The Healing Jesus: An Advent Devotional to Encourage Anybody and EverybodyExemplo

MARY MAGDALENE: THE ONE WHO WEPT

Hello, another Mary here. I am Mary Magdalene, but Magdalene is not my middle name. It refers to where I come from, Magdala, a little fishing village on the shore of Galilee. My title, "The Weeper,” sounds a little dramatic. But tears have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Suffering has always been a part of my life. You see, multiple demons possessed me. Darkness, misery, and loneliness were my companions. There was no hope for me, and everyone had written me off.

When Jesus came and drove seven demons from me, it was as if I had another chance at life. I was free. The tears I shed that day were tears of relief and tears of gratitude. I finally had a place where I belonged. I committed to following Jesus to the end, no matter what. But that commitment would almost cost me everything.

I didn't realize that one day, the man who gave me life would lose his. When I watched him nailed to the cross, I kept waiting for something to happen. Surely, this is not the end. Once again, I felt the darkness creeping up around me. But this time, the hopelessness didn't come from inside me. It came from outside of me. The Earth was covered in darkness for hours as Jesus gasped on the cross.

When the stone was rolled over the tomb, I knew it was all over. But old habits die hard, and when we got up the following day, the other women and I decided to do what we always did: care for our Lord. When we arrived at the tomb, it was empty. Two angels told us that he was not there, that he had risen. We left in a daze of confusion. What was happening?

Then someone asked me the question I had heard my entire life: "Woman, why are you crying?" I tried to get the words out, but all I could say was they took my Lord. Suddenly, I heard my name called, like when Jesus healed me. Light broke through the darkness, and I knew it was Jesus. Once again, tears would come. But this time, they were tears of joy. My Savior was alive!

Jesus is healing, wiping away your tears.

Questions for Talk it Over:

1. How many demons did Mary Magdalene have?

2. What is something you have shed tears over this past year?

3. How has Jesus comforted you this year?