Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-15; John 20 "A PUZZLING ACCOUNT INVOLVING MARY MAGDALENE"
Day 338 – Luke 24
Text: Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-15; John 20
A PUZZLING ACCOUNT INVOLVING MARY MAGDALENE
In John’s Gospel, we have a puzzling account concerning Mary Magdalene. If we do not read the text carefully, we would think that it is in conflict with the other accounts involving the women disciples.
John focused on Mary rather than the other women who accompanied her. Let us bear this thought in mind as we take time to study John’s account of how Mary Magdalene was the first disciple to see the Risen Saviour.
Let us consider what John wrote,
“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene
went to the tomb early, while it was still dark,
and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”
John 20:1
In Mark’s Gospel, we are told about the size of the stone door.
“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices,
That they might come and anoint Him.
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week,
They came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
And they said among themselves,
‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone
Had been rolled away – for it was very large.”
Mark 16:1-4
Mary Magdalene was therefore not alone when she went to the tomb! There were other women disciples with her!
WHO WAS MARY MAGDALENE?
Mary Magdalene was mentioned a number of times in the Gospels. Luke noted that she was among a small group of disciples that followed Jesus. Thus the entourage of Jesus had more than 12 people!
Luke wrote concerning the people who surrounded Jesus wherever He went.
“And the twelve were with Him,
and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits
and infirmities –
Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons…
And many others who provided for Him from their substance.”
Luke 8:1-3
Mark noted that Mary Magdalene was there when Jesus was crucified at Calvary. She was with a small group of women disciples.
“There were also women looking on from afar,
among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James
the Less and of Joses, and Salome,
who also followed Him and ministered to Him
when He was in Galilee, and many other women
who came up with Him to Jerusalem.”
Mark 15:40-41
Mark again noted that Mary was there when Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus laid Jesus in a tomb.
“And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses
observed where He was laid.”
Mark 15:47
If you had been healed and restored, if you have had seven demons cast out of you, how would your relationship be with Jesus? Surely there was a deep bond of love felt and established!
WHERE GRIEF CAN BE SO DEEP!
When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb of Jesus, she was absolutely stunned when she saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
John was not incorrect when he wrote,
“Then she ran and came to Simon Peter,
and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved,
and said to them,
‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb,
and we do not know where they have laid Him.’ “
John 20:2
Mary reacted and ran to find Peter and John. In the meantime, the other women stayed behind, and they met up with the angels. Soon, these women disciples also met with Peter and John and told them incredible news that Jesus had risen from the dead!
There were therefore two “conflicting” stories. Thus, Peter and John were not quite sure which story to believe! Mary and the other women did confirm that the tomb was empty! That much was consistent.
But was Mary there when the angels announced the resurrection of Jesus? Apparently not! Her shock and grief caused her to run back with the astonishing news that the Garden Tomb of Jesus was empty!
Could grief cause such a distortion of discernment of reality? Yes! Just as grief over the death of Jesus could shatter the hopes of the men disciples so badly that they could not bring themselves to go to the tomb of Jesus! Mary grieved deeply because she owed so much to her beloved Lord! Where was Jesus? Who had taken away His body?