Mary Magdalene is one of the most talked-about women in the Bible. Many people have different ideas about who she was. Some think she was a sinner, while others believe she was very close to Jesus. But what does history really tell us about her?
A Loyal Follower of Jesus
Mary Magdalene got her name from Magdala, a small town near the Sea of Galilee. The Bible never says she was a prostitute, even though many people believed this for a long time. This mistake started in the year 591 when Pope Gregory I mixed her up with another woman in the Bible.
The truth is, Mary Magdalene was a loyal follower of Jesus. The Bible says she traveled with Jesus and helped support his work (Luke 8:1-3). She was also brave, staying near the cross while Jesus was dying, even when many others ran away.
First to See Jesus After He Rose
Mary Magdalene was the first person to see Jesus after he came back to life. The Gospels say she went to his tomb early on Sunday morning and found it empty. In the book of John, Jesus appeared to her and asked her to tell the other disciples that he was alive (John 20:11-18).
Because she was the first to share this good news, people called her the “Apostle to the Apostles.” This shows how important she was in the early Christian church.
For many years, people believed Mary Magdalene was a sinful woman, but this was not true. In 1969, the Catholic Church officially said she was not the same person as the sinful woman in Luke 7.
Some books and movies, like The Da Vinci Code, also suggested that Mary Magdalene was married to Jesus. However, there is no evidence for this in the Bible or history.
Today, Mary Magdalene is remembered as a strong and faithful woman. She was not defined by sin but by her love for Jesus and her courage. In 2016, Pope Francis honored her by giving her a special feast day, just like the other apostles.
Mary Magdalene’s real story is one of faith, strength, and leadership. She reminds us that anyone can follow their beliefs and make a difference, no matter what others say.
