Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Who was Mary Magdalene? The name Magdalene is thought to be a reference to a town on the western shore of Galilee, Magdala. We first find Mary in Luke 8.
”Soon afterward He was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.“
Soon after what? Luke 7 records the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. The last note on the town he is in is Nain. And was traveling from Capernaum. Magdala is en route between these two cities. So between healing the centurion's slave at Capernaum and dining with a Pharisee of Nain, Jesus stopped in Madala and delivered seven demons out of a woman named Mary. She began to follow Jesus along with Joanna and Susanna.
”Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things.“
Susana is only mentioned in Luke 8 but Joanna and Mary were the first to be told that Jesus was alive. Some of these women added money to Jesus’ ministry from their resources. Mary could have been wealthy have earned money because of the demons she had.
I have long believed that Mary was the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. But a few of the commentaries I read this morning seem to believe that she was not claiming that demon-possessed people are not social sinners but rather social outcasts. But I think about Simon the sorcerer and a slave girl.
”Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.” And she did this for many days. But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! ” And it came out right away.“
Acts 16:16-18 HCSB
”A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God! ” They were attentive to him because he had astounded them with his sorceries for a long time.“
These two had powers beyond the normal physical. The slave girl we are told had demons and made money for he masters. We are not told that a demon helped Simon with his sorcery but he very well could have. So to label everyone who is demon-possed I think is a bit of a stretch. So back to Mary. As Jesus was on his way to Nain he stopped by Madala and healed Mary of her seven demons. She began to follow Jesus. The Pharisee
Saw her and recognized her from her days as a sinner in his town. But little did he know she already had an encounter with Jesus and was past her sin.
How often are we referred to by our sins and failures? The devil loves to remind us who we are not and people will tend to follow suit. But not God! He calls us by who we are! We are sons and daughters of the most high God.
”Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 7:48, 50 HCSB
Jesus does not condemn, my supposed, Mary but rather just confirms the fact that she is forgiven and saved. To another woman, he says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
And to Mary, He says, “Mary. Don’t cling to Me for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father — to My God and your God.”
John 20:16-17 HCSB
We are not labeled by our past but we are washed by His Blood and are called by our name and position.
”I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.“
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