Great Women

As I reflect on Women’s History Month, I am moved by the great women of the Bible. Those that literally changed the world. The ones that are not mentioned in the history books but offer us great pictures of leadership, faith, love, devotion, and sacrifice.

The amazing courage and leadership of Esther, the picture of loyalty from Ruth, the wisdom of Rahab, the faith of Mary, these are some of the women that stand out as heroes in the Bible. And, there are so many others. They loved God, and they loved others. I pray for my daughter’s to emulate these amazing women of faith.

But, perhaps, no one has inspired me more than Mary Magdalene. Maybe it is because I see myself a bit in her, as she is a picture of a life changed forever by Jesus. She did nothing. She didn’t deserve it, didn’t even ask for it. But, she was changed. And, her love, her unashamed devotion, her care for Christ, are a picture of loyalty, faith, obedience. Very few have impacted so many people as Mary Magdalene. You’ll find no pride, no self-glorification in her story.

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Luke 8:1-2

Mary Magdalene was very sick. The above verse is all we know about her illness. Commentaries point to different illnesses that the “seven demons” could represent. We do know that convulsions or mental illness are a couple of symptoms of those impacted by demons in the Bible. Regardless of what exactly the “seven demons” were, we do know that Mary was a very sick lady.

Mary Magdalene most certainly didn’t have hope for her future. She more than likely lived in fear about her illness. She saw the world from a very distorted perspective. Her view of life was anything but optimistic. For reasons unknown, this was the burden she was given to carry. Check out the first few episodes of The Chosen for one person’s picture of what life could have been like for Mary.

But, this is why Jesus came, for the sick. Mary Magdalene’s life was indeed in shambles, but Jesus took away all the pain, the confusion, the hurt, instantaneously. Immediately, Mary moved from pain and confusion, maybe bitterness about her life, to a life of hope, peace, and joy.

The Bible doesn’t give us a clear picture of the actual healing, but we get crystal clear imagery of how Mary Magdalene’s life changed. The woman miraculously healed by Christ became a passionate follower of Jesus, a picture of serving by his side. Imagine all the miracles, the teaching, the power that she witnessed at the side of Jesus. She definitely experienced some good times, but she also experienced the depths of pain and sorrow following Him.

Mary watched from a distance as Jesus was crucified.

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 and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. John 27:55-56

Imagine the pain and anguish witnessing the brutal killing of Jesus. The One who had set Mary free was now hanging on a cross. When Jesus cried out with his last breath, imagine Mary’s cry, the hopelessness, the despair, the finality.

Mary was also loyally at His tomb. In fact, she is one of the first to visit. The sun had not yet risen that morning.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. John 20:11-18

What a scene. Jesus personally, uniquely appears to the one who is completely defeated, destroyed, in a state of desperation. Once again, Mary is given hope, joy, and peace, instantaneously. Imagine the excitement as she ran to tell the others. She had a new vision of her own life.

What was true 2,000 years ago is true today. Jesus uniquely, personally, impacts lives. Sometimes, the miracle may happen. The sick may be made well. Or, maybe the one mired in a destructive lifestyle immediately receives hope and peace. Maybe it is an event, a hopeless situation where He rescues. These changes in direction happen every day. I wrote about a few of these instances from my own life in The Anchor.

But, sometimes it looks different. Sometimes, what we think of as a miracle doesn’t happen. In fact, it is invisible to the eye. Sometime, it is His Presence being felt, made known. His presence provides, peace, joy, security, hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. His Presence provides an anchor to hold onto as the waves rock. We will all have this storm in our life where we have to cling to the Anchor. At some moment in life, He will be the only answer. But, He will be there. He was uniquely, personally there for Mary, and He will be there for you as well. He promised that for us, and His promises always come true. And His Presence gets us through the moment.

Like Mary, a life Christ has touched looks different. A light shines through this life. A light that is desperately needed to give hope to others. Nothing fulfills like a life spent for others. Be the light today.

By the way, the above story is the Gospel through the life of Mary Magdalene. If you ever have trouble describing the good news, think about Mary. Her life is a picture of the value of knowing Christ.

Impact others. Live generously.

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