ResurrectionSample

Oh, the grief. I just lost a dear friend. He is loving and respectful. He’s brilliant. He captivates crowds of thousands with his profound thoughts. My friend also has the mysterious ability to heal people. I tell you it’s true, I had seven demons tormenting me, and now they’re gone. And there are people who received sight even if they’d never seen before, people who got up and walked even if they’d never walked before. And dead people . . . raised to life . . . and . . . why?! Why did He have to die?

Life was good. He looked for all the world like He would become king and bring justice to a place that hadn’t seen it in forever. Sure, there were conflicts with the important people, but He always responded so well. Regular people loved Him! I’d give anything to see Him again. 

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These are the thoughts we image went through Mary Magdalene’s mind when Jesus was crucified. Mary was a fascinating character. She had certainly been marginalized because of the demons she faced. Mary was accepted among the disciples, but probably not within her broader community. She felt a close bond with Jesus. She was one of very few people who stayed around to be with Jesus as he died, and she cared enough to look after his body.

The identity of the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet in [Luke 7:36–50] is debated. It could be Mary Magdalene, but there is no way to know for sure. Regardless, this story gives us an insight into her life. Jesus is dining in the home of a Pharisee named Simon, who is friendly enough with Jesus to invite Him to dinner, but strangely, he is not courteous enough to offer the hospitality of washing His feet. The invited guests were lying on their sides around a low table. Many others would be gathered around the edges of the room listening and hoping for something to eat. The woman—certainly not an invited guest—ignores the social barriers and approaches the table. She pours expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet, and as she considers what He has done for her, she begins to cry. She is probably embarrassed at this and begins to wipe her tears off His feet using her hair. Simon, the host, sees the outrageous intimacy of this act and silently judges Jesus for not protecting His reputation. Simon, and surely most others in the room, know the woman is sinful. Jesus knows what is going on, so He asks Simon who loves more, the one who has a small debt forgiven or a large debt. Simon answers correctly that the one forgiven more will love more. Jesus then shames Simon’s lack of hospitality by saying that the woman has given Him the courtesies that Simon should have. It seems Jesus and the woman had interacted before, perhaps as He forgave her sins or cured her of evil spirits. 

Whether or not this woman was Mary Magdalene, Mary’s response to Jesus was similar. She was fiercely loyal to Him, no matter what anyone else thought. She loved Him as much as life itself, for indeed, He had given her life. On the evening after Jesus greets Mary in the garden, He appears to the disciples. He says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:22–23). Each follower of Jesus has a similar opportunity to share the forgiveness of Jesus with someone else. They may find a huge burden of shame and guilt lifted and turn to Jesus with a fierce love that can change families and communities. Who can you share God’s forgiveness with today?