While the Saviour was in this world there were a number of women bearing this name, Mary, who were living followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of two of these we have written already in previous issues of the Magazine. This month we wish to refer to one more — Mary Magdalene — who is distinguished from the other Marys, not only by the name ‘Magdalene’, but also by the description given of her in Mark’s Gospel, Chapter 16 and verse 9 — “Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils”.
This, then, is the Mary we intend to write a little about at the present time. It was not just that she was devil-possessed that is brought to our notice, but that seven devils had possession of her. Surely this reminds us that Satan and his kingdom is strong, when he is able to send devils to take possession of people. This, however, is not an ordinary event, but is usually preceded by persons opening themselves, through extreme departure from God, to Satan to take possession of them. It is true that Satan has possession of the hearts of all men as fallen creatures, but the devil-possession that was so rife in the Saviour’s time in the world, and of which there have been many instances since, is a further step downwards on a course to everlasting destruction. In it Satan powerfully takes possession of that soul, making it a willing slave in his service and wholly under the influence of the evil spirit dwelling in it, or as it is in this case, under the power of seven evil spirits dwelling in her. How hopeless to human eyes is such a case. Yet what is impossible with men is possible with God. Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, and even a Mary Magdalene, possessed though she was with seven devils, was not beyond His power to deliver. As on other occasions, He cast the devils out and no doubt Mary, like the man out of whom Christ cast a legion of devils, was at once found sitting at the feet of Jesus in her right mind. What a change Almighty power can effect! What encouragement this should give to poor needy sinner to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing they need. Though we should find ourselves as Mary Magdalene did with seven devils dwelling within — and if we are honest with ourselves is this not how we often are in our own experience as though seven devils dwelt within — have we not encouragement here to come in all our need and in all our lostness to the One who has power both to raise the dead and to cast out devils?
Mary became a new creature in Christ Jesus — a new creation. She was begotten again from the dead unto a lively hope. She forsook her old paths and now became a follower of the meek and lowly Christ Jesus. It is not just once she appears on the page of Holy Writ but once and again and particularly in connection with Christ’s death on Calvary and His resurrection. She was one of that noble band of women who followed Jesus from Galilee ministering unto Him, on that last journey He made to Jerusalem. How little did they understand as they made their way there, of the events that were to transpire there, although the Saviour had forewarned them of them. He, Himself, had set His face like a flint to go to Jerusalem. He said to them, “the things concerning Me have an end”. Events in the history of the world were moving to a climax as this loyal band of followers, following Jesus in the way, followed Him for the last time to that city of which Jesus Himself had said: “It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem”.
A little later we see Him led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, opening not His mouth. Where now is that little band? A short time before it had to be recorded of the disciples that they all forsook Him and fled. But now we are at Calvary. Where are they now? It would seem that at least some of them had summed up a little more courage, for John at least was there beholding. But what of the women? Yes, they are there, their eyes, no doubt, running down with tears as they beheld the Lamb of God on Calvary’s accursed tree. Yes, it is left on record to their honour that many women were there beholding afar off, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. Were they recalling the words of Jesus to them as He went forth to suffer and to die — the just for the unjust? He had then counselled them — “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children”, as He forewarned them of the tragic events which would overtake Jerusalem, events of which He had hinted to his disciples earlier when He said concerning the temple that not one stone would be left upon another. But these things were future. For the present their minds were taken up with present events, and particularly, as they beheld, Him with the decease which He was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Mary Magdalene and the other women were witnesses of His sufferings and of His death. Nor do we find them turning away from the Cross after the Saviour with a loud cry yielded up His spirit into the hands of God. Rather do we see them following Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus as they reverently carry the body of Jesus to the tomb — and only then they return — and even then it is to prepare spices with which to come and anoint His body after the Sabbath.
When the Sabbath is past it is the women who are first at the sepulchre — blessed women to whom the Saviour meant so much. Of Mary Magdalene we read that on the first day of the week she came early when it was yet dark to the sepulchre and saw the stone taken away. She ran and told Peter who came along with another disciple and saw these things for himself. The disciples then went away again unto their own home.
Not so, Mary Magdalene. She stood without at the sepulchre weeping. Her message to Peter had been: “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him”. No doubt this question was still uppermost in her mind as she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre and saw “two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain”. To their enquiry, “Woman, why weepest thou?”, she could only reply, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him”.
Weep no more, we might well say to Mary, your request shall soon have an answer. Only turn round and you shall have your heart’s desire. She does so, only to be addressed in a similar fashion, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou”. Mary, we may address her, do you not understand that He who addresses you now is the One your heart seeks after? But she knew Him not, and supposing Him to be the gardener said: “Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away”. Mary, we might say, Do you still not understand who it is that addresses these words to you? No, she does not yet understand — but one word more and all will be revealed to her. That word is “Mary”. Immediately she turned herself and said “Rabboni”.
Oh gracious, Oh wonderful mystery, that the risen Lord, the One who had conquered death and the grave should reveal Himself first after His resurrection to Mary Magdalene out of whom He had cast seven devils! Oh the wonder of the grace of Him who stooped so low to rescue sinners and to lift them up from the pit of corruption, to set them with the princes, even with the princes of His people! So it was in the case of Mary Magdalene, and so it will be with you, sinner, if you are saved by grace. And eternity will not hear the end of it, for the song of the redeemed on Mount Zion above will consist of never-ending praise to Him that loved them and washed them from their sins in His own blood and make them kings and priests unto God and His Father.