“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. ~~ Luke 8:1-2
Mary’s nickname Magdalene may mean that she came from the town of Magdala a fishing town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in Roman Judea.
The Gospel of Luke 8:2–3 lists Mary Magdalene as one of the women who traveled with Jesus and helped support his ministry “out of their resources”, indicating that she was probably relatively wealthy. The same passage also states that seven demons had been driven out of her, a statement which is repeated in Mark 16.
Mary Madelene has been depicted in many movies about the life of Jesus. Jesus is said to have loved her more than any of the others because of her understanding. Some readers have interpreted Jesus’ “love” as physical, not just spiritual, and that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were intimate — if not married. Beneath centuries of misinformation and conspiracy it is said that she was Jesus’ wife whom he fathered two children with. In another movie “The Chosen”, we discovered that the character called Lilith for most of the episode is Mary Magdalene. The Episode showed how the demons were cast out of her by Jesus. The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith, the creators of The Chosen probably chose that name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. Also noted in this movie, Mary is in the “Red Quarter”, implying that she is a prostitute, again the Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a sinful woman who was forgiven. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her that way.
One thing the scripture does say about Mary and that is she played a starring role in one of the most powerful and important scenes in the Gospels. When Jesus was crucified by the Romans, she was there supporting him in his final terrifying moments and mourning his death and she was the first woman that Jesus appeared to after his resurrection.
9 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. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. – Mark 16:9-10
When Mary told the Apostles that Jesus had risen, none of them believed her. Yet she never wavered in her belief.
She gives us an example that as Christians, we too will be the target of ridicule and distrust, and that all manner of untruths may be spoken about us, we must hold on to our belief in Jesus, that he is the way and that he will show himself to us, when we are at the lowest point in our lives.
My question to you today is: When you are faced with challenges as Mary was, how will you respond? Will you stand firm in your belief or will you succumb to the ways of the world and hide out in hopes that no one notices that you are a follower of Jesus?
Jesus said, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26
