“Go find my brothers and tell them!” - A Reflection from the Life of Magdalene Mary

Magdalene Mary is one woman who has been misunderstood during her life time and even now. What is her true story? She was one among the few named women in the gospels. Her name comes in all the gospels, 14 times. She was always listed first among any named women. The risen Christ firstly appeared to Magdalene Mary. She has been widely accepted as an “Apostle to the Apostles”. The gospels in the Bible imply that Magdalene Mary should have been in a leadership position among disciples.

Her Story
She is called Magdalene Mary, because she comes from a small town, “Magdala.” She was troubled as a youth, possessed by seven demons. Her life changed, from being a vessel of dishonour to an ornament of Jesus’ power. Because Luke 8:1-3 follows the unnamed sinner woman’s story, many tend to connect Magdalene and the sinner woman, and thereby call Magdalene Mary as a “reformed prostitute.” Demonic possession and sin of a woman need not have to do with an immoral behaviour always. Mary Magdalene became a follower of Jesus. She and a women’s group served Jesus and his team by taking care of their food and lodging, out of their own means (Luke 8:1-3)

Magdalene Mary followed Jesus all the way till the cross, while the “twelve’’ who were all men, did not do that. The “top two” disciples, Peter and John gave up, searching for Jesus at the empty tomb and went back home (John 20:3-9). But Magdalene Mary persistently waited at the empty tomb, all alone. So, God planned angels to talk to her at the empty tomb. To her surprise and shock, she then saw Jesus and she tried to hold on to him, conveying a message, that she did not want to lose him physically anymore. But Jesus gave a spiritual mandate to her to tell the good news to the other brothers (John 20:17). But we also see that the disciples did not believe her (Mark 16:11). Jesus appeared to the disciples, the men later. But they were stubborn and cynical and Jesus had to rebuke them (Mark 16:14).

The writers of the four gospels differ in their accounts about the resurrection, but they all agree that Magdalene Mary played a central role in meeting the risen Christ and that she told others. But Paul also did not acknowledge Magdalene Mary or the other women, as witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). Mary Magdalene should have been even among the 120, which included women, on the day of the Pentecost, mentioned in Acts 1 & 2.

Traditions say that Magdalene Mary served as an evangelist and went as far as France to proclaim the good news. The truth and the good news today is: it is Jesus who entitles women to take their place alongside brothers in churches and ministries today, like how he empowered Magdalene Mary. We all have the same spiritual mandate of telling about a risen Christ to the men and women in villages, towns, hills and everywhere! Dusting off all criticisms, women can find their strength in the words of Jesus. HE says to you and me today, “Go find my brothers and tell them!” Let us therefore do it!!