A WOMAN CALLED MARY

Luke 8:1–3 AV

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Intro: Our Lord’s followers have always been a fickle bunch. During the course of His earthly ministry, He was followed by vast crowds, John 6:10, “ And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.” and at other times, He was followed by just a faithful few, John 6:66 “ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

But, as the course of Christ’s ministry became clear, even His Own disciples were guilty of running away from Him when the pressure became too great. We are told that on the night He was arrested, “… they all forsook Him, and fled.”, Mark 14:50.

After Jesus is arrested, only two of His disciples followed Him to the home of the High Priest. They were John and Peter. Peter, we are told, followed Him “afar off”, Matt. 26:58. Peter would be the one who also denied Jesus that very night. By the time Jesus arrives at Calvary to be crucified, only one of His disciples, John, is still with Him, John 19:26 “ When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!”

After Jesus dies on the cross, His body is removed and is taken to the tomb of a man by the name of Joseph of Arimathaea, John 19:38–42 “38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

As darkness falls on that dark, dark day, all of the Lord’s disciples are hiding from fear of the Jews. By the time Jesus had died on the cross, and was buried in the tomb, not a single one of the men He had called was with Him.

Even though the number of the Lord’s followers fluctuated from thousands to a handful, there was one group that seemed to always be with Him. Our passage mentions a dedicated group of women that followed the ministry of the Lord Jesus. These women offered Him financial support and absolute devotion. In fact, one of these women, Mary Magdalene, seemed to have followed Him everywhere.

She was with Him during His ministry. She also wept at His feet as He died at Calvary. She followed His body to the tomb and sat outside His tomb after He was buried. She was also among the first to return to the tomb following the Sabbath. And, she was the first one to whom He appeared when He arose from the dead.

While others forsook the Lord, she remained faithful to Him! When others ran away, she stayed! What was it that produced this kind of devotion in Mary’s life? I think the Bible has the answer to that question! Today, I want to look at this woman’s life. I want us to find out what happened to her to make her love Jesus so. I want to see if I can get a little of what she had! I believe there is a word from God here for every person in this room. Let’s look into the Word of God as we think about A WOMAN CALLED MARY. I think her life has something to say to all of us about humble, consecrated devotion to God.

I. SHE WAS A DESPERATE WOMAN

A. The Horror Of Her Condition—We are told that Mary was possess by seven devils. The number seven may refer to seven actual demons, or since the number seven was associated with “completion”, it may mean that she was totally possessed and under the control of the demonic spirits that inhabited her. Either way, Mary’s life would have been a living Hell! She would have been drawn into vile sin and she would have been driven insane by the demons that controlled her. It has even been suggested that Mary was a prostitute, though no biblical evidence exists to support that notion. What a horrible life!

B. The Hopelessness Of Her Condition—In that lost state, controlled as she was by the demons within her, she had no hope of salvation. She would have been cut-off from the Temple. She would have been cut-off from all help from decent society. She had nothing to look forward to but a life of sin and insanity, followed by an eternity in Hell. She was living a hopeless life!

C. The Helplessness Of Her Condition—Since she was under the control of demonic spirits, she was powerless to change her life. She was trapped and totally helpless in her enslaved and lost condition!

In all this, Mary Magdalene is a perfect picture of every lost person in the world today. While most lost people may not be demon possessed, they are still dead in their sins and are powerless to change their condition! This is the clear teaching of the New Testament, Eph. 2:1–3 “1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Eph. 2:12 “12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”

I think you would agree with me that nothing could be more horrible than to be trapped in with no way out. Yet, millions in our world are in that very condition today! They live horrible lives, with no hope in their future but the fires of Hell! What a sad condition to be in!

II. SHE WAS A DELIVERED WOMAN

We are not told of the circumstances surrounding Mary’s conversion. However, some think she is the woman mentioned in Luke 7:36–50. It may be! Regardless, there was no reason whatsoever for Jesus to reach out to a woman like this. Surely there were reputable, decent women who needed the Lord. But, the fact that Jesus would reach into this woman’s darkness and bring her into His marvelous light can be attributed to nothing but His amazing grace! In fact, had it not been for pure grace, she would have died and went to Hell.

