Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles. Luke 8:1-2NKJV.
I was thinking this week about how we all have the potential of not hearing God’s voice. Worse yet, not responding to God’s voice—Turning a deaf ear.
Author and speaker Sir Ken Robinson resides from Liverpool, England, the same hometown as Sir Paul McCartney. One day as they were comparing notes, Sir Ken discovered that Sir Paul hadn’t performed very well in his musical studies. His high school teacher didn't give him good marks and didn't even notice any innate talent. Amazing, right? But it gets even better! George Harrison, lead guitarist for the Beatles, had the same High School teacher. And he didn't fare any better than McCartney. Let me get this straight, Ken said to Paul. “This teacher had half of the Beatles in his classes and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary!” (Mark Batterson)
“I guess what I want you to know is everyone has potential. Let it be said that we never pass anyone up.” P.H
And that’s not my text; However, just because someone isn’t recognized as being useful that’s not the whole story. As well with—Mary Magdalene.
Not every Gospel account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection focus on the same events and details, but all four attest that Mary Magdalene witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Her connection to Jesus was undeniable. The healing that took place in her life on account of His miraculous presence inspired the rededication of her life to follow Jesus to His burial . . . until she could no longer physically see her Savior.
Luke 8:1-2NKJV Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,
Mary was a Jewish woman from the fishing town Magdala, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Her name is mentioned 12 times in the Gospels, more than most of the apostles.
We don't know much about Mary Magdalene, but we do know that she was possessed by seven demons before Jesus cast them out.
In other words, Mary had seven problems she couldn't solve. Mary was broken in seven places. She had seven life issues that were out of control.
I don’t know what these demons, or problems were, but after 31 years of pastor, I can take an intelligent guess.
The first demon Mary had was, she forgot her— identity.
Wow, Mary forgot who she was.
Someone who forgets their identity are libel to do anything. Mary enjoyed night life, she begin to live in dark places. She begin hanging around questionable people.
“Remember, Mary had some demons, and demons like dark things. Dark trips with dark people. Remember, Marys light was cut off some time ago.” P.H
Ephesians 2:19TM That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders.
Mary forgot her citizenship, she was raised in a Jewish home, she forgot she was the people of God!
People like Mary, we tend to give-up-on, 7 demons equals a lot of time and healing. And then we wonder if the person in need is sincere. Seven problems. We give up, but God won’t, He can't give up. It's not in His nature.
Again, Mary forgot her ID.
2. The second demon was, Mary forgot that she was blessed.
God has given you the greatest blessing of all—Himself. No matter what other blessings God may or may not choose to send into your life, you can always be confident that God Himself will be with you, loving you, and working everything in your life out for good purposes.
Psalms 1:1-3NKJV Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Reverent Charles Capps always quoted verse 3 as he went fishing…And whatever he does shall prosper.
Mary forgot she was blessed. Think about this, “Just being born a Jew was a huge blessing.”
Hear me—Make a habit of reflecting on those blessings every week, and thanking Him for them.
I read just this week that one habit of, 120 geniuses they all had in common was they had a book to reflect in, some had a book to dream in, or diary etc.
3. The third demon was, Mary forgot that she was appreciated.
When everybody and everything under appreciates you, God doesn’t, you’re of rare commodity to God. Think about this, He values you more than He did His only Son.
Here’s God’s appreciation of you—Zephaniah 3:17NIV The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
By hearing Genesis through Deuteronomy, the Torah, or Pentateuch read, It’s clear that God’s people are appreciated.
Again, Mary forgot.
Do you appreciate who you are? Begin by appreciating others.
4. The fourth demon was, Mary forgot she was reconciled.
Mary was reconciled because she was a Jew. However, Mary Magdalene needed more than her families religion, what she needed, what she required, was a Savior. The Savior. Jesus. The Amen.
Romans 5:10-11TLB And since, when we were his enemies, we were brought, back to God (reconciled), by the death of his Son, what blessings He must have for us now that we are his friends and He is living within us! 11 Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying for our sins—making us friends of God.
Have you received reconciliation? Do you give- reconciliation?
Think about it, God brought you back, He put you back together, you’ve been reunited with God. According to Ephesians, you’re part of the family of God.
5. The fifth demon was Mary forgot she was afflicted. We all are.
Everyone in this fallen world—Christians and non-Christians alike—must endure suffering.
Mary forgot that life is hard, but my God is good. Mary forgot that her afflictions made her depend upon God. Mary forgot the softness of God’s sweet voice of grace and love.
Psalm 34:19NKJV Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
I believe that Mary took her afflictions personal, she used them as an excuse. For an addict: There’s always a reason…Some blame…Some excuse.
She probably made statements like this, “Well, that’s just the way I am.”
As a believer, your suffering can accomplish good, redemptive purposes. Your suffering can make you think clearly about how you’re going to leave your legacy.
Personal testimony, My sufferings make me heaven sick. I’m home sick for heaven. My sufferings remind me to keep all things in perspective.
Here’s my perspective—Jesus saves. He saved me, He saved you.
Jesus stated in, John 12:32KJV And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
6. The sixth demon was, Mary forgot she was forgiven.
Ephesians 4:32NIV Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Through Jesus Christ, His shed blood, you are forgiven—Period. P.H
After Mary was forgiven—Mark 16:1-2NKJV Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Again, Mary was forgiven, you are forgiven.
Psalm 103:11-12NIV For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
7. The seventh and final demon was, Mary forgot that she was loved.
Maybe Mary had a terrible home life? Maybe within Mary’s family of origin there was a really big secret?
Regardless, Mary was a young Jewish lady which gave her opportunity for greater success than the normal girl.
Some of Mary’s devotion is seen in, Luke 7:36-37NKJV Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.??
God’s word is clear when it comes to the love Jesus has for you. Paul writes, Romans 8:37-38NLT No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
We write off people like Mary, but Jesus writes them in.
In fact, Mary became the leading lady in the most important episode in all of scripture. She was the first person to witness the resurrection of Jesus Christ and will be forever known as the apostle to the apostles.
If Mary had a business card it could read—“Mary Magdalene apostle to the apostles.”
Benediction.
