Mary Magdalene: Showing Up

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early…” (John 20:1).

Everyone loves a good comeback story. Since that’s true, today’s lesson will consider Mary Magdalene’s thrilling comeback and elegant finish. In fact, her story might be regarded as one of the best comebacks in the Bible. It’s not only compelling and purposeful, but her faithfulness is so unique that it has inspired this lesson. Why is it inspirational? First and foremost, because it showcases God and His mighty work of redemption and transformation, and next, it exposes the fruit of redemption and its results. By the way, the results are ideally the same:  A new life with a new focus. So, who is Mary Magdalene? Simply stated, she’s a sinner, like us, who received God’s grace and was transformed into a faithful follower and devoted disciple. So let’s take a look.

Mary’s journey is seen throughout the gospels. According to verses found in Matthew 27 and 28; Mark 15 and 16; Luke 8:2 and chapters 23 and 24; and John chapters 19 and 20, Mary Magdalene’s call birthed obedience that yielded much fruit for the kingdom. We see it evidenced here. (Note: If you are unfamiliar with her story and the magnitude of her profound deliverance, you may wish to pause and read some of the noted texts above.) When Mary was redeemed, she was changed through and through and never looked back! Moreover, she became “the faithful” witness when it mattered most. Her testimony would be invaluable when the disciples and others sought an eyewitness account of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. And yes, you guessed it: Mary Magdalene was there! Although she was always a humble servant and never prideful, I couldn’t help but chuckle in thinking that if she were ungracious when they pressed her, she could have said: “Yes, I showed up; I was there! Where were you when they crucified my Lord?” But as you already know, she didn’t!

Was she really a disciple? Yes! There were many women disciples, and from what I can see in scripture, they made excellent followers. Truthfully, though, we would be hard-pressed to find a more devoted follower than Mary Magdalene during Jesus’ earthly ministry. There is no doubt that her conversion was genuine, because the Bible records her faithful presence every step of the way. Why is that significant? Because, apart from divine deliverance, her success would have been impossible. 

Indeed, she was there - she showed up! Don’t miss that fact - it’s huge. My mother often said: “Showing up is half the battle.” At the time, I didn’t grasp the importance of her words or their rich meaning - spiritual or otherwise. Now I do. The more I minister to women (prisoners, too) and observe their struggles, the more I’m convinced that “our will” gets in the way - even though God loves us, woos us to faithfulness, and has a better plan. We seem to trip ourselves up and sometimes talk ourselves out of doing the next right thing. If not ourselves, we allow others to do so. But Mary Magdalene didn’t! That’s one of the things that makes her story so compelling. Watch this! She was where she needed to be at the appointed time, and God wooed her there and gave her strength to remain.

Because it matters, let’s consider “showing up.” Mary Magdalene was there - at Jesus’ trial, the beatings, the cross, and the grave. But it was more than that. She was the first to see the risen Lord and proclaim, “He has risen!” Did you catch that? Because she was there, she was the first to announce the miracle of the resurrection. Mary Magdalene, and not Peter, James, or John, came face to face with the resurrected Lord and worshiped Him - first! And when Jesus called her name, she responded by falling down, clasping His nail-pierced feet, and tearfully adoring Him with every ounce of her being - mind, body, spirit, and soul.

Why is this significant? First, because she was there, and second, because of her complete transformation. Since her experience is unique, we must consider her radical rescue, because it completely changed her life. Mary Magdalene’s deliverance had such a profound impact that she lived! 

Before Jesus, her future was bleak. Her death and destruction were imminent. According to the gospels, when Jesus met her, Mary was possessed of evil torment - to the uttermost. The Bible reports that “seven demons” possessed her. But it was more than mere apprehension! Their assault was severe and intense - a sure death sentence - because these demons overpowered her, taking complete control of her senses and actions. Was it really seven? Maybe, but the significance of seven here reflects the totality of her affliction - and its relentless stronghold - which was complete.

But watch this! Once Jesus cast out the demons, she was a faithful follower - a devoted disciple. Note the heart change and conversion!  It was complete and effectual. The occasion of her rescue and its surrounding events are not revealed in scripture - only that it happened. Why? Since it’s not essential to our understanding, those circumstances have been concealed rather than revealed. Even so, God has given us more than enough to recognize her transformation as genuine. Once restored, she was eager to attend to Jesus’ needs and support His work. At what level? Entirely! That’s wholeheartedly and with abandon, enough to leave her home in Magdala to follow and minister unto Him. As far as we can see in scripture, from the moment of her conversion, Mary Magdalene was singularly focused. She served at her Master’s pleasure, because she knew firsthand His wonderful works, healing touch, and redemption. Mary Magdalene was living proof that God saves! 

Ladies, we must never forget: Jesus makes us new and like Him, and that’s the Father’s goal. Paul explains: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). (Emphasis added.) Indeed, one touch or word from the Master, and we begin the sanctification journey - to live for Jesus, look like Jesus, and love like Jesus. Then His spirit compels us to “show up.”

What’s the takeaway? We must show up! It matters more than we can imagine. Did Mary Magdalene know its importance? Of course not. But that was never her focus - Only Jesus! She was there because she loved Him, so she drew near, and as heart-wrenching as it was, she trusted Him for the outcome. What a word for us! Since we believe and have His Spirit, surely we can trust Him and yield by showing up, drawing near, or simply being there! I’ve already said, “That’s half the battle!” When we yield, He does great things in and through us - sometimes, the likes of which we have never seen! After all, Mary showed up and encountered the risen Lord! Indeed, it was the promised miracle of miracles, the likes of which men had never seen!

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, make us faithful witnesses. Help us remember that You were Mary Magdalene’s singular focus and compelled her to succeed. May our focus be likewise by Your grace and for Your glory. Thank you, Jesus! Amen and amen.