This lesson appears in the book: The Holy Land Companion Guide Biblical Sermons & Lessons to guide you through the Holy Land and Egypt. By: Pastor and Christian Author Jessica Linhart available @ Amazon.com: Jessica Linhart: books, biography, latest update
Magdala was an ancient Jewish city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. On day four of our travel to Israel we will visit Magdala; which is around 3 miles north of Tiberias. It could have been where the little boy got his smoked fish that Jesus multiplied and fed the 5,000. Many Historians believe that Mary Magdalene was born there. Remember, she housed 7 demons and Jesus cast them out? In addition, archeologists have found a temple that they think Jesus may have taught in. Therefore, if your visiting the Temple be sure to sit and image listening to Jesus speak and walk the path Jesus would have walked!
Today, lets study the character of Mary Magdalene and discover how we can a live a devoted life. First answer the following two questions and read the explanation paragraph!
What is devotion? Devotion is defined as loyalty, dedication or love for someone or something.
Are you devoted to Christ?
Devotion is also understood to be religious passion, private prayer, private worship, or another spiritual discipline. We are showing devotion to God when we desire to spend time with Him. When we devote our time, energy, and passion to praying and studying to be more like Jesus – we are demonstrating an act of devotion.
Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus Christ. She followed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. She is mentioned several times in the Gospels as a devoted follower. She was healed of demons, followed Jesus, was present at his crucifixion and burial, and she bought spices for his burial. In addition, she is also believed to have been the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus. She was one of the few female disciples of Jesus and played an important role in the early Christian church. Finally, her story serves as an example of faith and dedication, and she remains an important figure in Christianity today.
Magdala is said to be the village, where Mary is said to be from. If this is true, Jesus would’ve most likely taught in the temple. It was a humble fishing village, Magdala was in the northern shore of the sea of Galilee.
What I found to be interesting about Mary Magdalene is that Jesus healed her of seven demons. Now, if you are housed with one demon people would look at you in shock, and most likely be angered. In Mary’s culture, she would have been ostracized. She would been considered unclean. If you were unclean, then you could not participate in Jewish activities. You were alone. Let’s examine Luke chapter 8.
Luke 8:1-2. 1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
The words, every city, and every village is the reason why scholars say that Jesus walked through the Decapolis. The cities throughout this area were commonly traveled; therefore, the writers of scripture may not have thought to include the names of each one. In Magdola, archaeologists have discovered the temple. In this temple were the stones that held the scrolls. The scrolls were the Bible that Jesus would have read from while delivering His message.
Mary had been in a horrible situation. Being demon possessed she would have had very little control over her body. She would not have had a very good life. Demons would have caused her to do many things out of her character. Following the rule of a Demond, one is often punished with bodily harm.
I would even say starvation tactics could be a demon tactic. I couldn’t imagine a life full of darkness and full of pain. Our creator, God did not create us to be in darkness. God did not create us to be alone. We are so blessed that Jesus Christ came and won the victory. We are so blessed that we have come out of the darkness into the light.
Jesus Christ healed Mary Magdalene not of just one demon, but seven. When you were saved how many demons did God deliver you from? How about anger, inappropriate language, selfishness, and what else?
A touch from the master and she no was the longer the same. Can you say that after you were saved you no longer were the same?
She was sanctified and set apart for the purpose of Jesus. Today, we would want to have a whole church full of Mary Magdalene ‘s, because the vision that God has given the church would be completed. If every member were to be sanctified the church would operate under one accord. Everyone would be about the father’s business. The bills of the church would be paid, and we would have no budget issues. This type of church would impact the community and the world.
This woman would have lived a life of thanksgiving. When we are thankful, we stay focused on God, and we realize His power; which aligns our faith. And this is what we are called to do today. We are called to praise the Lord And put our trust and hope in him each and every day. Therefore, to increase your devotion to Christ try making a list of thanks God has done for you and done through you.
There are many accounts of men in the Bible, and this is largely due to the culture of humanity. Mary Magdalene is very much, a disciple of the Lord. Aren’t you a disciple of the Lord? 1. She was probably present at the trials Jesus faced.
2 She was there to hear Pontius Pilot pronounce the sentence on Jesus’s life.
3 She would’ve been there during Jesus’s meetings
during his scourging,
4 She was there during the crucifixion,
5 She was definitely there during his resurrection.
She was so important to Jesus that she became an evangelist.
Now, to prove most of what I just said, let’s examine God‘s word!
- For example, in Mark 16:1, we see that Mary Magdalene, and some other women put their money together and bought anointing oils for Jesus‘s mummification. Mar 16:1 – And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
- For example, in Mark 15:40 we see that Mary Magdalene was near the cross. Here is what it says: Mar 15:40 – There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
- Another example, and God’s book, appears in John 19:25 – Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
We see that Mary Magdalene was closer to the Cross at this time. I don’t want to imagine the agony that these women went through while they watched Jesus hanging there on the cross. I can’t imagine watching a horror movie, because the Spirit inside of me is pure; therefore watching Jesus through the beatings and crucifixion would just be devastating.
For Mary and others witnessing this would’ve been pure anguish and agony, knowing that your dear loved one would be dead in a few moments, if you hours, and in a few days. Oh, such turmoil and torment.
Out of all the people in the Bible, and out of all of the disciples, Mary Magdalene was the first one that had the privilege to see Jesus in his resurrected form.
Now let’s consider John 20:11. It reads as follows:
John 20:11 (King James Version) 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ “18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to
We see here in verse 11 that Mary was distraught. And as we would be, if our loved one, had just died a horrific death. Then, she discovered that there was no body in the tomb. Her first reaction was to think the body of Jesus was stolen. She wasn’t wishing for or anticipating the resurrection of Jesus, and she certainly did not imagine it out of hope. This would be similar to the funeral home loosing the body of our love one. It would be unimaginable!
She saw two angels in white sitting: Mary didn’t notice the burial wrappings and their curious arrangement; now there were two angels in the tomb. Mary didn’t seem to react with shock or fear. She was concerned about Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” Jesus had only to say one word, and all was explained. She heard in the name and the tone the voice of her beloved Messiah, and instantly called Him Rabboni (as did another Mary in John 11:28). How long has it been since Jesus called your name? Have you heard him say: “do this or do that?” Or has He said: “well done!”
Go to My brethren and say to them: Jesus made a woman the first witness of His resurrection. The law courts of that day would not recognize the testimony of a woman, but Jesus did. In the court it had to be two women; because they said their word was 1/2 as good as a man’s. Jesus broke down all the barriers man had instituted! He had one mission to do the will of God? What is your mission today?
