Mary Magdalene

When Mary Magdalene first met Jesus, she was a total mess. She was possessed by demons and haunted by an ugly past. People looked down on her. But none of this kept Jesus from showing her love. He cast seven demons out of her. Mary loved Him for the hope He gave her.

Her support was vital to Jesus’ ministry. Mary proved her devotion to Him several times in both of His life and death. She was part of a group of women who traveled with Him, taking care of His needs.

While many of the other disciples fled and abandoned Jesus during His arrest and crucifixion, Mary Magdalene remained a true friend. She was bravely present throughout His death and burial. She was a true biblical hero.

Mary was the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who lived in Bethany. Jesus and His disciples often rested at their house and the two sisters would look after them. They were Jesus' great supporters and friends too.

During Jesus’ first visit to their home, Martha complained to Him about Mary not helping her with the meal preparation. Mary had been sitting at this great Teacher's feet, listening with great interest to all He had to say. Martha, on the other hand, was anxious to provide for her guest's comfort and in her anxiety, she forgot the courtesy due to this special Guest.

Jesus answered her with mild, patient words: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Mary had learned to seek out what was most important—a relationship with Jesus.

On another occasion, Lazarus fell sick and died. Hearing this, Jesus waited for two more days before finally going to Bethany. Arriving there, He met Mary and Martha and went with them to the tomb of their brother, who was dead for four days already.

Firstly, Martha, and later, Mary, approached Jesus in tears, berating Him for not coming sooner. They believed that if He had been there earlier, Lazarus would not have died. Moved by their grief, He wept. Then, He went to the tomb and asked to have the stone removed. He called the dead man to come out. True enough, Lazarus came out alive, still in his grave clothes!

During Jesus’ last visit to Bethany, Simon the leper, Mary’s uncle who was a Pharisee, threw a big feast as his expression of gratitude for Him Who healed him.

During the feast, Jesus sat with Simon on one side and Lazarus on the other. While Martha was serving at the table, Mary earnestly listened to His every word. Her heart was full of gratitude as He had brought her brother back from the dead. She also felt convicted to turn away from the sins of her past and live a life in harmony with His teachings. She longed for a fresh start.

Mary had heard Jesus speak of His imminent death. This pained her and she wanted to show Him how much she loved and respected Him in a special way. Using a large sum of her money, Mary bought an alabaster box of an expensive perfume to pour on Jesus' head.

Mary was emotional while pouring the perfume on Jesus' head and feet, all the while kneeling and crying. She then dried His feet with her hair.

Mary tried to be discrete, not wishing to be noticed by anyone, but the scent of the perfume filled the room. Soon, everyone realized what she had done.

Judas, the treasurer of the disciples, became angry, saying that the money spent on such expensive perfume could have been put to better use for the poor.

Seeing Mary’s embarrassment and distress, Jesus told the guests to leave her alone. He knew that she was just expressing her love for Him and was desiring to live a better life. He forgave her sins and accepted her humble offering.

Jesus also blessed and dignified her act of love by proclaiming that “wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Matthew 26:13).

It was no coincidence that Mary Magdalene was among the first group of people to find Jesus’ empty tomb after His death and resurrection early on a Sunday morning.

The women who came to Jesus’ tomb that Sunday morning had come from different directions. Mary Magdalene was the first to reach the place. Having seen the stone rolled away, she left to find Jesus' disciples.

As the other women arrived, they saw an angel who looked like lightning and whose clothes were white as snow. The angel told them not to be afraid for Jesus had just risen. He even invited them to look inside the tomb and see for themselves that He was no longer there. Then he told them to go and tell the disciples that their Master was alive and would meet them in Galilee. Though still afraid, they were full of joy and ran to tell the others.

Mary had not heard the good news yet. She returned to the tomb still weeping because she didn't know where Jesus’ body was. She then saw the two angels but was so distraught and emotional that she didn’t recognize them. Just then, Jesus approached her, but she thought the man was only the gardener.

Mary asked Him to tell her where Jesus’ body was, saying that if He had put it somewhere else, she would take it. Jesus had been buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

All Jesus had to say was her name. Even if her eyes were unable to see Him through her tears, her ears recognized His voice. He told her to go and tell others what had happened. Through this experience, Mary had the distinction of being the first person to see the risen Jesus. This alone qualifies her as a true Bible hero.