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Daily Devotions

For the week of June 21-June 26, 2021

Daily Devotions Monday, June 21 – Saturday, June 26 – Apostle to the Apostles :1-18

Monday, June 21 John 20 excerpts 1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. [Mary runs to inform Peter and John, who then go to the tomb and see for themselves that it is, indeed, empty. They leave. Mary stays at the tomb weeping and is visited by two .] 13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” [Mary explains, and then turns to see , who she at first does not recognize. Then …] 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers, and tell them, ‘ ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen !” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

This dramatic scene is recorded in all four . Who is this woman who first witnesses the risen Jesus? She calls Jesus, “Rabboni!” Rabbis did not include women as disciples … but this rabbi, Jesus, obviously did! She was certainly not one of the Apostles, but the Apostles obviously knew her! Let’s go back three days prior to this scene at the tomb.

Tuesday, June 22 :25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

Here we find three women named Mary, including Mary Magdalene, who would have the truly unique experience three days later. This was a perilous time for the followers of Jesus, as the Jewish leaders were determined to rid themselves of Jesus and his followers, yet these women remained vigilant in proximity to the Cross. Let’s go back a little further in time and see if we can learn more about Mary Magdalene.

Wednesday, June 23 Luke 8:1-3 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Jesus lifted women from a second-class status in the Jewish culture, thus proclaiming that all people are equal under God. Jesus anointed these women through the healing of evil spirits and diseases, including Mary Magdalene, who had seven demons removed. Three women are mentioned here by name, but there were many others (see verse 3), and some of these women were self-sufficient, i.e. individuals of some means (see verse 3). Did Jesus have an inner and/or outer circle of followers? Given the prominence of Mary Magdalene’s name with events in the Gospels, one might take a hard look at the inner circle …?! Let’s see how other sources have focused on Mary Magdalene.

Thursday, June 24 Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

It seems pretty clear that Mary Magdalene’s life was in turmoil until she met Jesus and received a new heart and a new spirit. The Gospels portray Mary as a devoted follower of Jesus that places her at the Cross and the first eyewitness to the resurrected Savior. She, Mary Magdalene, carries the message of the resurrected Jesus to the Apostles. However, modern culture has taken a slightly different approach to Mary Magdalene thanks to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, Jesus : Superstar, and Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ which all label Mary Magdalene as a prostitute or a Mrs. Jesus. Even the archaeologists get into the fray with the discovery of the various apocryphal writings such as the of Mary Magdalene and the Gospel of Philip, both depicting Mary has having great influence over many of the Apostles, and/or having a special relationship with Jesus. Less dramatic but far more insightful reading are the Biblical scholars who mix and match the eight or so prominent women named “Mary” in the .

Friday, June 25 Luke 14:3-9 While Jesus was in , reclining at the table in the home of , a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6”Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Preliminary stuff: Scholars write thousands of words concerning Mary Magdalene, , unnamed Mary - trying to ensure Biblical accuracy – that is important from an academic perspective. What also should be conceded is that whichever ‘Mary’ was performing this act, it was done in love, admiration, and devotion for Jesus. In this situation, it was an of Jesus, a recognition of who He is and what He means to the person performing this sacred act. As we have seen, Jesus anointed (healed) people such as Mary Magdalene. For her, and countless others, this was a life-changing moment. An act such as this is a sacrament, like baptism and communion – a restoration to fullness of being – the complete human being. In the case of Mary Magdalene it resulted in this statement …

Saturday, June 26 John 20:18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Mary Magdalene – was she in Jesus’ inner circle? She certainly was a of Jesus. This particular Mary was miraculously freed by Jesus, and that freedom led her to follow Jesus, it brought her to the Cross, and it brought her to a sorrowful vigil at the tomb, and then the firsthand visit by her risen Savior followed by her proclamation to the other followers of their Lord!

I do not believe that her faith was complicated – she knew Jesus and her faith was genuine and sincere. She was a strong woman – self-sufficient and knowing. Mary Magdalene understood that she was vital to the . She understood and lived the life just the way that Jesus proclaimed – a life of equality and a bearer of God’s image.

Canyon Hills is blessed with women leaders who love the Lord; women who are capable, straightforward, and sincere in what they believe. In this strange new world of wokeness, can femininity still be described with terms like … relational, nurturing, intuitive, reflective … terms that modern-day feminists might agree with but would opt for different or additional terminology? Could one make the argument that lacks the feminine dimension? Or, is that an incorrect or non-issue in light of Biblical teaching? What if, one or more of the Twelve had included a woman such as Mary Magdalene?

Joseph Boyle (1941-2018) Abbot of St. Benedict’s Monastery, Snowmass, CO, stated, “The Heart of Jesus must be lived.” Mary Magdalene had a “behold” moment when she was healed by Jesus. Recognizing Jesus as the , she actively became His disciple, living the heart of Jesus. Jesus honored Mary Magdalene’s faith by entrusting her as the first messenger of the Good News of His resurrection.