Has anyone ever given any thought to the women who followed Jesus during his ministry? Lots of attention is given to the disciples, but those followers who are focused on the most during Jesus's final hours, and at His burial and resurrection, are the women. Mary Magdalene, among others, has a special place in this story. She was there as Jesus hung suffering on the cross, she was there as he breathed his last, and she was there as he was placed in the tomb. I don't think there was anything that would have prevented her from being there for the last bit of his life on this earth. Jesus had driven out her demons. Seven of them. (Did anyone else remember that she was a demoniac? I believe that little piece of information had slipped past me.) He had freed her and given her life back-and eternal life at that!
Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus. She didn't just talk the talk, she walked the walk. Literally. She followed him as he ministered.
Luke 8: 1-2
"And it came about soon afterwards, that He began going about from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God; and the twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out."
We know that the disciples followed Jesus becasue he called them to. Mary Magdalene followed Jesus because she wanted to. She must have had such love and gratitude that she left everything to follow, serve, and learn from her Master. We don't know what she gave up (other than her seven demons) to follow. We do know that she contributed finacially to support His ministry.
Luke 8:3
"..and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means."
Apparently many have viewed Mary as a prostitute or as having had an intimate relationship with Jesus. There is no evidence in scripture that this was true. We know from the whole of scripture that the latter simply is false. Mary had a love for Jesus, and He had a love for her in exactly the same way as He loves us-a Lover of our souls. Mary continued to follow Him right to the foot of the cross.
John 19:25
"...But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene."
We can only imagine the heartbreak she (and all the others) must have experienced at her Leader, her Teacher, her Friend hanging, bloody on that cross. The suffering He was enduring, knowing that she could not help Him. The insults, the anguish, the danger she was putting herself in publicly associating herself with Him, a condemned man. And, the grief she must've experienced knowing that the very One who saved her from her demons, was now leaving her.
We know what's to come. We know Jesus has victory. But, at that time, did she really understand what was to come? Why does scripture give so much emphasis to Mary Magdalene and the other women during Jesus's final hours? What do you think brought them to the foot of the cross? Were the other male disciples present also, and why were they not given as much attention here?
What are your thoughts?
posted by Courtney Sanchez
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Studying about Mary Magdalene taught me some things that I either didn't know or had confused. I have to admit I got some of the "Mary's" in the Bible confused. Part of that is from art depicting and just miss teachings that Mary Magdalene was the sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet. I had also not realized that Mary Magdalene had seven demons that Jesus expelled. No wonder Mary followed him so closely! I think scripture talks about them because they are such an example of willing women. Willing to risk all they had, whether it was financial or their hearts. Willing to watch and support the One they loved, even during the pain and suffering, no matter what it might cost them. What an example!
Post a Comment