Mary Magdalene - What We Do Know
Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name more frequently in the gospels than most of the apostles are.
Magdalene is not her last name, but refers to her home town on the sea of Galilee, Magdala.
The gospels tell us that she had been afflicted by seven demons and cured by Jesus. She became one of the earliest and most devoted of his followers.
The vogue of portraying Magdalene as a prostitute has no historical foundation in the New Testament.
She seems to have been the leader of a group of women who traveled with Jesus. It is little known, but it was these women who financially supported Jesus' ministry out of their own resources.
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
When it became dangerous to be associated with Jesus and the apostles fled, it was Magdalene who stood by him.
All four gospels report that Mary Magdalene was present at Jesus' death: John 19:25; Mark 15:40-41, 47; Matthew 27:55-56, 61; Luke 23:49, 55-56.
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clops, and Mary of Magdala.”
And again after the resurrection, before dawn, it was Mary Magdalene who set out for the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. The apostles by this time were in hiding. Each of the gospel writers includes Mary Magdalene among the group that went to the empty tomb: Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-6; Luke 24:1-3, 10; John 20:1-2
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.”
According to John, Jesus first appeared to Magdalene after his resurrection. She was the one who was looking for him on that Easter morning and it was her name which Jesus spoke: "Mary."
““Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said: “Sir, if you have carried him away tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her: “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”.”
The Three Marys at the Tomb, William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905, French). Oil on canvas. Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp, Belgium.
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