Shattering Popular Mary Myths

^{Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Warren Vanhetloo’s newsletter “Cogitation.”}
Not only is our Lord Jesus Christ much misrepresented today, as He has been through past centuries, but many of those around Him come in for distortion too, which is, of course, really directed at Him. Such misinformation about the origin of the Bible and events recorded in the Bible makes it important that the Christian sort out fact from fiction, particularly malicious fiction. Totally unfounded inventions concerning one of the close followers of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, that she was a prostitute before meeting Jesus and that she and Jesus had an affair, may entertain the lost but should enrage those who honor truth.

The first time this Mary is mentioned in the accounts of Jesus’ public ministry (Luke 8:2-3), three things are recorded concerning her. She was from Magdala, just west of the sea of Galilee. She had been ill-treated by seven devils, whom Jesus drove out of her. She and other women accompanied Jesus and His twelve disciples, ministering unto Him and them from their own material possessions as He visited many villages and cities. She is not mentioned individually again until accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection.

Except for the apostle John, Jesus’ disciples had forsaken Him and were not present at His crucifixion. Three women, all named Mary, “stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25), and other women were present (Matt 27:55-56; Mark 15:40). When Joseph of Arimathea received the body of Jesus and laid it in a new tomb and rolled a stone before the door, Mary Magdalene was one of the women who watched (Matt 27:57-61; Mark 15:43-47).

“And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices that they might come and anoint Him” (Mark 16:1; Matt 28:1; Luke 24:1-10; John 20:1). These women were the first to behold the stone rolled away and the empty tomb. Their report was not believed by the disciples, but Peter and John went themselves to see the empty tomb (John 20:2-10). Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Christ (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18). After that, “He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days” (Acts 1:3).

For one of the most noble women in Scripture to be represented as a common woman of ill repute shows the evil heart of man, but should detract none from our admiration of her remarkable record of dedicated service and faithfulness following her deliverance from demonic control. She is highly honored in Scripture and surely will be throughout all eternity.

Warren Vanhetloo has A.B., B.D., Th.M., Th.D., and D.D. degrees. He served three pastorates in Michigan, taught 20 years at Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Plymouth, MN), taught 23 years at Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary (Lansdale, PA), and is listed as adjunct faculty at Calvary. Retired, he lives in Holland, Michigan. Since the death of his wife a year ago, at the urging of fellow faculty and former students, he sends an email newsletter called “Cogitations” to those who request it.