Mary Magdalene
It’s a classic case of a smear campaign. Rumours, misunderstandings, misogyny, and then an unjust judgement from a high ranking official - a pope, non less - all conspire to find an innocent person guilty. And even though there’s clear evidence of their innocence, they stand condemned in the court of popular and historical opinion.
That’s exactly what happened to Mary Magdalene, so called because she was from Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
A misreading of a bible passage, and then a declaration from Pope Gregory 1, five hundred years later, branded Mary Magdalene as a former prostitute.
Luke 7 describes this episode:
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s house. He took his place at the table. There was a woman in that town who had lived a sinful life. She learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she came with a special sealed jar of perfume. 38She stood behind Jesus and cried at his feet. She began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair. She kissed them and poured perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner!” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. Two people owed money to a certain lender. One owed him 500 silver coins. The other owed him 50 silver coins. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back. So he let them go without paying. Which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who owed the most money.” “You are right,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman. He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water to wash my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss. But this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46You did not put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet. 47So I tell you this. Her many sins have been forgiven. She has loved a lot. But the one who has been forgiven little loves only a little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to talk about this among themselves. They said, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Lk 7:36–50).
Luke doesn’t name the ‘sinful woman’. But Pope Gregory 1 (c. 540-604) did. Wanting to endorse the idea of an all-man priesthood, he managed to dismiss Mary’s role in a single sermon:
‘She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark. And what did these seven devils signify, if not all the vices?’
But what does the bible say of her?
Mary clearly had a place of prominence in Jesus’ mission and then the life of the early church. She is mentioned first in every listing of Jesus’ female disciples (Matt. 27:55–56, 61; 28:1; Mark 15:40–41, 47; 16:1; Luke 8:2–3; 24:10). She had personally experienced the power that Jesus had to heal and deliver people from the grip of evil spirits, and traveled with Jesus and the Twelve in their mission:
After this, Jesus traveled around from one town and village to another. He announced the good news of God’s kingdom. The Twelve were with him. So were some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. One was Mary Magdalene. Seven demons had come out of her (Lk 8:1–3).
Mary is included in the list of women who helped support Jesus’ ministry - so she must have been a woman of financial means.
These women were helping to support Jesus and the Twelve with their own money. (Lk 8:3).
Mary was extremely brave, and ventured close to the cross of Jesus - the male disciples all fled. All four Gospels recount that she was a witness to Jesus’ death (Matt. 27:55–56, 61; Mark 15:40–41, 47; Luke 23:49, 55–56; John 19:25).
She was faithful, and went to the empty tomb (Matt. 28:1, 6; Mark 16:1–6; Luke 24:1–3, 10; John 20:1–2). In the Synoptic Gospels, she is the first evangelist in history, commanded to tell the male disciples about the resurrection (Matt. 28:5–9; Mark 16:6–7; Luke 24:4–10).
In Luke’s account, the disciples did not believe her report initially. (24:11, 22–48). In John 20:11–18 the risen Jesus appeared first to Mary and he talked with her about his coming ascension (20:17).
Mary was probably one of the “certain women” mentioned in Acts 1:14.
She made an incredible contribution and had all the qualifications of an apostle. But for too long she has been marginalized by a male dominated church.