Bible Studies

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The first Mary is the gentle young Jewish woman to whom Gabriel said, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!" Her answer was, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." Luke 2:28, 38. When Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, the babe (John the Baptist)leapt in her womb, and Mary sang the beautiful Magnificat paying homage to God for His loving favor. Luke 1:46-55

But there was another Mary. This Mary is known as Mary Magadalene (or Mary from Magdala), and her brief story is very different from that of Mary the mother of Christ. There is little agreement among scholars as to whether she was the sister of Martha, a former prostitute, the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, etc., or any of those things. Scripture informs that the Lord had cast seven devils from her. But none of that really matters. What is significant is that she was a devoted follower of our Lord seemingly from early in His ministry. She contributed, along with other women, to the needs of Jesus and the apostles. She is mentioned in all four Gospels. She heard His death cry on the cross. She came to the tomb early on the first day of the week bringing spices to anoint His body for burial. But He was not there. As she stood by the tomb weeping, she stooped down and looked inside. She saw two angels. They asked why she was weeping, and she said, "Because they have taken away my Lord and I don't know where they have laid Him." When she turned around, she saw Jesus standing there but did not recognize Him. Jesus said, "Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She, thinking He was the gardener, said, "Sir if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said, "Rabboni!" What gentleness on the part of the Savior, and what happy recognition on the part of Mary! The most faithful of the followers of Christ, she was last at the cross and first at the tomb. Their tender meeting has to be one of the most poignant and loving scenes in all of Scripture.

We love and honor Mary the mother of Christ for her humility and instant acceptance of Gabriel's divine assignment. But the other Mary has a message for us also. Whatever her background was, her love and faithful devotion to our Lord took precedence over everything else from beginning to end. Mary Magdalene's story says to all of us that the gentle Jesus, with arms outstretched, welcomes anyone who will humbly and faithfully follow Him.

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