Mary Magdalene hailed from a small village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This village was named Magdala, which is likely where her name came from. This town was not too far from Nazareth.
Mary of Magdala was not a prostitute as many people falsely believe. There is no evidence in the Gospel to support the claim that Mary Magdalene had ever been a woman of ill repute. The Bible does say—in Luke 8:2—that Mary had been possessed by seven demons, and came to Jesus because of his reputation as a healer. After Jesus healed her, Mary Magdalene became one of Jesus’ most important disciples.
As a leading figure among the followers, Mary Magdalene showed great devotion and love to Him. Even when others abandoned Him, she did not do the same. She stayed with Jesus all the way to his Crucifixion. She was also the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection. She was the first to preach the news of that miracle.
Here are six important things that you can learn from Mary Magdalene today.
Selflessness
Mary Magdalene was selfless in her devotion. She owed much after Jesus healed her, and she poured her life into loving and serving the savior. As a woman, it would have been very difficult for Magdalene to travel with Jesus. Many of Jesus’ disciples, including Peter, were quick to leave when it was dangerous for them to follow Him. However, Magdalene put aside thoughts of herself to serve the Lord.
Faithfulness
Mary Magdalene was forever faithful to Jesus even during the most difficult days. She was there by his side during the crucifixion, and she was at his tomb on resurrection morning. Even after Jesus was crucified, Mary continued to serve Him. Though she was sad and disappointed, she still believed that Jesus was the Messiah. She was the first to see Him alive because of her faith. The story of Mary Magdalene teaches what faith really means.
Sincerity
Mary Magdalene was sincere about her feelings and love for Jesus. She did not act a certain way or put on airs. Nor, did she hide how she felt. She opened her heart to Jesus Christ, and was sincere in her beliefs. Like Mary Magdalene, it is important to be sincere and open with your feelings in your faith and personal life.
Persistence
Throughout her walk with Jesus, Magdalene faced a number of obstacles. Even though there would have been a social stigma for a woman to be traveling alone alongside a group of men, Mary did not let this stop her from following Him and persisted in the face of adversity. Many people give up on God when prayers are not answered right away. However, it is important to persist in one’s beliefs even if it seems that God is not listening.
Enthusiasm
Mary Magdalene was joyful about spreading the word of the resurrection of Jesus. Seeing the Lord rise was the best thing that had happened to Magdalene, and she was excited to share this news with others. Nothing could stop her from retelling the story, which reaffirmed the promise of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. Many people balk at the idea of sharing the news of Jesus’ resurrection. It is important not to be shy about these beliefs, and to share this news enthusiastically just as Magdalene did.
Equality
In biblical times, it was very common for women to be treated less than men. However, Jesus Christ considered Mary Magdalene an equal among His followers. He showed great respect and care for women. He healed, forgave and set both men and women free. Mary Magdalene—a woman, was the very first person to be commissioned to share her testimony. She had equal responsibility to share the Truth and give out the word of Christ. She also contributed financially to the Ministry. It is important that both men and women take equal responsibility to share the Testimony with others.
~ 1776 Christian
