Mary Magdalene: a woman of great faith and thankful living

Mary Magdalene is a well known name in Christianity. She is most well known for being mistakenly characterized as a prostitute or a promiscuous woman. However, the Bible only states she was possessed by demons which Jesus called out from her. Mary Magdalene is a beautiful example of a woman whose life was poured out in response to God’s extravagant grace. Women were vital in Jesus’ ministry. She, along with other women, supported Jesus and his ministry. As an early follower of Jesus, Mary Magdalene deserves to be called a disciple. She was present at the crucifixion and anointed his body for burial. She would watch Jesus’ agony at Calvary. She would also be one of the first to witness the Resurrected Jesus. What is her story? What are the origins of her false portrayals? Why is it important to highlight the importance of women in Jesus’ ministry? 

Growing up in Magdala, a prosperous town on the west bank of Galilee. She suffered as demons possessed her mind. She begged for mercy and nothing came. Then a man named Jesus came. He was like no other rabbi. He wasn’t repulsed or afraid by her illness. He called her name as if he had known her all her life. Suddenly, her mind was clear. She was free! She followed him and supported his ministry where she could. Now Mary grieved as she watched as the man who changed her life suffered. She watched for hours as he agonized, powerless to do anything. But she stayed. She could not bring herself to leave his side, along with other women who remained. When it was over, she watched as Joseph of Armathea and Nicodemus took his body from the cross. Gently, she and other women prepared her body for burial with myrrh and aloes, wrapped in linen, placing him in a tomb. After the Sabbath, Mary walked to the tomb and stood in shock as the stone was rolled away. Inside, the tomb was empty with strips of linen lay on the floor. Her grief grew as she was horrified at the thought of what could have happened to his body. She turned to go when she noticed a gardener, who asked her why she was crying? (John 20: 14-15). It wasn’t until Jesus said her name did Mary recognize the gardener as the Resurrected Jesus (John 20:16-17). 

There are a few false portrayals of who Mary Magdalene was. First, the tradition of portraying her as a prostitute. It began in 591 AD, as Pope Gregory I combined the images of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7:36-50 with Mary Magdalene who was introduced by name in Luke 8:2. Although Gregory didn’t directly call her a prostitute in his Easter sermon, he interpreted the seven demons which Jesus called out as the totality of vices and asserted that the oil she used to anoint Jesus’ feet had been previously used for sensual purposes. Catholic churches began to combine Mary Magdalene and the woman accused of adultery as one and the same. It wouldn’t be until the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, the portrayal of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute was rejected. In 1969, Pope Paul VI removed the identification with the sinful woman. Unfortunately, the view of Mary Magdalene as a former prostitute prevails in popular culture. Second, Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ wife. Even though the idea had been around for centuries, it became mainstream with the popularity of Dan Brown’s novel,The Da Vinci Code (2003). The theory postulated in the book has been discredited by Biblical scholars as well as scholars of history, art and architecture. Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute or Jesus’ wife. She was simply a woman who was healed by Jesus and she turned her life over to his ministry in love and appreciation. 

Many people focus on the disciples and apostles in Jesus’ ministry. However, women were active and an important aspect in his ministry too. Several women provided the funds needed to provide for Jesus and the disciples as they traveled (Luke 8:3). They cooked, prepared and served the meals and searched for lodgings (Luke 10:38). It was women who stayed and watched as Jesus suffered. As the majority of the disciples ran and hid, they remained there until he breathed his last. It was women who prepared him for burial. It was women who were first to the tomb on Sunday morning. It was women who were the first to witness the Resurrection. The Gospel of Luke stands out as showcasing Jesus’ love and care for women. Portraying the respect and understanding Jesus had for women. Jesus is the example of the status of women and how they should be treated. Women were also integral in the spread of the gospel as they supported the apostles’ travels and ministries. Women also became important benefactors for the early church and the spread of the gospel. Today, women in ministry is a hot button topic which is too complex for me to discuss here. Simply put, women are equally called to spread the love of Jesus and his gospel. God values women and talks about the gifts he bestows on them (Acts 2:17, 21:9). Women have a role and function in the Kingdom of God.  

In conclusion, Mary Magdalene is a wonderful example of thankful living. Freed by Jesus, she acted out her appreciation. Even though traditionally, she has been given a false portrayal, a study of the Word shows that she is an example of the faithful who are obedient will grow in understanding. Her faith was not complicated but direct and genuine. She was more eager to believe and obey than to understand everything. He honored her childlike faith by appearing to her first and entrusting her to deliver the message of his resurrection. As Jesus called her name when she needed him, he knows each of us. Our names, our hurts and our fears. He can bring us out of our darkness into his light. He will show us a love so powerful that it will change our lives. All we need to do is reach for his hand in acceptance.