Love Story - Mary Magdalene

Luke 8:1-3

People’s imaginations run wild with Mary Magdalene, but the Bible tells us very little about her. Luke introduces her along with a few other female followers of Jesus, and he adds the fact that Jesus cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2). That’s the only profile we get. We know she was present at the cross and the tomb, but there’s no other background given. Just demons.

Exorcism was actually a substantial part of Jesus’ ministry, though modern-minded folks tend to gloss over it. One story from the northeast shore of Galilee involves a man possessed by “many” demons. “Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones” (Mark 5:5). Demon possession wasn’t pretty. It was chaotic and destructive.

So what did Mary of Magdala look like when Jesus first saw her? Was she howling and cutting herself, running around burial caves? Folks keep trying to create a love story between Mary and Jesus, but if this was “love at first sight,” it must have been a special kind of love. With the havoc that demons generally cause, Mary must have been a major mess. And why do we need a romance when we have a much, much stronger love at work here?

Jesus looked through the chaos to see a woman in need. He cleared away the spiritual clutter and restored her health. He didn’t condemn her for the things the demons had done. He banished them and welcomed her into a new life, following him.

He does the same thing today. Even if you’re not afflicted with demons, the power of sin is still destructive. Our lives are filled with regrets over selfish choices, bad behavior, and missed opportunities. We’re a mess.

But Jesus peers through our chaotic self-destruction to see someone he needs to redeem. Our problems don’t faze him as he speaks his powerful word. We don’t have to earn his healing touch; we can’t. We just receive it. He welcomes us into an exciting relationship with him. Past sins are wiped away. Demons are banished. Bygones are bygones. We can step into a new life with the risen Christ.

Now that’s a love story.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Romans 5:6