Concise Bible Dictionary:
First spoken of as one who ministered to the Lord of her substance, to which is added that seven demons had been cast out of her. The two things stand in wonderful contrast; in the one she was completely under the power of Satan, and in the other she was ministering to the Lord Jesus (Luke 8:2-3). Nothing more is related of Mary until the crucifixion, when she is mentioned by name as being with the other women, gazing at the One she loved on the cross. She waited to see where the body was laid, then rested during the Sabbath, and on Saturday evening she bought spices with which to embalm the Lord’s body, but early the next morning she found the tomb empty. She ran with the news to Peter and John; who came and verified her statement, but went away again to their own home. Mary however could not leave the spot; and looking again into the tomb, she saw two angels there, to whom she lamented the loss of the body. The Lord revealed Himself to her, and comforted her broken heart by speaking her name “Mary,” to which she replied, “Rabboni,” or teacher. He sent her to His disciples with the wonderful message, “I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” This would be as true of her as of them. Her deep love was thus rewarded (Matt. 27:56; John 19:25; John 20:1-18). She is really called “Mary of Magdala,” a town near the Sea of Galilee: her name and her character are not in any way connected with the modern term of “Magdalen.”
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