Dear Friends,
I recently ran across this article about Mary Magdalene, enjoyed it immensely, and thought perhaps you would also enjoy reading about this most iconic woman of the Bible. This is the first article of two. The conclusion will be published soon.
Blessings,
Deacon Mike

Mary Magdalene led a group of women who were prominent followers of Jesus of Nazareth. They were the main witnesses of all the key events in Jesus' life: his ministry in Galilee and Judea, the crucifixion, his death and his burial and resurrection.

The story of Mary Magdalene contains four different episodes:

1 Mary Magdalene as a disciple of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3)
Mary is described as a woman whom Jesus cured of an unspecified illness. She led a group of women who provided for Jesus and his followers from their own financial resources.

2 Mary at the crucifixion (Mark 15:40-41, Luke 23:49, Matthew 27:55-56, John 19:25)
In each of the four accounts of the crucifixion Mary was present, either standing at a distance with other women, or standing near the cross.

3 Mary prepared Jesus’ body for burial (Luke 23:55-56, Matthew 27:61)
Mary watched as Jesus’ body was sealed inside the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. She could confirm that he was really dead. She and the other women prepared the spices needed for proper burial of a body.

4 Mary witnesses the resurrection (Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-11, Matthew 28:1-10, John 20:1-18).
Mary found that Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb. She received a message from an angel and was the first person to see the risen Jesus. She was thus the first witness of the resurrection.

Throughout the centuries, Mary Magdalene was incorrectly portrayed in literature and art as a reformed prostitute. This happened because Mary Magdalene was confused with the woman with the alabaster jar, described in Luke 7:36-50; the story of this other woman comes just before Mary Magdalene is first mentioned the woman with the alabaster jar is called a 'sinner', but there is no reason to think that this meant she was a prostitute; in fact, when Luke describes an actual prostitute in 15:30, he uses a different word Mary Magdalene is described as having a serious illness, but the nature of the illness is unspecified; later celibate male interpreters linked Mary’s illness, her ‘demons’, with her sexuality Mary was traditionally presented as the sinful woman, contrasting her with Mary of Nazareth, the perfect virgin/mother.

MARY MAGDALENE AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

As Jesus moved throughout the country, teaching and talking about God, he was accompanied by a group of women. Mary Magdalene was the main woman in this group. ‘Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bring the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.’

At some point in her life, Mary met Jesus, and he cured her of a severe illness. We do not know what the illness was, or whether the cure happened in one moment or over a period of time. Perhaps it occurred gradually, as her knowledge of Jesus developed. In any event, she became the leader of a group of women who traveled with Jesus, and who supported him financially.

Two groups traveled with Jesus: a group of men, led by Peter, and a group of women, led by Mary Magdalene. It was the common practice for men and women to accompany each other when traveling, but they moved in separate groups.

Mary and Peter seem to have been the leaders of these two groups. Unfortunately, the words and actions of the men were recorded, and the women's were not. Nevertheless, Peter and Mary should probably be seen as equal in their support for Jesus’ work, each contributing different things

MARY AT THE CRUCIFIXION

All four accounts of the crucifixion and death of Jesus say that women were at the scene, and Mary Magdalene was prominent among these women. She had been close to Jesus during his life. She stayed close to him as he faced death.

‘There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee. And there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.’
To be continued.