True Devotion

             Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus.  He won her devotion when He cast out seven demons who controlled her life.  I can’t imagine the turmoil she must have endured until she met Jesus.  We know from other Scriptures that those possessed by evil spirits were often unruly, unmanageable, and outcasts of society.  Mary likely suffered those same indignities. Meeting Jesus changed her life—perhaps, more accurately, He saved her life.  It is no wonder then that she became His devoted follower. 

            Other than her struggle with demon possession and the fact that she came from the city of Magdala, we know little about her life before Christ.  Her life after her encounter with Christ was one of devotion, love, and loyalty.  She was one of the women who traveled with Jesus and His disciples to help and support them (Luke 8: 1 – 3).  That support probably included cooking, washing clothes, mending, and perhaps, financial support.  We don’t know the details, but we know enough to say that she was devoted to Christ and His ministry.

            We next encounter Mary at the cross.  She and several other women were there as they crucified their Lord.  Unlike the disciples, who had abandoned Jesus, Mary and the other women were there to the bitter end.  Mary and at least one other woman watched as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus laid Him in the tomb (Mark 15: 47).

            Mary’s devotion didn’t end there.  Early on Sunday morning, Mary and several other women arrived at the Tomb, prepared to anoint Jesus’ body.  To their great surprise, the stone had been rolled away and Jesus’ body was missing.  Mary ran to tell the disciples what had happened, but they didn’t believe her (Mark 16: 11).

            After Peter and John had checked the Tomb themselves, they went back to their homes, perplexed by what had happened. Not Mary (John 20: 10, 11).  She stood at the Tomb, mourning the One who had given her new life.  It was at that moment that Jesus rewarded her devotion by making her the first person to see the resurrected Christ (John 20: 14 – 17).  What an honor!  What a blessing!

            I can’t begin to imagine how Mary must have felt when she heard the risen Christ call her by name.  I can almost hear the gentle voice saying, “Why are you crying?”  Mary’s response was to go back to the disciples and announce, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20: 18).   The Scripture doesn’t tell us their immediate response, but one thing is certain—Mary believed!

            If you are a Christ follower, then He has already delivered you from the stronghold of sin.  The question is, How deep is your devotion to Him?  There are Christians all over the world who risk their lives every day because of their devotion to Christ.  Here in America, we are free of that kind of persecution.  Unfortunately, that often means that our devotion has not been tested.  Will we stand fast in times of danger and turmoil?  I hope the answer is “yes”. 

            I long to hear Christ gently call my name, just as He did Mary’s.  May I have the courage to always confess Jesus as Lord, no matter the consequences.  With that kind of devotion, Jesus will wipe away every tear!

Luke 8: 1 – 3

Mark 15: 40 – 41 & 16: 9 – 11

John 20: 1 - 18

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