And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre” (Mat 27:61).1 The world stepped away from the cross. The Jews rushed off to keep the feast; the disciples in their flight and fear were far away. Even Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, their act of great devotion completed, had returned to their homes. No one appeared to understand what would happen next. Mary Magdalene did not fully grasp the wonder of the resurrection either, but she knew that the body of her Lord and Master lay buried within the tomb. She shared the sorrow of that death with the other Mary as they sat by His grave. She was not willing to move away from the Lord Jesus even though it brought her to the cold stones of the grave. Mary Magdalene was not willing to step away from Christ.
Closeness to Christ
Closeness to Christ is the defining feature of Mary Magdalene in the Scriptures. Closeness to Christ brings true value to life. When we look at the male disciples, there is a clear hierarchy in the biblical lists. The disciples are always listed in groups of four. Peter is always listed first in the group with Andrew, James and John. Philip is always listed fifth, and joins the second group of Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew. James (the son of Alphaeus) always begins the last group with Thaddaeus and Simon. Judas Iscariot is always listed last. A simple explanation of these “rankings” may be that they reflect the amount of time spent with Christ and thereby reveal the level of appreciation for Christ. With the precision of Scripture in mind, consider that when the names of female disciples are recorded, it is always Mary Magdalene who begins the list. She is named twelve times in the Gospels, and thus, in number of mentions, outpaces all but Peter, James, John and Philip. We find her at the cross in Matthew, Mark and John. We find her at the tomb in all four Gospel accounts. The testimony of Scripture is that Mary Magdalene was a woman marked by devotion to Christ. She is never mentioned outside of the record of the Gospels, but one wonders if in a later day she heard the words of Paul, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,” and sweetly nodded her head in agreement (Php 1:21).
What gave Mary Magdalene such a burning desire to be near the Lord Jesus, and how can I be more like her? Firstly, she never lost the appreciation of her salvation. Luke records, “Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils” (8:2). What dark bondage Mary of Magdala had known! What sweet release and salvation the Savior had brought to her! Was the bondage of our sin any less? Do we have any less cause for joy in the freedom of salvation? Secondly, Mary’s thankfulness motivated her in service for the Lord. Luke chapter 8 reveals to us that, along with Joanna and Susanna, she provided practical and financial support to the Lord in His ministry. Do my calendar and bank account reveal a life surrendered to the things of the Lord?
Clinging to Christ
We have already considered so many ways in which Scripture shows deference to Mary in her devotion. Perhaps no honor is as meaningful as the reality that she was the first to see Christ after the resurrection. If you would like to review the details of this meeting, they are beautifully laid out in the April 2024 edition of this magazine. It is likely true that a type is being preserved. The woman of the garden, Eve, sinned and experienced separation from God as the fruit of disobedience, yet here, Mary Magdalene, also in a garden, enjoys a reunion with Christ and the fruit of the tree of Calvary.
It seems right and natural that the woman who was saved by Him, who stayed close to Him, and who sat by His tomb would now cling to Him in the resurrection. So why is the Lord’s instruction to her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (Joh 20:17)? What at first seems cold and callous is, in fact, fundamental and fabulous. This was truth that Mary Magdalene could cling to for the rest of her days, and she was the very first to receive this instruction on the other side of the cross. The Lord Jesus introduced to her the reality of a new relationship. He was highlighting to her that the work of the cross has brought believers so close that they are in the very family of God. The Lord Jesus also trusted her with a new responsibility. Some have referred to Mary Magdalene as “The Apostle to the Apostles,” and indeed she was entrusted to deliver these amazing words to the disciples. Mary’s closeness to Christ meant she was the first to hear such sweet truth.
In my home assembly in New Jersey, there is a very dear believer who ranks with Mary as those who are close to Christ. She was born in Jamaica. Because of her albinism, her mother left her at an orphanage as a young girl. However, it was there at the orphanage that she was befriended by believers who introduced her to the Lord Jesus. In recent years, she has been bereaved of her husband and seen her world fade with failing eyesight. If you were to speak to Faye today, she would express no interest in going backward to change the past, but rather yearns for the future when she will be with Him. The truth is that closeness to Christ in this life prepares us for His presence in the world to come. “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Php 3:8).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
