Lord

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.—John 20:18

One of the most notable female characters in the New Testament is Mary Magdalene. Her devotion and adoration towards our Lord have been admired by Christians throughout the Gospel age. She appears in countless devotional images, such as kneeling below the cross and crying at the garden tomb.

Despite the Bible reader’s fascination with this beloved follower of the Master, very little is Scripturally written concerning the life of Mary Magdalene, although there is much speculation about her.

The Adulterous Woman

Consider John 8:1-11. If it were not for references from the oldest biblical manuscripts which explain that these verses were spurious, it might be assumed that this text referred to our dear Mary Magdalene. The account describes a nameless adulterous woman whom the Jewish leaders brought to the master to be condemned to death. Our Lord allegedly told the self-righteous accusers who had never sinned to hurl stones at the helpless woman. The popular expression, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7) has been an adopted phrase used throughout the ages by Christians, atheists, Jews, and Gentiles. Even opponents of the Bible are familiar with this text and many surmise that it refers to our Lord speaking about Mary Magdalene. It is believed that when the Pharisees recognized their own guilt, they reluctantly walked away, and thus the woman was set free.

Why do some think this account refers to Mary Magdalene. One may reason that since Mary’s life was humiliated by the Jewish leaders and spared by the Master, she would be eternally grateful to him for his intervention. Her appreciativeness would likely motivate her to follow faithfully after the one who rescued her from a cruel and violent death.

However, why should anyone presume that John 8 (though spurious) even refers to Mary Magdalene if her name is not recorded in this Scripture? Who would want to taint the character of such a humble servant of our Lord with the reputation of an adulteress? The basis of such a thought is linked with Luke 7:36-38 where a sinful woman anoints our Lord’s feet in the home of Simon the Pharisee. This nameless woman is a prostitute and she enters Simon’s house with a vial of precious ointment intending to wash the Master’s feet. However, she becomes so emotional in our Lord’s presence that tears gush from her eyes, and she must use her hair to dry his feet made wet by her weeping.

John 8 has an adulterous woman while Luke 7 describes a prostitute. Both woman have been characterized as being Mary Magdalene. Yet the only Scripture which describes Mary’s background before she came into the Lord’s acquaintance is Luke 8:2 where he cast out seven devils from her demon-possessed body.

A Devoted Follower

How honored Mary Magdalene must have felt to minister to the Master’s needs while he preached the glad tidings throughout Judea (Luke 8:3). Nowhere in Scripture does our Lord regard the contributions of Mary Magdalene as inferior to his male disciples. In fact, the evangelists have listed her name as one of several women who left home, family, relations, village, and everyday life to travel with the Master and perform domestic responsibilities. Whatever shortcomings prevailed in her past, our Lord forgave them and welcomed her into his company.

What a privilege it must have been for this woman from Magdala to witness first hand the mighty miracles which Jesus performed and to listen to the discourses and parables as he preached to the multitudes. Additionally she was able to supply some of our Lord’s temporal needs which must have provided rich blessings for her (Luke 8:3).

The Scriptures do not indicate whether our Lord revealed his impending death to the women who traveled with him. One may surmise that this information was shared only with his twelve disciples. It is uncertain as to how Mary Magdalene would have reacted if she had been privy to such news. One might suppose that instinctively she would have wanted to protect her Lord from his enemies, possibly by privately negotiating with them to spare his life. Or she may have tried to persuade Jesus to leave town. One can only speculate.

On the night of the Passover, the women were not invited to our Lord’s last supper in the upper room. They had no idea that the disciples were celebrating the Master’s memorial service that night. Thus Mary Magdalene did not know of the events which were to follow in Gethsemane or in Caiaphas’ court that evening. She had no reason to believe that this was our Lord’s last night on earth.

Perhaps she retired comfortably to bed that evening in anticipation of the Passover events completely unaware that her Master had been betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, abandoned by his disciples, and secretly captured by the Jewish officials.

It was not until the following morning that the news spread among the people of Jerusalem that a prophet from Nazareth had been arrested and stood in the Roman court of Pilate accused of treason. Perhaps this was when Mary Magdalene learned of the plight of her Lord as well.

Grief at the Cross

If Mary was present during our Lord’s trial before the nation of Israel, what a horror it must have been for her to see the Master, bruised and beaten in Pilate’s palace, quietly standing beside the notorious criminal Barabbas waiting for his fate from the clamorous crowds (Matthew 27:15-17).

Perhaps her voice to free Jesus was in the minority among the angry Jews who yelled, "Crucify him, Crucify him!" (Luke 23:21). Since the cries from the riotous mob prevailed, Mary Magdalene’s savior was taken to Golgotha to be crucified.

There were great crowds of grief-stricken women who watched Jesus carry his cross to the place called Calvary. One can only suppose that Mary Magdalene was among the group to whom our Lord said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children" (Luke 23:28).

