Messengers of the GospelSample

Changed for Eternity

Mary Magdalene is probably best known as the devout follower of Jesus who was at the foot of the cross. She was also the first to see and talk with Jesus after the resurrection and the first to proclaim to the disciples that Jesus had risen. Jesus trusted Mary to be the messenger of His resurrection to those who loved Him and were grieving His loss. From just these snapshots, it looked like she had it all together.

It may surprise you that Mary’s life before Jesus was chaos. Years of pain and misery were summed up in one short verse about her past:

“Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out” (Luke 8:2b NIV)

The Bible does not give many details about that period of her life, but we have enough stories of others who were demonized to know that it was traumatic and painful. Did she live as an outcast in her community? Was she estranged from her family? Had she struggled with violence and self-harm because of the many demons living in her?

We are not told all the details of her suffering, but what we do know is that when Jesus showed up, everything changed. Jesus stepped in and drove seven demons out of Mary Magdalene. (Luke 8:2, Mark 16:9 NIV) From the day of her freedom on, Mary would devote her life to serving the one who had set her free.

Magdalene was not Mary’s last name. It most likely refers to Magdala, a large and wealthy seaside city on the western side of the Sea of Galilee. Mary was from this prosperous city and used her skills and resources to provide financial support to the ministry of Jesus. (Luke 8:3) She had such an admiration for the work of Jesus that she wanted to invest her time, talents, and treasure to bring the message of Jesus to everyone possible. She joined the large group of disciples who traveled around with Jesus doing ministry. Mary is a good example to all of us of how to serve the Lord.

I can relate to the striking contrast of Mary’s before and after story. I was not raised in a Christian home. I did life my way for many years, but in my twenties, it all started to crumble. I was watching my college-aged husband die from cancer and could do nothing about it. It was getting close to the end of his life when I cried out to God, “What did we do to deserve this?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I received an answer from the TV sitting near me. It was a Sunday morning, and at that moment, the TV Pastor asked, "Do you have burdens that are too heavy for you to carry on your own?” Even though I had not been really listening to the show, my ears perked up because I knew they were meant for me.

I prayed to invite Jesus into my life, and it was like a weight was lifted. I felt like I was walking on air. I realized this was not an experiment or fantasy but a true reality. Jesus had really come into my life, and He was carrying the burdens that were weighing me down. My husband saw the change in me right away. During the last two months of his life on earth, we pursued a spiritual journey together. We read the Bible each day and prayed. Even though we did not exactly know how to pray, we read verses from the New Testament and said Amen at the end.

The same pastor I had been watching on TV came to visit my husband in the hospital. He spoke to my husband about how to accept Jesus into his heart just a few hours before he died. My husband is now free from cancer and enjoying eternal life in heaven.

The gospel writers did not leave Mary’s past out of the story. The incredible contrast between her old life and her new life shines a spotlight on Jesus. In my own story, God used a terrible health diagnosis to bring my husband and me to Jesus. Both of us were changed for eternity. One of us went to a new life in heaven, and one of us is still serving the Lord on earth until it is my turn to join him. Our God is an awesome God!

Reflection:

Do you share your real story with people, or do you leave out difficult pieces of your past?

Spend time today thanking the Lord for bringing you through the difficult times.