At our first introduction to Mary Magdalene we are told two striking facts:
That the Lord cast seven devils out of her, and
That she, with others, ministered to Him of her substance. See Luke 8:2, 3.
Satan had full control over that poor woman, which was manifested by seven forms of evil, and he held her absolutely in his power until the One who was stronger than the strong man came, and in His mighty love and power broke the bands and freed the captive. Now she was free to serve, and in response to the love that had done so much for her, she delighted to minister to Him.
What she possessed of this world's wealth (formerly, no doubt, used in self-gratification) was now dedicated to the Lord, who had entirely won her heart's allegiance, and was used to help supply the temporal needs of the One who, though He were rich, had become poor for her sake, that through His poverty she might be rich indeed.
From this moment she definitely became one of His disciples, and with the twelve and several other women, followed Him from city to city, and village to village, where He preached the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.
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His marvelous life on earth was completed-His course here finished-and Jesus, the Savior, was dying on the cross for sin.
Afar off, gazing at the scene in awestruck sorrow, were a few devoted women who had followed Him from Galilee, and of whom Mary Magdalene was one. Her love and attachment to her Savior, however, perhaps overcame the natural aversion to witnessing suffering, and the attraction of love drew her near, for John tells us that she stood "by the cross."
Have we each known what it is to have been in spirit in Mary's position, and there learned something of the extent and depth of the love that led the precious Savior into such suffering-and into such a death-"even the death of the cross"- for our sake? "By the cross" Mary Magdalene remained until all was over. No power could draw her away from the Object of her affection. She heard the dread cry of being forsaken by God fall from the lips of the blessed Sin bearer; the deeply significant "It is finished" also fell on her attentive ears; she heard her Lord commend His spirit to His Father, and witnessed the actual laying down of His precious life and dismissal of His spirit. What deep, deep truths her soul was drinking in!
She was there when the precious body of the Lord was taken down, wrapped in fine linen by Joseph of Arimathea, and laid in his new sepulcher. Mary was present at the burial, for Mark tells us that she beheld where they laid Him.
The deep and far-reaching truths of resurrection could be unfolded to such a devoted heart as hers.
Returning hum the tomb she prepared sweet spices and anointing oil, and then rested during the Sabbath. But by dawn on the first day of the week she returned to the sepulcher to anoint the Lord's body, in spite of the great sealed stone that closed the entrance, and the sentinels placed there to watch. Love is superior to all difficulties; they do not come into its calculation. When they reached the tomb, however, she and her companions found the stone rolled back from the entrance, two angels in possession, and the guard powerless as dead men.
There was no need now to ask, "Who shall roll away the stone?"
Mary hastened back to the disciples to tell of the opened sepulcher, and returned with Peter and John, who hastily satisfied themselves that the Lord was not there, and left. But not so Mary; she remained weeping, "because," as she told the angels, "they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him." Her heart was desolate, its Object was gone, and life was nothing without Him. Is the Lord thus enshrined in our hearts? Is this world a real wilderness to our souls because He is not here? We do well to ask ourselves these questions.
See how her devotion was rewarded!
Jesus-her Lord-revealed Himself to her. She, as one of His sheep, knew His voice and responded to the simple "Mary," so lovingly spoken with the one exclamation, "Master!"
Then the Lord had more to say, and to her was entrusted the most wonderful message ever sent to man.
"Go to My brethren," said the risen Lord, "and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God."
John 20:17.
What wonderful relationships-the results of death and resurrection! The Lord claims those who love Him and follow Him as His brethren, and unites them with Himself in relationship with His God and Father. Nothing can break such links, forged by the Lord in relation to a new system of things entirely, where He, instead of being disowned and rejected, is supreme.
What love that procures such heights of bliss for its objects!
"In peaceful wonder we adore
The thoughts of love divine;
Which in that world for evermore
Unite our lot with Thine."
Mary was intelligent as to who were His brethren, for she returned to His disciples and told them "that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her."