Jesus Changed Mary Magdalene; She Changed History
Daily Scripture
Luke 8:1-3
1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled through the cities and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom. The Twelve were with him, 2 along with some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. Among them were Mary Magdalene (from whom seven demons had been thrown out), 3 Joanna (the wife of Herod’s servant Chuza), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
This passage is the earliest point in Jesus’ ministry where any of the gospels named Mary Magdalene. (The Chosen’s depiction of Jesus reaching out to Mary is a “plausible” (their guideline) imagination of how they might have met, based on Luke 8:2.) Scholar Richard B. Vinson noted that the reference to “seven demons” was “a sign of her misery, not her wickedness (see Luke 8:30; 11:26).” * Luke’s gospel was the most inclusive of women and most often noted Jesus’ positive treatment of them.
- Our usual picture of Jesus’ ministry has him traveling the Holy Land with 12 men, period. Only Luke expanded the picture by naming three women (along with “many others”) who not only followed Jesus but “provided for them out of their resources.” Sadly, through the centuries too many Christians have believed that Jesus only valued men to continue his ministry on earth. How does Luke’s direct report alter any of your ideas about men and women in church leadership?
- Too many of us think of horror movies when we read that “seven demons had been thrown out” of Mary. “A demon in the first century could be anything from an unexplained physical illness to a psychiatric disorder to an addiction of some kind…. Whatever had afflicted Mary, she was a troubled person until she met Jesus, who set her free from the demons.” ** What destructive habits, beliefs or influences has Jesus set you free from? How do you express your gratitude?
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for the “demons” you have freed me from. Please continue to guide me to grow in the freedom you came to offer me from all that is destructive. Amen.
GPS Insights
Chris Holliday
Chris Holliday serves as the Connection and Care Pastor and Director of Adult Discipleship at Resurrection West. Chris joined the Resurrection staff in 2009, and first wrote this blog post in 2022.
The second sermon I ever preached led to a life-changing moment. Truly.
The pastor of my hometown church called me when I was in college. He was going on vacation and asked me to preach the Sunday he was away. I’d preached one sermon in my life and that was on Youth Sunday in high school. I’m sure it was awful; but we did get out about 15 minutes early. People really liked that part.
Anyway, I agreed to fill in and the anticipated Sunday arrived. I have no idea what I talked about, but I’m sure it was just as “awesome” as the first time. After the service, I was greeting people as they left. Mrs. Phelps, an older, southern lady who’d been part of that church for a long time and known me all my life, came through. She asked me what I was up to. I said I was majoring in music education and planned to be a high school band director, maybe a college percussion instructor. She paused for a second, looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Don’t ya think you’re missin’ your callin’?”
That was a pivotal moment in my life. Her words stayed with me. Eventually, I answered that call and became a pastor.
I’m thankful that Jesus valued women and included them in his ministry. Women have long played important roles in my life-–from Mrs. Phelps to my grandmothers, mom, wife, daughters, granddaughters and more. I value them greatly and can’t imagine my life without even one of them.
As you pray today, I invite you to remember and give thanks for the special women in your life and the specific ways in which they’ve helped you become who you are. May God bless them and may God bless you. Amen.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Richard B. Vinson, study note on Luke 8:2 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 124 NT.
** Hamilton, Adam. John: The Gospel of Light and Life (p. 148). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.
