MARY MAGDALENE

There are six women named Mary in the Bible: the mother of Jesus (Matt. 1:16), Mary Magdalene (Lk. 8:3), the sister of Lazarus (Jn. 11:20), the wife of Cleopas and mother of James the Lesser (Mk. 15:40; Jn. 19:25), the mother of John Mark (Col. 4:10), and a Christian in Rome (Rom. 16:6). With the exception of Mary, the Lord's mother, there does not appear to be a more important woman than Mary Magdalene in all of Scripture. And yet, it is strange that we know so little about Mary Magdalene, a person so vitally important to the Resurrection accounts (Matt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-11; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-18).

There is even much debate as to the meaning of the word "Magdalene." Some say that she was from a town near the Sea of Galilee named Magdala. Others suggest her name in the Greek, Μαρία Μαγδαληνή (Maria Magdalene) has nothing to do with a town, but that it refers to her character. In the Hebrew, Migdal means "tower," or "fortress." In the Aramaic, Magdala means "tower," "elevated," "great," or "magnificent." And not only is her name Maria and not Mary as in the English, in the Greek Septuagint, the same name is translated "Miriam" as in the sister of Moses.

So why is Mary, Maria, or Miriam so important? Because it was to her that the Lord first appeared on that Resurrection morning, and not only did He appear to her, He "commissioned her" to tell His disciples that He had risen from the grave (Matt. 28:10). It is ironic that the Lord's "magnificent eleven," those to whom He had foretold of His death and resurrection, did not believe Mary's words (Lk. 24:11). It was not until Jesus appeared to the ten in the upper room, that they finally believed what Mary had told them. John's account says, "And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord" (I find it humorous that the reference for this quote is Jn. 20:20).

The Apostle Paul wrote that the Gospel (the power of God unto salvation - Rom. 1:16), consisted of the good news that Jesus died, that He was buried, and that He rose again from the grave according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4). It is quite possible that Mary Magdalene was the only person to actually witness all three events. She was at His Crucifixion (Mk. 15:40). She was there when they buried Him (Matt. 27:61). And she was the first person to actually see our risen Lord alive (Jn. 20:14). Isn't it strange that this woman, a woman who had been possessed by seven "devils" (Mk. 16:9; Lk. 8:2), would be the one chosen by God to begin spreading the good news?

No matter what lies in our past, Jesus is present,
and believing that, we have a future!