One weekend during the Lent we were watching the movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and one of the characters who impressed me the most was Mary Magdalene. Somehow the scene where she’s lying on the ground and, seeing Jesus approach her, stretches out her hand to seek His. This scene touched me the most. Coincidentally, the same scene appeared on the cover page of that week’s EXAMINER magazine with the headline “sin no more”. When I had seen the scene in the movie even I felt the same and knew Mary Magdalene giving her hand to Jesus had a lot of significance.
The whole story of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute (adulterous), who is fallen and redeemed, is a very powerful image of redemption. I guess it has a signal that no matter how low one has fallen, one can be redeemed. Mary Magdalene is the sinner who repented after Jesus saved her from being stoned by a mob. Somehow, she has left a lasting impression on me. If I am not wrong, I feel Mary Magdalene is fast becoming a role model for women who expect more important roles for themselves in their respective churches.
Sadly, the non-biblical image of Mary Magdalene as a repentant adulterous is an image that had been officially sanctioned by the Catholic Church in the sixth century. And it’s that image that has been perpetuated by dozens of Christian paintings and movies ever since.
The word “Mary” is found 54 times in the Bible. There are up to five different Marys in the Gospels and seven in the New Testament as a whole and I feel Mary Magdalene had such a privileged role in the Gospels. Among the women who are specifically named in the New Testament of the Bible, Mary Magdalene’s name is one of the most frequently found.
Though some believe that the woman that Jesus saved from being stoned by the crowd was Mary Magdalene; the Bible does not specify who the woman was, however. The Bible does not specifically mention what sin Mary Magdalene committed. However, Mary Magdalene was a friend and disciple of Jesus, and was present at the horrific crucifixion, and was the first witness of His resurrection.
It is believed that Mary Magdalene was healed by Jesus and followed Him as He taught and healed many. Mary Magdalene’s age is unknown; biblical texts say nothing about when she was born or died. Mary Magdalene was one of the earliest and most devoted followers of Jesus.
Also known as Miriam of Magdala, Mary Magdalene was a woman who had been possessed by seven demons. Mary Magdalene was there at the foot of the Cross, mourning for the dead Christ. She’s the one who visited the tomb of Christ first thing in the morning, as she was one of Jesus’ close companions. Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene. What a privilege! The morning after Jesus had been placed in the tomb, Mary Magdalene went to visit the tomb while it was still dark. On seeing the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene was so overcome with grief that when she saw the stone turned, she ran back to tell Peter and the rest of Jesus’ followers the good news. Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the risen Jesus. On the third day, a Sunday, Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!”
Mary Magdalene, the name itself invokes images of the repentant adulterous, yet that isn’t the Mary Magdalene of the Bible. After the Lord Jesus cured Mary Magdalene of possession by seven demons, she became his faithful follower – so much like all of us!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment