Mary Magdalene

          

As we read about Mary Magdalene, we get some understanding about her although the Bible doesn’t really speak about her as a main character.

But nevertheless, she’s behind the scenes and I am sure that there is a thing or two that we can learn from her.

For me, what I learned about her is how close she walked with Jesus. That tells us that she was probably not married and maybe an older woman. She was not only able to walk with Jesus but also serve Jesus.

Remember there were a group of women that we know from scripture that followed Him and the “women” were there to serve Jesus and his disciples.

As Jesus travels teaching and healing the people, these women would serve the needs, of cooking and feeding Jesus and His disciples as they travel from town to town.

We see that she and the other women supported the ministry not only with their time but also with money.

LUKE 8:1-3 – Gives us the account about these women

Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with Him along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. 

Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.

The second thing that I learned about her was “her” devotion to her LORD.

After Jesus was crucified, that following Sunday morning, she was the first one to rise up and go to the tomb.

Here, I see her love and her heart for God. 

·       I’m not sure why she went to the tomb. Could it be that she remembered Jesus saying that on the third day, He would rise?   Was she curious?

·       Maybe she went to the tomb to be comforted because her Lord was killed and taken away?

Let’s remember, that she had a strong emotional attachment to Jesus.

Her life was radically changed when she met Jesus and He delivered her from seven spirits. This is why Jesus becomes her first love, and I believe this is why she was the first to arrive at the tomb early that Sunday morning. Because in Luke 7:47  

Jesus said … (paraphrasing)

“To them who have been forgiven much, loveth much.  But to those who have been forgiven little, then little will they love. “So she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

Think about how Jesus set her free and how her life, heart and mind were transformed. That is what “born again” does.  It’s the beginning of her new life.

After reading about Mary Magdalene, I see:  

1. Her strong devotion to the LORD,

2. Her sacrifice to follow Jesus 

3. Her heart to serve Jesus and others that were with Him;

4. Her heart was changed when she met Jesus and her love for Him, remained hot, as she followed Jesus even after his death. That shows her heart and love for Jesus was still “hot”, even though He wasn’t there.

She was in love with her Savior, because she knew what Jesus had done for her. He changed her into to a woman of God

·       I now see the importance of why Mary Magdalene was written about in the Bible. She reflects what a life should be like, after we have been born again.

·       I want to have that strong desire for more and more of Jesus, like her.

·       I want my life to be one that serves my LORD, (like Mary Magdalene calls Him).

We need to ask ourselves this question:

If I must measure my love for Jesus, what would I say my temperature is like?

1.     Am I lukewarm? Listen to how Jesus sees the condition of this heart in Revelation 3:15-17 Jesus says:

        “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 

 Listen to what this type of heart believes according to what Jesus said in V 17 

“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable, and poor, blind and naked.

     2. Is my love for Jesus just warm?

        a. Just doing what I have to do?

        b. Am I leaning on my own understanding, meaning, “Am I doing “my own thing”?

        c. Am I doing just enough to feel good about myself and going through the motions?

Listen to what God says about this type of heart.

James 4:8

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

3.     Is my love for Jesus cold?  

·       I have no real feelings for Jesus and He is just something that I think about, when I need Him.

·       Do I come to Bible study and listen but do not partake in following or obeying what the Word teaches? Not wanting to change this attitude or the condition of my heart?

·       Maybe I come to Jesus when I need something. Asking for a blessing even though my heart is far away. Is that fair? Think about that!

·       Would you like it if your child just calls or comes to visit, when they need something, or they need help with finances and help with problems?

·       How would that make you feel?

4.     Is my love for Jesus hot?

·       Do I have a strong devotion for God?

·       Is Jesus number 1 in my life?

·       Do I have the desire to follow Jesus wherever He goes?

·       Is my obedience better than sacrifice, for this is what the LORD asks of me?   Ps 51:16-17

Closing

Mary Magdalene shows me how to live my life and how to love Jesus.

I need to have a strong desire:

·       To do what Jesus asks

·       Have and keep a strong relationship with Him

·       Be obedient

·       To follow Him

·       To surrender my life to Him

·       Have a heart to serve Jesus and others

Prayer

Father, thank you for the story and example of Mary Magdalene. She may not be a major character, but her love for You shows me how to Worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

Her strong devotion and her sacrifice to follow You, shows me, that maybe I am lacking that “hot” desire to please You and to serve You and others.

I need to grow up in the grace and knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so my life would be a witness to others of Your Love and Power, and how You brought me out of the darkness and into Your glorious Light.

Let this be my prayer Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 51:7-12

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.  

All for Your glory, in the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen