Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

With “The Da Vinci Code” movie coming up, many thoughtful people are asking, “Who was Mary Magdalene? Does the Bible give clear facts about her?” The answer is yes.

 

(1) The Lord Jesus Christ already has another “woman” selected for His “wife.” No woman on earth is or was beautiful enough, tall enough, great or wonderful enough, to be the Bride of the Son of God. The Bible marks out the church as His Bride (see Eph. 5:23-27; 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7, 8; 12:1-17).

 

(2) Mary met Jesus sometime during His First Galilee Missionary trip; she ministers to Him with the other women (Luke 8:1, 2). Her problem was devil-possession (Mark 16:9). She lived in Galilee, in Magdala (see Matt. 15:39), where she derived her name apparently.

 

(3) Out of heart gratitude for being delivered from devil possession, she was loyal to Jesus, close by His side at His crucifixion (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40, 47; John 19:25). She believed His teachings (Luke 10:38-42).

 

(4) She came from a good Judean family (John 11:1, 2; 12:2, 8); thus her residence in Magdala was evidently an exile.

 

(5) In devil possession she had abandoned herself to Satan, alienated from God. She “was a sinner,” unbelieving, hopeless (Luke 7:37).

 

(6) “Seven” times Jesus prayed for her, casting out the demons that tormented her. She had sinned “much,” and her faith enabled her to “love much” (vs. 47).

 

(7) She expressed this faith and love in her offering of very expensive ointment (Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8). The story in Luke 7:36ff. has to be a parallel account, for Luke would not dare to write a “gospel’ without including the story (cf. Mark 14:9).

 

(8) No Bible evidence links the adulterous “woman” of John 8:1-11 with Mary Magdalene; Mary was from Galilee, the adulterous woman from Jerusalem; Mary’s deliverance came early in Jesus’ ministry, the other’s near the end.

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Robert J. Wieland’s recent book, Mary Magdalene, The Bible Story: The Woman the World Can Never Forget, examines this touching story, which is like a precious jewel set between two of the worst stories ever written—the crucifixion of Christ and Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Him. A small book (64 pp.) which partially fulfills Jesus’ command that “wheresoever this gospel is preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her” (Mark 14:9). Glad Tidings Publishers, (269) 473-1888; www.1888msc.org.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.

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