Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. Mark 16:9.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Are you grateful for what Jesus has done for you? Are you amazed that in Jesus no matter what you have done or did not do you are totally forgiven and free of all that would divide you from Me? Do you ever give thought to the fact that I have rescued you from the domain of darkness, and transferred you to the kingdom of My beloved Son, in whom you have redemption, the forgiveness of sins? And that you are a citizen of that Kingdom now and forever? Have you ever joyously given thanks that I have qualified you to share in the inheritance of the sanctified ones in Light? I have rescued you from the realm of darkness and brought you into My own marvelous light. You will be with Me forever in the Kingdom of Light all because of Jesus.
Have you ever had so much joy in Me that you thought you could not contain it?
It is time to enjoy the beauty of your life in Christ free from sin and made holy, blameless, and beyond reproach before Me. He came to undo the works of the devil in your life and set you free of everything that would harm you.
It is time you became aware of the new creation you are in Christ and began to enjoy your precious life. You are redeemed. You are saved. You are clean. You are pure. You are healed. And nothing can harm you if you stay safe in Christ.
You are beloved, forgiven, blessed and favored. And that is the story of your life.
Live on in My love by remaining in My Word and My Word remaining in you and you will be able to live a life filled with good days and fruitful years.
And today we will consider a follower of Jesus who stayed in awe all her life at the wonders I had done for her in Jesus and never left her first love. Nothing—no danger, no threat, no demon from hell could stop her from running after the sweet fragrance of My Son. She fearlessly stood at the foot of the cross when all the other disciples fled except for the beloved John. She was never cold about Him, she was never lukewarm about Him, she was never willing to be apart from Him after He had set her free.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16.
In her heart burned brightly the eternal flame of love. The hearts of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus were cold, thinking all was over and the glory gone, after Jesus had died for your sins on the Cross until Jesus came and lit their hearts anew with the prophecies from My Word that revealed Him as Messiah and Lord.
But she was not like that. She stood at the Cross and watched Him die, but her lamp was ready for the coming of Jesus and she was anointed with fresh oil. She became one to be welcomed at My throne and was the first one to whom My Son appeared after I raised Him from the dead. Why? Because she came while the others hid. She sought Him even at the tomb. Life or death she was His. Nothing could drive her away from following Him. He had given her new life. He had cast seven demons out of her. She had seen and experienced too much in her travels following Him and His disciples for the three years He lived among you as one like you to ever give up her hope in Him.
Yes, you can learn many lessons from this faithful disciple of Jesus, Mary from Magdala. But the greatest of these is love, a pure love that reaches beyond the grave and knows that in Me you are safe, saved, and never alone. A love that makes you grateful and faithful.
What made her so strong that even in the face of possible arrest and death, even in the face of Roman soldiers at the Cross, ridicule of the Jewish leaders, and of the guards sent by Pilate to watch the tomb, nothing could keep her from following Jesus and looking to be near Him? The one who is forgiven much, and acknowledges that, loves much. But take that to another level, the one who knows what it is to like to live in the torment of darkness, fear, and demonic accusation and activities and is set free to walk with the sanctified ones in light in perfect joy wants only to be near the one who freed them and testify as such to others.
Remember the man of Gadara from who Jesus cast a legion of demons and set him free? He only wanted one thing—to go with Jesus wherever He went. But Jesus sent him home to tell of all the wonders that I had done for him. And he did. No one could stop him from testifying about Jesus and he changed that entire area.
It was the same for the once blind Bartimaeus, once healed he followed Jesus up the road.
But today I would like you to meet Mary Magdalene, who is with Me even now in My Kingdom, and is still following the Lamb as her shepherd to springs of living water. For I have wiped every tear from her eyes.
The first time you hear of her is in the Gospel written under the inspiration of the Spirit by Luke, and you meet her as one of the company of women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses, and who contributed to His mission by their own funds. They were financial partners in His ministry. These were women who had amassed wealth and wanted to expend it on the One who set them free and on getting the message of My Salvation to as many as possible so they too could know the One who healed and saved them. Love wants Love loved.
Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means. Luke 8:1-3.
Mary had seven demons cast out of her by Jesus. That was a heavy load to carry. They were destroying her. But when she found Jesus it all changed. He turned her life around and she would never forget that. Mary, like Zaccheus, thought she was seeking Jesus, but Jesus was actually seeking her, for I sent Him to seek out and save the lost, but the lost that get saved are those who are seeking to be found.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments. Psalm 119:176.
What were the seven demons that had come and made her life so miserable? Jesus has told you.
“When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26.
Trying to clean up your heart and mind without Me may expel the demon out for a season but if you do not fill your mind and heart with My Word and with My Spirit, the demon will find entrance and will return with seven other unclean spirits more evil than itself. Never leave your mind with only worldly thoughts and chatter, that is inviting the devil in. He is of this world. But in Jesus you are not.
After hearing that Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus the next time you hear of her she is standing with John and Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the foot of the Cross, staying with Him until He was buried in the tomb, carefully observing the Shabbat but running to the tomb as soon as it was over, early, just before dawn, to property anoint Him.
But the first conversation that I share with you between Jesus and Mary of Magdala is after He has died for your sins and I had raised Him up glorified as the first born of many brethren, which included Mary of Magdala. Of all the apostles, patriarchs, priests, and holy men and woman, Mary of Magdala, out of whom Jesus had cast seven demons, was the first one to see the risen Christ. The Sun of Righteousness had risen with healing in His garments.
Why her? She was the only one interested enough, loving enough, and loyal enough, to go out to the tomb to be with Him. Her eyes were looking for Jesus and not for herself.
I must arise now and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I must seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him but did not find him. The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, and I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’ Scarcely had I left them when I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go. Song of Songs 3:1-4.
On the morning of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene and another Mary ran to the tomb. They were wondering how they could move the heavy stone closing the mouth of the cave of the grave, but one of the Heavenly Host arrived and moved it out of the way. But Jesus was not there. After informing Peter and John and they finding it empty as well, Mary returned by herself with one purpose in mind, she was not leaving there until she found Him. She saw the empty tomb and, standing outside the tomb, she began weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb again. She saw two angels in white emanating light and sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying, like the cherubim carved of pure gold on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but just as He had hidden identity from the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus so He could first reveal Himself by His Word, so she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
“O You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice—Let me hear it!” Song of Songs 8:13.
“Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?” “My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of balsam, to pasture his flock in the gardens and gather lilies. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Song of Songs 6:1-3.
Jesus then revealed Himself to her by saying her name, “Mary!” I call you each by name. I know My sheep and Mine know Me and I call you each by name and My sheep recognize My voice and follow Me.
She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” This is very important, Jesus here was identifying with you, a joint heir with Jesus, so that I am your Father and His Father, your God and His God.
And Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her. John 20:11-18.
Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see Me.
I love you. I am yours and you are Mine so have no fear, just look unto Me and smile, your face will never be ashamed.