 | Mary Magdalene led a
group of women who were prominent followers of Jesus of Nazareth. They were
the main witnesses of all the events surrounding Jesus; crucifixion, death,
burial and resurrection. |
| The story of Mary
Magdalene contains four different episodes:
 | Mary Magdalene was
a disciple of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3)
 | Mary is
described as a woman whom Jesus cured of an unspecified illness. She
led a group of women who provided for Jesus and his followers from
their own financial resources. |
|
| Mary was at the
crucifixion (Mark 15:40-41, Luke 23:49, Matthew 27:55-56, John 19:25)
| In each of the
four accounts of the crucifixion Mary was present, either standing
at a distance with other women, or standing near the cross. |
|
| Mary attempted to
prepare Jesus’ body for burial (Luke 23:55-56, Matthew 27:61)
| Mary watched as
Jesus’ body was sealed within the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. She
and the other women prepared the spices needed for proper burial of
a body and came to the tomb to anoint the body. |
|
| Mary was the first
witness to the resurrection (Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-11, Matthew
28:1-10, John 20:1-18).
| Mary found that
Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb. She received a message from
an angel. She was the first person to see Jesus. He asked her not to
cling to him, but to go to the others and speak to them.
|
|
|
| Throughout the
centuries, Mary Magdalene was incorrectly portrayed in literature and art as
a reformed prostitute. This happened because:
| Mary Magdalene was
confused with the woman with the alabaster jar, described in Luke
7:36-50; the story of this other woman comes just before Mary Magdalene
is first mentioned - the woman with the alabaster jar is called a
'sinner.’ |
| Mary Magdalene is
described as having a serious illness, but the nature of the illness is
unspecified; later male interpreters linked Mary’s illness, her
‘demons’, with her sexuality |
|
| Mary was also confused
with Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. |
·
Jesus has encouraged his disciples
to go out and preach his teachings to the world, but they are afraid to do so
because he was killed for it, and they say 'if they killed him, they are going
to kill us too'.
·
Mary steps forward and says: don't
be worried, he promised he would be with us to protect us. It says she turns
their hearts toward the good and they begin to discuss the words of the Savior.
·
The second section of the text
contains a description by Mary of special revelation given to her by the Savior.
o
The revelation is in the form of a
dialogue
o
Mary asks the risen Savior how one
sees a vision.
o
The Savior reveals the mystery of
how the how the soul rise past the four powers and reaches a state free of their
bonds to attain eternal silent rest.
·
Mary is challenged by Peter and
Andrew.
·
Levi admonishes them to leave Mary
alone because it is known that Jesus loved her best. He encourages them to go
out and preach and they do.
·
In texts like the Gospel of Philip,
Mary was presented as a symbol of wisdom. However, in the Gospel of Mary, she is
the one in charge, telling the disciples about Jesus' teachings.
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