Jesus, however, was not content to let that happen and He extended love, mercy and grace to Mary and saved her soul. Eph. 2:4–5 “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved”

A. She Experienced The Lord’s Power—When Jesus reached out to this woman and delivered her, she experienced the power of God. She was instantly delivered from that which had her bound and she was set free! That is the power Jesus possesses! When He comes into a life, He makes instant and profound changes. These changes result in the sinner becoming a new creature, 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Pet. 1:23 “23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

They result in her being set free from the things that bound him, Rom. 6:6–7. They result in absolute liberty, Rev. 5:9, (Redeemed—agorazw—“”“To enter the salve market and redeem off the slave block by the payment of a ransom price.”);

Gal. 4:5, (Redeem—xagorazw—“To enter the slave market and redeem off the slave block by the payment of a ransom price and to forever remove from the sale!”);

and 1 Pet. 1:18–19, (Redeemed—lutrow—“To release after the payment of the ransom price!”)

B. She Experienced The Lord’s Peace—Think of the confusion that must have filled the heart and mind of this poor woman! At least seven demons all talking to her, each trying to control her and have his will carried out by her. Yet, when Jesus touched her and saved her, the turmoil in her soul was forever quieted, because only one voice was speaking within her heart now!

Jesus took the pain and turmoil that plagued her away forever and quieted the storm within her heart! He’s still doing just that! Oh how well I remember the confusion and disquiet that marked my own heart before I met Him. And, I remember the day that He stepped up on the bow of my life and quieted the storm in my heart. That is what He does for those who Come to Him by faith, John 14:27 “ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

To put it simply, He changes absolutely everything! Has He done that for you? Is there still confusion and doubt within you instead of peace and assurance? If you will come to Him, believing, He will bring His power and His peace into your life! He will change everything if you will receive Him!

III. SHE WAS A DEVOTED WOMAN

After she met the Master, she is inseparable from Him! Notice how her devotion to the Lord Jesus is displayed in the Gospels.

A. Her Devotion Is Seen In Her Finances—v. 3—It would appear that she was among those women that helped support the ministry of Jesus financially. When the Lord got her, He also got her pocketbook! The same is true about us modern believers as well! In fact, the truth is, our checkbook our priorities in life!

Are you giving the Lord what belongs to Him, Mal. 3:8–10 “ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

B. Her Devotion Is Seen In Her Following—Nearly everywhere you see Jesus in the Gospels, you find that Mary Magdalene was with Him. She followed Him as He ministered. She followed Him to Calvary and watched as He died, John 19:25 “ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”

She even followed His body to the tomb and remained there, with another Mary, Matt. 27:55–61 “ And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.”

In other words, she went as far as was humanly possible! She followed Him to the very end. This is His desire for you and me! He wants us to make Him our first priority, Matt. 6:33 “ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

He wants us to follow Him single mindedly and determinately, Matt. 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

He wants us to live out the name of “follower”! With Mary, it wasn’t about convenience, nor was it about a life of ease. For her, it was about love! She loved Him for what He had done for her! And she wanted to be with Him wherever He went! Does that same desire reside in your heart? If it does feed it and let it grow! He is looking for people who will follow Him.

Num 14:8 “ If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.”

9 “ Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”

14 “And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.”

C. Her Devotion Is Seen In Her Faithfulness—When all the others had gone away Mary Magdalene was still there! When the woman and the disciples came to the graveyard and found the tomb of Jesus empty, every one went away except for Mary. She stayed behind and she was rewarded by having the first encounter with the risen Jesus,

John 20:11–18 “ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to m…”

She was faithful to Him, even when others walked away! What produced this level of devotion within her heart for Jesus? Obviously it was all that He had done for her when He saved her. She loved Him so much for all that He had done that she simply had to be near Him!

Would to God that we had the same heart beating within our hearts today! After all, He has done as much for us as He did for her! Let’s take a moment to review what and where we were when He found us and saved us. Let’s think about all we have as His children! Let’s think about what He has promised for the future. Oh, we have reason to love Him, to serve Him and to follow Him with pure, selfless devotion! We just need to get about doing it!

Conc: where does this message find you today? Really, I have preached about the three possible places any of us could be today! Are you lost in sin? If so, there is a Savior Who loves you and will save you if you will come to Him. Are you saved, but not completely following Him like He desires? He can help you take that final step of devotion. Are you following Him with all your heart? If you are, don’t give up! Get before Him and thank Him for what He’s done for you and seek Him for His help for the rest of the journey.