Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

1
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

• Sunday School
• May 28, 2006
• Annual Church Camp
• Reynoldswood Camp, Dixon, IL

2
Mary Magdalenes Background

• Mary of Magdala, from a town on the western shore
  of the Sea of Galilee, a town known for
  prostitution traffic
• Considered a Saint by Roman Catholic, Eastern
  Orthodox and Anglican Churches with a feast day
  of July 22
• Particularly special to the Gnostics
• Experiencing a new rebirth in terms of popularity
  a cultural makeover

3
Which Mary? Mary 1

• Luke 7 36-50 A woman who anointed Jesus feet
  with her tears, wiped them with her hair and
  poured perfume on them
• The woman who was a sinner was traditionally
  considered by the Catholics as the same Mary
  Magdalene
• Eastern Orthodox Christians and Protestants
  believe they are different women

4
Which Mary? Mary 2

• Luke 1038-42 Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha
  and the resurrected Lazarus
• Mary was sitting at the Lords feet listening to
  what he said while Martha was distracted by all
  the preparations to be made
• John 121-8 and Matthew 266-13 seem to be alike
  although Matthew mentions the location to be
  Simon the Lepers home

5
Which Mary? Mary 3

• Some Christians believe that the woman Jesus had
  rescued from being stoned to death is Mary
  Magdalene but the woman is not named in John
  81-11
• Early Church fathers, Mel Gibsons The Passion of
  the Christ and Martin Scorseses The Last
  Temptation of Christ reflect this
• Bible scholars, however, believe that they are
  all different women

6
Which Mary?

• There were several women who were not named in
  the Bible or referred to without a last name
• Confusion was made official when Pope Gregory the
  Great in 591 declared in a sermon that Lukes
  Mary of Bethany was believed to be the Mary from
  whom seven devils were ejected according to
  Mark.
• The Catholic Church has admitted in 1969 what
  Bible scholars have been saying for centuries
• There is no Bible text supporting the idea
  that Mary Magdalene was a reformed prostitute

7
Mary Magdalene in the NT

• In Luke 82-3 she is mentioned as one of the
  women who ministered to him (Christ) of their
  substance.
• It is important to note that Luke mentions Mary
  Magdalene for the first time in Lk 8
• Luke was a careful historian/narrator he would
  have mentioned her as the same woman in Luke 7
  who anointed Jesus with her tears if those Marys
  were the same one

8
Mary Magdalene in the NT

• Luke mentions that Jesus had to cast out seven
  demons from her seven being the symbolic number
  for perfect in the Bible which means that she
  was deeply possessed
• She is not mentioned in the Gospels prior to the
  last week of Jesus life.
• All four Gospels are consistent that Mary
  Magdalene was one of the first witnesses to
  Christs resurrection
• Named Apostle to the Apostles for telling the
  Apostles of Christs resurrection

9
Mary Magdalene in the NT

• They all name her, but the rest of the witnesses
  vary by the authors
• Matthew 281 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
• Mark 161 Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of
  James, and Salome
• Luke 2410 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the
  mother of James
• John 201 Mary Magdalene, Peter and John

10
Fascination with Mary Magdalene

• Mary Magdalene became a symbol of repentance for
  the vanities of the world
• Maudlin weepy penitents
• Very few strong women characters in the Bible
• Portrayed as a devoted follower of Christ who did
  not abandon/betray Him
• The first human to touch the Savior she called
  him Rabboni or Teacher

11
Jesus and Mary Magdalene

• Discovery of Gnostic Gospels of Philip and Mary
  Magdalene depict her as closer to Jesus than any
  other disciple
• Jesus did not make provisions for her care as He
  did for His mother, another Mary
• Matthew 1246, Mark 331, Luke 819 all mention
  Jesus having a mother and brothers and Mark 63
  mentions sisters
• There are no Biblical references to a wife

12
Jesus Celibate Life

• Bible scholars, both conservative and liberal,
  agree that Jesus was probably not married due to
  lack of documentation
• Although rare, some male Jews did not marry
  such as celibate teachers in the Essenes
  community, John the Baptist, and Paul
• Matthew 1912 and others have renounced marriage
  because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who
  can accept this should accept it

13
Conclusion

• Lack of strong women in the Bible has caused
  feminists to look for role models
• Mary Magdalene is a a possible argument against
  the predominantly-male priesthood
• Mary is not remembered for the great things she
  did or said but as a woman who truly loved Jesus
  with all her heart and was not embarrassed to
  show it despite criticism
• She is an example of Christs love to save even
  the most fallen humanity