Page 12 - January 2025 - Truth & Tidings

" nd there was Mary Magdalene, there is a clear hierarchy in the biblical
lists. The disciples are always listed in
and the other Mary, sitting over
Aagainst the sepulchre” (Mat groups of four. Peter is always listed first
27:61). The world stepped away from the in the group with Andrew, James and
1
cross. The Jews rushed off to keep the feast; John. Philip is always listed fifth, and
the disciples in their flight and fear were joins the second group of Bartholomew,
far away. Even Nicodemus and Joseph Thomas and Matthew. James (the son of
of Arimathea, their act of great devotion Alphaeus) always begins the last group
completed, had returned to their homes. with Thaddaeus and Simon. Judas Iscariot
No one appeared to understand what is always listed last. A simple explana-
would happen next. Mary Magdalene tion of these “rankings” may be that they
did not fully grasp the wonder of the reflect the amount of time spent with
resurrection either, but she knew that the Christ and thereby reveal the level of
body of her Lord and Master lay buried appreciation for Christ. With the preci-
within the tomb. She shared the sorrow of sion of Scripture in mind, consider that
that death with the other Mary as they sat when the names of female disciples are
by His grave. She was not willing to move recorded, it is always Mary Magdalene
away from the Lord Jesus even though it who begins the list. She is named twelve
brought her to the cold stones of the grave. times in the Gospels, and thus, in number
Mary Magdalene was not willing to step of mentions, outpaces all but Peter, James,
away from Christ. John and Philip. We find her at the cross
Closeness to Christ in Matthew, Mark and John. We find her
Closeness to Christ is the defining fea- at the tomb in all four Gospel accounts.
The testimony of Scripture is that Mary
ture of Mary Magdalene in the Scriptures. Magdalene was a woman marked by de-
Closeness to Christ brings true value to votion to Christ. She is never mentioned
life. When we look at the male disciples,
outside of the record of the Gospels, but
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the one wonders if in a later day she heard
KJV. the words of Paul, “For to me to live is

12 TRUTH kTidings January 2025