People27

Lk 8:1-3 After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God . The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Although Mary Magdalene features strongly in modern myth about Jesus, we know relatively little about her from the Gospels, and documents outside the canon of Scripture are so suspect as to be ruled out as sources of truth. The speculation that arises, tends to be about Mary's relationship with Jesus, yet if anything of modern speculation were verging on the truth, that would surely have been picked up by the Gospel writers. If she had a strong place in the apostolic band, it would certainly have been referred to – but it isn't. In terms of descriptions of her, these verses in Luke are really all we have. She is just another figure who was with Jesus, and the Gospels give no hint of anything beyond that.

The first possibly surprising piece of information that Luke gives us is that when Jesus exercised his itinerant ministry, he didn't only travel with the twelve men, but there were also a number of women who travelled with him as well. Their role is clearly that of a support team. The provision for this band would have come from people they met along the way, but it is also from the women who now travelled with Jesus. Whether Mary had much to contribute we don't know. We don't know her background at all, apart from the fact that the name ‘Magdalene' supposes ‘from Magdala', a town thought to be on the Western shore of the Sea of Galilee , south of Capernaum. We don't know whether she had had a husband, whether she was rich or poor or what.

The only thing we do know about her, that Luke the doctor picks up, is that she had previously been severely demon possessed. In fact, he says, she had had seven demons cast out of her by Jesus. Now we have, in previous meditations, commented that it is our belief (though not mentioned in Scripture) that for a demon to take up residence in a person (possession), their life had to be of a nature that invited Satan in. It has to be a life given over to the occult, or to sin, in a serious way. For there to have been seven demons in Mary, suggests a very bad life previously. What is intriguing is why her deliverance does not feature in the Scriptural accounts. It suggests that the Gospel writers often drew a veil over circumstances involving individuals, perhaps to protect them from publicity. Surely this is the only reason Lazarus's raising from the dead is not mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels. Many of the people who are picked out for a mention are not named. Thus Mary's background is hardly mentioned.

Yet, here she now is, as a faithful follower of Jesus, serving the apostolic band. Again we don't know for how long. The whole of the three years? Just part of it? We just know these sorts of things.

The next mention of her is by Matthew and it is at Jesus' crucifixion: “Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.” (Mt 27:55,56) He also makes the point that they had travelled with Jesus and the team, to care for their needs. The rest of the disciples may be in hiding, but these women are drawn to watch the terrible last hours of Jesus.

Her final role as seen in the Gospels is of one of the key people who first saw the risen Jesus. Matthew records, “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” (Mt 28:1) The add on section of Mark's Gospel records, “ When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.” (Mk 16:9) John also records this: “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” (Jn 20:1) and then Jesus appears to her (v.13-17) and she returns to tell the rest of the band: “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.” (Jn 20:18)

Mary Magdalene shows us a woman with a very difficult past, who fell into utter darkness, met Jesus and was utterly restored to normality – yet we are told virtually nothing about that. We are told that she became a faithful follower and stood by Jesus even in the darkest hour and perhaps for that, was granted the privilege of being the first to see Jesus when he rose from the dead. Modern mysticism wants to make more of her but this is all we are told in the Gospels accounts. She brings us hope – restored from the depths by Jesus. She is an example – a servant/provider for Jesus who stuck with him. She provides a testimony of the risen Lord. Beyond that – nothing!

I am amazed, when I read Abraham's story in Genesis, how little we are told of him considering all the years he had encounters with God. It's the same sort of thing as we see here with Mary Magdalene and so many others. They had a real, living, vibrant relationship with the Lord but we are told so little about them. They simply are players in the great story about Jesus. Yet they ARE significant! And isn't that how it is with so many (if not all) of us? In terms of history, most of what we were and did will not be remembered, but that doesn't detract from the fact that day by day we walked with the Lord and as far as He is concerned that is important. Every now and then we will do something really noteworthy but mostly, for most of us, life isn't like that. We are simply faithful followers – and God is blessed. It doesn't matter that we don't get great acclaim for lots of ‘big' things! Be blessed in who you are as his follower!