A Woman Possessed

       As the first rays of light began to splash pink across the darkened sky, the woman silently left her home, her mind set on the task ahead. She never thought to find herself in this place. Life hadn’t gone as planned. Her sandals hastened down the dusty path, and the basket she carried felt as heavy as her heart. She tried to cling to hope, and her heart fought to believe but all she saw was darkness. She could hear birds chirping, their happy voices welcoming the day. How her heart longed to be free, as free as the birds singing their morning song. She stopped by a tree to rest, and wait for her friend. They had agreed to meet here at first light. Her thoughts retreated in time to the day it all began. The day her life would forever change. 

She had been ill. Actually, possessed was a better word. People wouldn’t come near her and she really couldn’t blame them. She couldn’t control herself, instead the seven demons that possessed her controlled her. It all changed the day he came into town. He didn’t avoid her but instead He came to her. With one word, He cast the seven demons out. And that is when she knew…she had come face to face with Jesus, the Messiah. Her life would never be the same.

Mary heard her name being called and her thoughts quickly shifted to the present. Jesus had saved her, and entered her darkness when no one else would. Now, she must enter His, and do what little she could for him. She would help his mother anoint his body for burial. There had been no time on Friday but now the Sabbath was over, so the task could be completed. She smiled at the other Mary, and they set off in the direction of the tomb. 

As they approached the tomb, the ground beneath them began shaking, and both women were thrown to their knees. Fear gripped her heart. What was going on? Was Mary okay? The dust settled and she looked up to see a man, whose face radiated light and whose clothes were the purest white she had ever seen. Who was he? What did he want? As her heart raced to make sense of what was happening, the man spoke and said, “Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28: 5-6, NIV) Could it be? Could her heart truly believe the words that were just spoken? She raced into the tomb only to find it empty. She must go tell His disciples. They would want to know that He had indeed risen. Her feet flew down the dusty path, and her heart soared. Joy welled within her. He had conquered death. He said He must die so that she could live. When he spoke the words, she didn’t understand what He meant but now she did. She glanced up and that is when she saw Him. Jesus, her Savior. The one who had met her at her worst. He had shown her compassion and grace when she deserved none. He had given His life on her behalf. She fell at His feet, as the tears slid down her face. His hand rested on her head, and then He lifted her face upward. She looked into His eyes, and that is when she knew the depth of His love for her. It was a love that would stop at nothing to pursue her and draw her near. 

The Story of Mary Magdalene

       In writing the above story, please know that I am not claiming to know the thoughts of Mary Magdalene. During the week before Easter, I decided to study scripture dealing with the days leading up to Jesus crucifixion and resurrection, so that it would be more personal for me. It is easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding a holiday, such as Easter or Christmas, and lose the significance of why we celebrate those days. As I studied scripture, I found myself wondering what it would be like to be Peter, or Mary Magdalene, or the Centurion, or Pilate. What would it have been like to really experience Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection? It inspired me to put myself in their shoes.

I can’t begin to imagine the thoughts that tumbled through their heads or the fear and doubt they faced when He was crucified. However, I will share several things that stood out to me. In reading about Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, visiting the tomb, I was struck by how they went at dawn. When I think of dawn, I think of the sky slowly shifting from inky black to pink, orange, and blue as the sun lights the sky. At dawn, the light penetrates the darkness. Isn’t this what Jesus came to do? His light penetrates our darkness. In Him, we are clothed in righteousness and our sin is no more. John 1:4 states, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Further down in the chapter it goes on to say, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12, NIV) Jesus’ death on the cross broke the hold that sin and death had on us but we must choose to accept the gift He has graciously offered.

  Secondly, when Jesus rose from the dead, the first person He revealed himself to was a woman. In this culture, women were not valued and they were looked down upon. However, Jesus’ perspective is not the same as the worlds. He sees value in each person regardless of their gender, social position, economic status, or past. To Him, you have purpose and value. He loves you. You are enough just the way you are. Jesus also pursues you. He doesn’t wait for you to get your act together but instead He seeks you. Isaiah 30:18 says, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” I have had this verse underlined in my Bible for awhile but it was just recently, as I studied it, that the word “rises” stood out to me. I was struck with the thought that not only does God long to be gracious to us but he also rises in order to do so. He loves us that much.  This is what I have to cling to on the good days and the bad. When I can’t feel His love, I have to look to the cross and remember the love He displayed for me there. On the days when I fall down, I have to remember that He longs to be gracious to me and He draws me near. When I feel the sting of rejection, I have to look in His eyes and see His acceptance. His love is always there. It was there for Mary Magdalene, and it is here for me and you.

In some ways, her story is our story. We are all broken and in need of a Savior. We are all consumed with something. No, we may not be consumed with seven demons but we are often consumed with pride, selfishness, material possessions, and greed. Yet, He longs to be gracious to us and He rises to show us compassion. Look up and see the love in His eyes. Receive His grace, and allow Him to be the thing that consumes you. You will find that your life will never be the same.