What Do We Know Of Mary Magdalene?
GEORGE L. FAULL
1. After she had seven demons cast out of her, she ministered to Jesus with many women.
Luke 8:2-3, “2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”
2. She was at the cross.
Mark 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;”
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.”
3. She saw Him buried.
Matthew 27:61, “And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.”
Mark 15:47, “And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.”
4. She and other women were approached by angels at the tomb and they went and told the Apostles.
Matthew 28:1, 8, “1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”
Mark 16:1, 7, “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. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”
Luke 24:8-10, “8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.”
5. She told Peter and John that the tomb was empty and went and showed them.
John 20:1-10, “1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.”
6. Jesus appeared to her.
Mark 16:9-11, “9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.”
John 20:11-17, “11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
7. She told the disciples she saw Jesus.
John 20:18, “Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”
8. She is not mentioned in Acts or the Epistles.
In light of the above, it is pure evil conjecture to advocate as the Da Vinci Code and others do, that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were lovers and had children. To say so is the same evil doing of those who have Him have a homosexual relationship with John because it calls John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” (It is John who calls himself that in humility rather than using his own name. John 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 20)
In my judgment, hell is not hot enough for those who slander Jesus as a homosexual or a fornicating secret lover of Mary Magdalene. Likewise Joseph Smith, the fornicating prophet said that Jesus was married to Martha and her sister, Mary. Isn’t it interesting that men seek to paint Jesus with the same brush they themselves are painted?