Today’s Scripture

Psalm 73:23-28           Proverbs 31:10-31      Acts 13:26-31              John 20:1-2, 10-18

 

            Today is the day the church has set aside to thank God for the blessings he has given us through Mary Magdalene.  It is quite confusing as we read and hear so many different things about Mary Magdalene in the press, in writings, in different peoples’ interpretations and imaginations.  What we know about Mary Magdalene is restricted to Scripture alone as no other source has recorded first-hand information about Mary Magdalene.  As we go into Scripture, it is the intent today to “set the record straight” about Mary Magdalene.

 

            Mary is the name of no more than seven women in the New Testament, and of two women in the Old Testament.  The Hebrew version of Mary is Miriam.  Miriam is Moses’ sister.  The second Miriam is a lady of the tribe of Judah whose name appears once in 2 Chronicles 4:17. 

 

            In the New Testament we know Mary the mother of Jesus.  A second Mary is the sister of Martha and Lazarus and lived in Bethany.  Mary Magdalene is a third.  Another Mary is the mother of James the Less and Joseph/Joses.  A fifth is the wife of Clopas.  Some think this Mary is a sister of Jesus’ mother.  A sixth Mary is the mother of John Mark, a young traveling companion of Barnabas and Paul and who later authors the Gospel of Mark.  The last, 7^th, Mary of the New testament is a Christian lady referred to in Romans 16:6.  Paul refers to her as “Mary who worked for you…”  She is either a servant or faithful employee.

 

            In the New Testament Greek, there is no meaning given for the name, “Mary.”  In the Old Testament, there is no clear meaning given to Miriam either.  Guesses include; rebellion (Miriam with Aaron led rebellion against Moses in the wilderness), “love of Amun (Amon – Egyptian god of fertility), “bitterness,” “star of the sea,”  and “plump one.” 

 

            Mary’s last name, Magdalene, is believed to represent the town, Magdala.  This makes sense as Jesus was in this area teaching and doing miracles healing many diseases and other maladies.  It is located west of the shores of the Sea of Galilee and near the Plain of Gennesaret where Jesus healed many who came to him there.  It is south of Capernaum and north of Cana and Nazareth. 

 

            Mary Magdalene is named in all four of the Gospels.  Jesus healed her of demon-possession, driving seven from her.  Luke lists her as one of a group of ladies who traveled with Jesus and the disciples, providing for the group from their own means.  Mary is with another lady of prominence here, the wife of King Herod’s chief steward.  Combined with others who followed Jesus we find the group of believers representative of all classes of people, and of different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.  We know that Pharisees such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea followed Jesus.  Officers in the military, and the disciples ranged from different professions.  Greeks came to “see Jesus.”  Samaritans and those from the pagan area of the Gerasenes. 

 

            Mary Magdalene is evidence of God’s love to his people and the healing he sends in Jesus.  Possessed by demons, she was helpless.  She was dead in her former life.  Cured of those demons, she had new life again.  She was free from the evil that enslaved her.  Forgiven of her sins she had new life again.  She was free from the bondage Satan holds sinners as she now knew her Savior, Jesus Christ.  In her joy she models for all the servitude to Christ of one who knows he/she is saved.

 

            The next we know of Mary Magdalene is at Jesus’ crucifixion.  Again, that core of ladies who provided for Jesus and the disciples were there.  Mary observed where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus placed Jesus in the tomb late that Friday afternoon.

 

            Mary Magdalene is among the ladies who are the first to go to this tomb on Easter Sunday morning.  They had purchased spices to complete preparing Jesus’ body in the burial process.  She is among this group of ladies to be the first witnesses of the open and empty tomb.  She is the one who runs to tell the disciples as the angel at the tomb instructs them to do.  At first the do not believe what these ladies are telling them.  Mary is the one who returns with Peter and John, and then lingers after they leave the tomb.  It is to Mary Magdalene that Jesus first appears, revealing the resurrection to her as he will to so many in the coming days and weeks until his ascension.

 

            After this episode outside the empty tomb, there is nothing else recorded in Scripture about Mary Magdalene.  Historians of this era (including Joesphus and Philo) do not mention Mary Magdalene.

 

            What God has recorded about Mary Magdalene and for us to know is how God’s love through Jesus Christ changes one from being lost, from certain death, to a new life in him and service by which others come to saving faith in Christ.  Mary Magdalene is the example of one saved who now serves, using the gifts God has given her to support the ministry of Jesus and his followers.  In that Mary exemplifies Christian stewardship.  It is not a one-time thing.  Mary Magdalene and the others gave of their wealth just as the widow at the temple gave of her poverty.  It is from the heart in thanksgiving to God for his wonders and his eternal grace that we give of our time, talent and treasures.  Just as the woman in Proverbs makes good use of her skills, her time and her treasures, Mary Magdalene did likewise out of love to her savior.  The faithful woman in Proverbs brings honor to her husband through her faithfulness and works.  The faithful church brings honor and glory to God through the example of our stewardship here at Immanuel and throughout the world.  A stingy wife disgraces her husband and family.  A stingy congregation disgraces God and his son, Jesus. 

 

            God used Mary Magdalene to be the first to witness the resurrection and the resurrected Jesus.  Just as Eve was the first to taste the death of sin in the Garden of Eden, Mary is the first to witness the life of the resurrection in the garden of the tombs.  In sin we lose the garden of life.  In the resurrection we are delivered from the tombs of death.  Mary Magdalene did not hold this news to herself.  She joyously, excitedly, and faithfully went out to declare this wondrous miracle to others whether they would believe it or not.  Mary Magdalene then becomes the first evangelist of the Gospel of the resurrected Christ.

 

            Is there more about Mary Magdalene?  Nothing in Scripture nor from reliable resources.  To that God tells us plainly not to add to nor to take away from his word (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19, Proverbs 30:6).  God’s word is truth (John 17:17). 

 

The name, Mary, Old Testament Miriam

            Means – rebellion

 

            OT – Miriam

1                    sister to Moses and Aaron

2                    descendant of Judah (2 Chronicles 4:17

 

            NT – Mary

1                    mother of Jesus

2                    sister to Martha and Lazarus

3                    Magdalene

4                    Mother of James (the less) and Joseph/Joses

5                    Wife of Clopas (some think she is Jesus’ aunt, sister of his mother)

6                    Mother of John Mark (traveled w/ Paul, and writes the Gospel of Mark)

7                    Christian lady in Romans 16:6 “Mary, who worked for you” – a servant or faithful employee

 

Mary Magdalene

            Not sure of her place of origin except by her name

            Most likely from the town, Magdala

                        West of the shores of the Sea/Lake of Galilee

                        Near the Plain of Gennesaret

                                    Where Jesus healed many who came to him there

                        South of Capernaum

                        North of Cana and Nazareth

 

Magdalene appears:

            One of several women supporting Jesus

            Had 7 demons driven from her

            At the cross

            Witness of the burial

            At the resurrection

 

Magdalene shows 3 things

            Dead w/out Christ but alive again as he makes her whole again

                        Eve 1^st to witness death in the garden

                        Magdalen 1^st to witness new life in the resurrection

            Serves the Lord with her means which God has given her

            Proclaims the risen Christ to others

 

Do not add or take away

 

Proverbs tells of a virtuous woman – supports family, makes wise decisions, brings honor to her husband

 

Woman is the bride – church the bride of Christ – our role in being the birde of Christ as Mary Magdalene in her witness and service