It happened soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God. With him were the twelve, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them from their possessions.                     Luke 8:1-3 (WEB)
Mary, or Magdalene, is noted to be a “follower†or disciple of Jesus. She was a woman who had seven demons in her. Usually when we think of a person and demons occupying the same space, we see the actor, Linda Blair, in The Exorcist. If satan is the tempter, Mary could have also been like the sinful woman in Luke 7, a prostitute, or an adulterer, a liar, a gossip, a poppy (drug) addict. The tempter had acted, Magdalene had agreed, and her fate seemed sealed – until Jesus set her free!
Magdalene became a follower of Jesus. Though we are given information about who Mary was in the spiritual kingdom and who she became in God’s Kingdom, we are not told that she started wearing only a demure, white robe and never again was permitted to stumble, less she be thrown out of the followers. We are not told how many hours of New Members’ Classes were required before she was called a follower. We are not told that Jesus permitted only His translation of the Torah to be read, studied, and taught – and only by men!
Mary, called Magdalene, was a follower and supporter of Jesus’ ministry because she came, began to work, and was accepted – by Jesus! Mary continued to serve Jesus even when she thought He was dead. (Luke 24:1-11) She went to the tomb, saw the angels, and heard the message from God. She was not believed. Her gender, even her former life, may have contributed to that disbelief.
We do not know any more about Mary from Scripture. Historical data lends no more clear information. Magdalene was a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus set her free out of His great love, while she was yet a sinner! She was never the same. And so she served Jesus probably imperfectly. She maybe called “a saint†just as I am (Revelation 19:8) – by the grace of God.
Do you see God’s saints or is it a small, exclusive group?
