27th May, 2006

TONY TOWNSEND

 
Mary Magdalene is one of a number of Marys who are attested to following and supporting Jesus in His ministry, as recorded in the New Testament. The name “Magdalene” seems to find its origin from the town Magdala (meaning “Tower”) located in the region of Galilee.
 

AN OUTSTANDING DISCIPLE: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden as depicted in a stained glass window - the work of Edward Burne Jones - at Trinity Church, Saugerties, New York. PICTURE: Courtesy of www.stainedglassphotography.com "Mary Magdalene was as an outstanding disciple of Jesus, one who heralded His name and being always named first by the Gospel writers when listed among the female disciples."

Scriptural references
 There about nine references made about Mary by the four Gospel writers with the majority of these references centring around both the crucifixion and resurrection accounts (see Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40, Luke 24:10, John 20:10-18).

Luke is the only author to make mention of her outside the context of these significant events in where reference is made to her being delivered from demonic possession (see Luke 8:1-3).
 
Often Mary Magdalene is confused with the sinful woman forgiven by Jesus (see Luke 7:36-50) and/or the woman who broke the alabaster box of perfumed ointment (see Mark 14:3-9). However she is to be seen as a person quite separate from these others.
 
Her persona 
Mary Magdalene was as an outstanding disciple of Jesus, one who heralded His name and being always named first by the Gospel writers when listed among the female disciples.
 
She bore witness to the crucifixion, keeping a distance - perhaps as a sign modesty or timidity. Yet, despite this distance at Jesus’ death, Mary is counted among those who first encountered Him after He had risen from the dead; in fact she was the first one to talk with Him after His resurrection. In turn, Mary goes to inform the apostles of the good news.
 
No doubt Mary would have expressed tremendous appreciation towards Jesus, this being reflected in her faithful support for His ministry given her deliverance from demonic oppression
 
Her closeness to Jesus is revealed when she finds herself continuously weeping at the tomb where Jesus lay, believing that Jesus’ body had been taken. Freda Lindsay, founder of the board for Christ For The Nations, however, cautions that such closeness is not to be interpreted as romantic affection. Her moving toward Jesus to embrace Him after His resurrection (see John 20:17), says Lindsay, needs to be seen in the light of an act of joy at seeing Jesus alive, nothing more.
 
Bible commentator and author, Leon Morris, also cautions assumptions about Mary. He suggests that those who view Mary as a beautiful woman whom Jesus saved from an immoral life would find nothing in the Biblical sources to give substance to such a suggestion.
 
Furthermore, Lindsay says that those who suggest that she was apparently a prostitute and a young attractive woman would be again be presuming. Lindsay states “...that the other women with whom she kept company were all older women supports the reasoning that she was likely their peer in age".

Bibliography
Lindsay, Freda. “Freed to Become Fruitful (Mary Magdalene)” in Spirit-Filled Life Bible.
Ed. Jack W. Hayford. (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville. 1991)
 
Morris, Leon “Luke” Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. (Intervarsity Press, Michigan. 1984)
 
Scholar, D.M. “Women” in Dictionary of Jesus and The Gospels. (Intervarsity Press, Illinois. 1992)
 
Smalley, S.S. “Mary’ in The Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Ed. J.D. Douglas. (Intervarsity Press, Illinois. 1998)
 

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