Mary Magdalene

2021-09-17

Mary Magdalene was a disciple whom Jesus healed of sevenfold demon possession (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2). She may have supported the Lord financially as suggested by Luke 8:3.

Mary Magdalene was also another witness to the empty tomb (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1, 9; Luke 24:10; John 20:1) and the risen Jesus (John 20:11-18). She first witnessed His death (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25) and burial (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47). There were other women with her for each of these events as well.

Why is this significant? First, she and her companions were witnesses to Jesus of Nazareth’s death, burial, and resurrection. They could corroborate all three elements of the Gospel according to the ancient creed in 1 Corinthians 15. Anyone in the first century who had heard of the events concerning Jesus could go ask them to confirm what they saw.

Second, Mary and her companions’ eyewitness testimony is confirmed in both the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John. With all four gospels mentioning this, we have a testimony of their testimonies; with such multiple attestations, we can rest in that they are valid witnesses to the death, burial, and resurrection.

Third, there was a low status of women in the first century, including in Judea. Consider Jewish writings of the time: “The words of the Torah should be burned rather than entrusted to women” (Sotah 3:4, 19a). Their testimony would not be as accepted as a man’s testimony according to the Talmud, Sotah 31b. This low view of women might seem foreign to us now, but it was common back then. The Bible tells us that Mary and her companions “returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 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. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not” (Luke 24:9-11). Even the disciples had bought into this line of thinking to a degree. This biblical testimony is a historical fit with what we know from the time.

Fourth, if women’s testimony would not be considered as reliable as that of men, why would the Biblical account include Mary and her companion’s testimony? If the Biblical authors were looking to invent a story, they would have made men the primary witnesses.

Mary Magdalene and her companions are another important piece in corroborating the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is Exhibit D for the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.