Whether our Lord spoke those words in her presence or not, her heart must have been broken as she witnessed this final scene of the Master’s earthly life (Matthew 27:55,56). She saw the fierce crowds jeer and taunt her Lord as he walked to his execution site. She saw the brutal soldiers pierce his gentle body as they nailed him to the cross, she witnessed him hanging innocently upon that "tree," and she saw him quietly suffer in pain between two thieves.

While the women stood viewing our Lord on the cross, the disciples had already fled in fear (Matthew 26:56). What a beautiful testimony Mary Magdalene gave to her dying Master. She was perhaps the only non-relative of Jesus standing with his mother and aunt at the cross (John 19:25). She watched him in agony, she watched as he took his last breath, and she followed as they laid his body in the sepulchre (Luke 23:55).

First at the Tomb

The following day was the Sabbath during which all Jews rested. The burial ceremony could not take place until one day later. There are varying gospel accounts as to who was first informed of our Lord’s resurrection. Although Matthew 28:1 states that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived early Sunday morning at the garden tomb, Luke 24:10 suggests that several women went to the tomb that morning. This suggests that not all of the women went to Jesus’ grave at the same time.

If this is true, then Mary Magdalene (and another Mary) were the first to visit the tomb that day (John 20:1; Mark 16:1-3). Perhaps her devotion and love towards the Master inspired her to visit his grave in the dark, early morning hours alone. Perhaps she believed that by being near his sepulchre she could feel a closeness to him, and the quietness of the morning would allow her to meditate on his life and her adoration for him.

Regardless of her intentions for traveling to the garden tomb alone early that morning, her ultimate goal must have been a desire to anoint Christ’s body with sweet spices. Not only would it be appropriate for such a humble servant to perform this service on her Lord’s body, but this was also a ritual traditionally carried out by Jewish women.

There is no reason to believe she was confident of his resurrection as attested by her cries to Simon Peter and John that day: "Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him" (John 20:2).

Obviously overwhelmed with grief, she returned to the empty tomb. The events of the past two and a half days were quite distressing for the woman who loved and cared for the Master during his earthly ministry. She witnessed his capture, conviction, execution, burial and now sudden disappearance. What thoughts must have raced through her mind for a man who only loved and never did anything wrong.

Apparently even the presence of angels in the tomb who asked her why she was crying made no impression upon her. She was so overcome with sadness that she also did not recognize the voice of the Master when he asked her why she was crying and for whom she was looking (John 20:12,13,15). It wasn’t until the Lord addressed her by name that she realized he was alive.

Naturally Mary Magdalene wanted to stay with her Master. She wanted to embrace him, cry on his shoulder, and possibly even ask him several questions. She may have thought at the time: "Master, I was so frightened when I witnessed your death. I do not want you to ever leave me again. Please take me with you!" Our Lord knew of Mary’s love and concern for him, but he cautioned her not to touch him, but to return to his brethren and tell them of his resurrection (John 20:17). At that point, Mary knew her relationship with Jesus had changed and that any physical contact she might have had with him formerly was no longer appropriate.

Mary may have convinced the eleven disciples that she had seen and spoken with the risen Lord (John 20:18). Although this is not specifically stated in the Bible, the fact that Jesus instructed Mary to tell the apostles of his resurrection lends credence to the thought that the Master would not send her to give a message of hope and comfort which would be rejected by his distraught followers. This would contrast sharply with the other account when the women reported that Jesus had risen and the disciples regarded their story as a fairy tale (Luke 24:11).

Bearer of Good News

It is interesting to note that out of all the other women who visited his tomb, including his mother, our Lord gave Mary Magdalene the privilege of reporting his resurrection to his brethren. This lesson is important for the Lord’s people today. We have also been called by the Lord to share the glad tidings, and it is our privilege to spread the news of the coming kingdom to all who have a hearing ear.

After his resurrection Christ showed himself "to many during the 40 days" (Acts 1:3). After the ascension the disciples met in the upper room to pray (Acts 1:14) with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Although not specifically named in this text, it is reasonable to suppose that Mary Magdalene was there.

It is clear from the gospel accounts that the evangelists are careful to name her precisely, setting her apart from the other Marys. This prominent position has caused much speculation about Mary Magdalene’s exact role and place within the group of women disciples as well as her precise relationship with Christ himself.

Mary Magdalene is a remarkable woman and a fascinating figure in Christianity. She was the honored one to whom the Lord first revealed his resurrection. She was the one whom he told to report to his brethren that he was alive. Surely our Lord saw a quality of faith, love, and devotion in Mary which caused him to grant her these privileges.

Although it does not appear that any women witnessed our Lord’s ascension to heaven (Acts 1:9-11), Mary Magdalene’s place with the Lord in the future ages will be one of great honor.