At the major milestones of our Lord Jesus’ time on earth, you find a Mary. At His birth is the virgin Mary. At the final week of His life is Mary of Bethany. At His death and resurrection is Mary Magdalene. These three Marys represent the highest love for Jesus found among women—and perhaps even the twelve disciples. God chose their stories to tell the greatest Story ever told. They are for our instruction. The three Marys personalize spiritual principles of who it is that experiences Jesus Christ. Mary of Nazareth shows how Jesus is birthed in you. Mary of Bethany shows how Jesus dwells with you. Come and see what Mary Magdalene has to show you.
Mary Magdalene steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight at Jesus’ death. Not only do all four Gospel writers take note of her, but of all the disciples, Jesus chose Mary to be the first to see Him raised from the dead (Mk 16:9). Not His mother. Not Peter who walked on water. Not John who leaned at His breast. Mary Magdalene. God is inviting us to look into this life.
As Mary’s story begins, she is singled out from among many:
There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene…
Mt 25:55-56 ESV
Mary’s story is a story God wants us to see. From her introduction “looking on from a distance” to the end, Mary is watching. “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid” (Mk 15:47 CSB). “The women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed” (Lk 23:55). “After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb” (Mt 28:1). The angels in the empty tomb asked Mary and her companions, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” (Lk 24:5). And Jesus, “Who is it that you’re seeking? (Jn 20:15). Repetition is God’s way of alerting us to what’s important. A watching heart is the heart that Jesus reveals Himself to.
Magdalene is not Mary’s last name. It refers to the town she’s from: Magdala, a town on the western shore of Galilee. Its name in Hebrew is Migdol, which means “tower.” Besides a stronghold, a tower in Scripture is noted for watching, due to its high vantage point above the horizon. Habakkuk 2:21 says, “I will…station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what he will say to me…” That’s Mary in a nutshell. God has joined Mary and “Magdalene” to amplify what’s precious in His sight: the watching heart.
Outside the empty tomb, Jesus simply says, “Mary,” and she instinctively responds, “Rabonni!”—”Teacher!” Don’t miss a subtle clue here. Mary knows Jesus as Teacher; she relates as disciple, a listener and learner. She consecrated watching eye and listening ear to love Jesus. This is the heart that invites Christ to show Himself.
What ignited Mary’s passion to watch and listen? The Bible is not a step-by-step instruction manual, but does drop hints for us. Mary’s back-story mentions how Jesus cast out seven demons from her (Mk 16:9). The number seven, the biblical number of completeness, suggests Satan’s complete dominion over Mary. Mary’s devotion likely overflowed from a thankfulness for what King Jesus liberated her from. “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much” (Lk 7:47). What Mary did sprung out of the inward impulses of a heart fully in love with Jesus Christ.
After the death of King Saul and his sons, the Philistines hung their bodies on a wall as war trophies. Brave men from Jabesh-gilead risked their lives to retrieve them (1Sa 31:11-12). No one else in Israel exhibited that extreme devotion. These men of Jabesh-gilead never forgot nearly forty years prior how King Saul rescued them from Nahash, the Ammonite (see 1Sa 11). Nahash means “Serpent.” These men’s and Mary Magdalene’s remembrance of the king who delivered them from the Serpent invigorated them to take great risks to honor their dead king’s body. If we never forget our King’s deliverance as Mary did, our love will also burn hot for Him. Jesus has freed us from Satan’s power (Ac 26:18), domain (Col 1:13), fear of death (Heb 2:15), blindness (2Co 4:4), and oppression (Ac 10:38)! Some ways I remember Jesus’ sacrificial love for me is through songs and hymns (YouTube playlists are great for this!) or praying aloud verses like Revelation 1:6: “To [You] who loved [me] and freed [me] from [my] sins by [Your] blood…be glory and dominion forever and ever.”
Mary watched for Jesus. Earthquakes and angels took a backseat to Mary’s one driving passion: Where is the Lord? “Sir,” she pleaded, “if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him” (Jn 20:15 CSB). Mary sought Jesus relentlessly; she would not be denied. Back when the Lord had rescued Israel from Egypt, He fondly remembered His people as a bride that followed Him into the wilderness. It broke His heart when she stopped asking, “Where is the LORD?” (Jer. 2:1-6). The virgin heart to Christ ceases when it no longer desires the Lord Himself. A forgotten Lord stands outside the door and knocks to come back inside.
Mary’s story ends with her words, “I have seen the Lord!” (Jn 20:18). Do you want to see the Lord? Today, of course, we don’t see Jesus physically as she did but with eyes of faith. See in Mary Magdalene the heart that discovers Jesus. Imitate her faith. Remember how Jesus freed you from “seven demons.” Be intentional to listen to your Teacher. Watch for Jesus where He can be found, seeking Him throughout the pages of God’s Word. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide, and you will encounter the risen Christ!
Glory Unveiled: Discovering Jesus 