Less Than Perfect—Broken Men & Women Of The BibleSampl

Mary Magdalene

Her fits arrive like sudden tempests. Gales of shrieking laughter, followed by loud wailing, and then a long spell of muttering, as though she is conversing with ghosts that no one else can see. Jesus listens to their changing pitch as one follows another in quick succession. One is low and threatening, the next high and wheedling. They snarl, quarrel, and bite each other, this tangle of demons that live inside her.

The children taunt her, calling out “Devil Girl!” or “Witch!” whenever she passes by. But she is no witch. Only a tortured soul whose mind has already descended into hell while her body lives on earth.

Jesus knows this. That’s why he’s come. To save her.

"Come out!” His voice is so commanding that it shakes her to the core. 

With a shudder, she feels them leave. Before she can make sense of what has happened, she hears screams of mingled rage and terror. But they are not hers. Disembodied now, the demons howl and fade away. 

“Mary,” Jesus says, calling her back to herself. His voice is tender now, as though he has known her all her life. When she takes his outstretched hands in hers she sees in his expression only love and mercy, but so deep and wide she cannot measure it. Tears roll softly down her cheeks and a smile lights her face—the first in many years. 

Now Mary of Magdala travels freely with those who number themselves among Jesus’ close disciples. She is there on the mountaintop when he multiplies bread to feed five thousand and there when he opens the eyes of the blind and enables the lame to walk. Whenever Jesus drives out demons, she is the first to share her story and pray with those who’ve been set free. A leader among the women, she buoys everyone by her faith. 

Mary stays with Jesus even in the darkest moment, when he is laid in the tomb. Loving Jesus to the bitterest of bitter ends, she is the first to experience the joy of his resurrection. Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus expelled seven demons, is chosen by God to be the first person to proclaim the astonishing good news, telling others, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)

If this devotional has been helpful, you might enjoy receiving a bonus character study on the Story of the Woman Who Wiped the Feet of Jesus plus additional study notes to dig deeper. Contact me at admin@annspangler.com with your name and email address and I will be happy to send these to you. 

Image credits:

Day 1: Diego Rivera, Cubist Self-Portrait, 1916

Day 2: Filipp Malyavin, Laughig Baba, 1869-1940

Day 3: Alphonse Mucha, Girl with the Daisy, 1900

Day 4: Gustav Klimt, The Kiss, 1907-1908

Day 5: Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, 1829-1833

Day 6: Edward Okun, Judas, 1901

Day 7: Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Helen of Troy, 1863