Mary Magdalene on the day Jesus died

by | Mar 29, 2018 | Christianity Today | 15 comments

One of the greatest cruelties—if not the greatest cruelty in history—was done to Mary Magdalene.  She was once sold on the streets. She knew the special insanity of demon possession.  She knew the yawning blackness of total despair.

Jesus rescued her.  Jesus cast out 7 vicious devils—devils she thought would never leave.  Once deemed human garbage she is now redeemed, and rooted into a family of indescribable love.  Things would never be the same.  Her nights of remorse, her days of futility, her shame, her emptiness were all distant memories.

For 3 years, she lived a life she could have never imagined.  Crisscrossing Judea, hanging on Jesus’ every word, weeping gloriously over every miracle.  Each morning she awakened a more powerful and joyous woman of God!  She thought that this would go on forever.

People use the phrase “nothing could be worse…”  They use it before describing something unimaginably terrible.  I will use it this way: Nothing could be worse than to be in hell, and then taste heaven, only to return to hell.

Then on that fateful Friday it all went horribly, horribly wrong.  How could the one who called the dead back to life, and silenced a storm at sea be arrested?  How could one who gave words of exquisite beauty, love and wisdom, be tortured and killed.  No one wanted to save Jesus more than Mary.  No one felt more horror and helplessness than she.

That night, profound hope had given way to even deeper bitterness and disappointment.  If only I had never met him.  If only he had left me to die in the streets.  She slept only after exhaustion became more powerful than sorrow.   Too wounded to go on living.  Maybe too tired to commit suicide.

Mary matters to me today because her testimony is the best one I can think of on this Good Friday in such a dark time.  Mary’s miracle is the one America needs now!  Here’s why…

When the first shafts of Sunday morning light stirred her awake, she dreaded it.  If ever a heart was broken beyond repair—if ever a soul would rage against the approach of hope—if ever a woman just wanted to go back to sleep and never wake up, it was Mary.

That is why she was shocked when she felt an odd energy.  She soon felt an even stranger impulse… to go to the grave of Jesus?  How could she return to the only spot on earth that could open her wound wider?

What overruled her despair?  What fuel is driving her so completely against her common sense and her broken heart?  Paul answers that emphatically! “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”- Romans 8:11

Do you know any therapist capable of rebuilding the ashes and rubble in her soul?  Can any drug, any teaching, any relationship, reassemble her heart the way this gentle but powerful influence could?

We all know about the power of the resurrection.  It was the greatest display of power the universe has ever known; even greater than the alleged “big bang” that birthed the universe. It sent shock waves through the principalities and powers of darkness.  It shattered hell and stripped Satan of the keys of death.  Jesus set the captives free in the bowels of the earth and “led captivity captive.”

But the first burst of resurrection power was much gentler. She was the first human to feel the power of the resurrection.  Her eyes which were red and sore from sobbing are now refreshed and clear.  Her arms which hung limp from heartsick lethargy were now responsive, strong, and full of purpose. She sat up and found hope pumping through her veins. She did not know why!

A notion gently but firmly seizes her.  She was to go to the grave.  She got going!  Washing up, brushing her hair, and quickly getting dressed; all the while the expectancy of some indescribable something is building in her soul.  Before she knows it she is out the door and charging toward her worst fear.  Only she is not afraid.

She found the tomb vacant.  She turned and saw Him whom her soul loved.  Many awesome things happened that Easter but none more wonderful than Mary reunited with her Savior.

In the genetically altered, politically charged, drug addicted, violent purgatory that is America, Mary Magdalene stands as a poignant figure.   She is the best testimony I can think of for our national dreams that have gone up in smoke.  Our culture has wearied itself with perversion…hunted everything natural and replaced it with a disfigured counterfeit… it has marched, protested, boycotted the very color and life out of everything—everything is a cause to take offense.

What happened to Mary is why there is nothing better than the Gospel.  America!  This is what you need!

Mark 16:9, “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” HE APPEARED FIRST TO HER!  He never forgot her. He knew she was suffering the most so He healed this precious soul first!

15 Comments

  1. Judy Garrick

    Brother Mario this is a wonderful post.
    Continued prayer for you and family.
    Prayers you have a blessed Easter weekend.
    We love you and Mechelle.
    Ted and Judy Garrick

  2. John Edward Toth

    Thank you for your post. The Holy Spirit is moving across this Great Nation which is rising up as the beacon of our Lords Light.

  3. Judy Haga

    Wow…thats awesome!!!!!

    Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

  4. DI

    Beautiful.

  5. Vivian Zuniga

    Such a perfect analogy!

  6. John L Escalante

    Awesome depiction of a transformed life!

  7. Carolina

    Mario, This is so honest a description of the tarnished soul of someone who has come & been touched by the compeling glory of The King of kings.
    Thank you for reminding me of my kindred spirit…the women at Jacobs well… Jesus purposely traveled to her a long walk, for He knew her with all her shaded past, she 1st thinking He was a prophet, and then at last knew Him Whom she’d been waiting for, she RAN to her town and broadcast to many men in her town that Messiah was now here,
    “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did!” Jesus stayed there for 2 more days and many more were saved.

  8. Brianna

    I remember when you came and preached Easter service at my church First Assembly of God in Clearlake Mario. One part about Mary, God touched me mighty that day and gave me revalation. And He just keeps pouring it out. Ty Jesus for your resurrection. Hallelujah.

  9. Vicki L Piebenga

    Beautiful! Very well said and appropriate for the conditions that exist today. We should all be filled with hope because of this! Thank you for reminding us of how much our Savior loves us and how he washes us clean.

  10. Judi

    Thank you for posting this much-needed message of hope, Mario. I’m extremely grateful that you are not allowing this recent medical issue to deter you in any way. Your messages are a breath of fresh air during my work day. Praying for your speedy and total recovery in Jesus’ name, for by His wounds you are made completely well!

  11. Jim Lowell

    Beautiful telling of an amazing part of the Easter story! Thank you, Mario!

  12. Rosemary Zoucha

    Mario, this is the most exquisite telling of the impact to Mary I have ever heard. Did you know the Lord was birthing a writing ministry in you too?
    Thank you for sharing your inspirational insights, to God be the glory and to Mario all healing and multiplied fruit from your ministry.
    God bless you abundantly this Good and Holy Friday.
    Rosemary

    • mariomurilloministries

      Thank you Rosemary! I am working hard on the writing. You encourage me.

  13. Andrea

    Mario…I always read your blog, and I am always provoked or blessed or intrigued or enlightened. But these last two messages, the one about Peter, and this one about Mary Magdalene, both made me cry. They carry the sweet sound of heaven…the sound I long to hear the most. Something has changed for you. This place of suffering has melted something inside and you are carrying the anointing of the Holy Spirit with a different heart and mind. It may very well be the state of being that has been called “entire sanctification.” My mentor, who became my very best friend when I was 45 and she was 89, would often tell me about the day that she became “completely controlled” by the Holy Spirit. She was permeated with the Presence of God. I would arrive at her house looking and feeling like something the cat drug home. I would leave looking and feeling like a freshly washed child. Press deeper into the heart of God. “It’s gonna be worth it.”

    • mariomurilloministries

      Andrea, I appreciate your thoughtful comments. I means a lot that you took the time to write such a thorough and encouraging note. God bless, Mario

YOUR CART

POPULAR PRODUCTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

No event found!

SIGN-UP TO GET OUR EMAILS

Get Mario's Blogs delivered right to your email address and receive updates about upcoming events, promotions and news.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Share This