Who is Mary Magdalene?
A few of the children and staff went to a "MARY MARY"
Christian concert on January 30, 2011. Mary Mary's vocals were off the
hook amazing!
The singers are sisters and no, their mother did not name both of them Mary. :) They said they named their group after the two main Mary's in the Bible. Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. They were complete opposites. Mary, the mother of Jesus was described as being perfect to be chosen to carry our Savior. Mary Magdalene who was not so perfect, but God loved them both so dearly despite their past.
So, who is Mary Magdalene and what makes her not so perfect?
Let's look at some scripture. Mark 16:9
9 - When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). The name Magdalene likely indicates that she came from Magdala, a city on the southwest coast of the Sea of Galilee. After Jesus cast seven demons from her, she became one of His followers.
Mary Magdalene has been associated with the, "Woman in the city who was a sinner" (Luke 7:37) who washed Jesus' feet, but there is no scriptural basis for this. The city of Magdala did have a reputation for prostitution. This information, coupled with the fact that Luke first mentions Mary Magdalene immediately following his account of the sinful woman (Luke 7:36-50), has led some to equate the two women. John 11:2, though, identifies the women in Luke 7:36-50 as Mary of Bethany, not Mary Magdalene.
There is also debate whether Mary Magdalene is to be the woman caught in adultery (John 8:4-11). This is the woman that Jesus defends when the Pharisees and teachers of the law wanted to stone her. Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7). The Bible never mentions the woman's name.
Here's what we know as a fact based on scripture.
A) Mary Magdalene had seven demons cast out of her by Jesus (Luke 8:2)
B) Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after He resurrected. She was the first one out of all the disciples to see Jesus (John 20:10-18; Mark 16:9).
What can we learn from this?
The singers are sisters and no, their mother did not name both of them Mary. :) They said they named their group after the two main Mary's in the Bible. Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. They were complete opposites. Mary, the mother of Jesus was described as being perfect to be chosen to carry our Savior. Mary Magdalene who was not so perfect, but God loved them both so dearly despite their past.
So, who is Mary Magdalene and what makes her not so perfect?
Let's look at some scripture. Mark 16:9
9 - When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). The name Magdalene likely indicates that she came from Magdala, a city on the southwest coast of the Sea of Galilee. After Jesus cast seven demons from her, she became one of His followers.
Mary Magdalene has been associated with the, "Woman in the city who was a sinner" (Luke 7:37) who washed Jesus' feet, but there is no scriptural basis for this. The city of Magdala did have a reputation for prostitution. This information, coupled with the fact that Luke first mentions Mary Magdalene immediately following his account of the sinful woman (Luke 7:36-50), has led some to equate the two women. John 11:2, though, identifies the women in Luke 7:36-50 as Mary of Bethany, not Mary Magdalene.
There is also debate whether Mary Magdalene is to be the woman caught in adultery (John 8:4-11). This is the woman that Jesus defends when the Pharisees and teachers of the law wanted to stone her. Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7). The Bible never mentions the woman's name.
Here's what we know as a fact based on scripture.
A) Mary Magdalene had seven demons cast out of her by Jesus (Luke 8:2)
B) Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after He resurrected. She was the first one out of all the disciples to see Jesus (John 20:10-18; Mark 16:9).
What can we learn from this?
- Mary
went from being the person with seven demons cast out of her to the
very one chosen by Jesus to see him first after he died and rose again
(His resurrection).
- There's
nothing too bad that you can do that God would not forgive you. The
thing is...YOU have to choose to turn from the things you are doing
wrong and choose to put God first in your life and to give God the
glory.
- The
one thing God won't forgive you for is you rejecting Him. That means a
liar, adulterer, robber, and even a murderer could still go to heaven.
What? How?
- We
are all sinners. We all must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and
truly mean it in our hearts & stop doing the things we know are
wrong.
- Here's why we believe that. In Luke 23:32-43 their were two criminals that were being crucified next to Jesus. One mocked Jesus and the other one said to the mocker, "'We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'"