This month we want to explore the stories of three people who were changed after meeting Jesus: Mary Magdalene, Zacchaeus, and Thomas. We want to focus on how Jesus led them to believe in him more deeply—and how he wants to do the same for us. Jesus wants us to believe, without a doubt, that he is God, that he rose from the dead, and that he is with us even in our most difficult moments. So let’s ask the Lord to strengthen our faith as we examine the stories of Jesus’ disciples, beginning with Mary Magdalene.

John 20:11-18 Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.

Who Is Mary Magdalene? Mary’s surname Magdalene likely indicates her hometown. Magdala was one of the largest towns around the Sea of Galilee. Archaeologists today identify it with the excavated ruins of Magdal, located not far from Tiberias, where the hills reach down to the lakeshore.

Plagued by evil spirits, Mary Magdalene was healed by Jesus (Luke 8:2) and was among the women who accompanied him in his public ministry. These women may have been wealthy and supported Jesus and his disciples with their resources. Some had sons who also followed him. They had been deeply touched by Jesus, and their lives had been changed.

Mary was probably among the crowd of followers who praised Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. Less than a week later, Jesus was seized in Gethsemane. His closest male disciples “left him and fled” (Matthew 26:56), but the women remained. Mary was present at Golgotha: “There were many women there, looking on from a distance. . . . Among them were Mary Magdalene” (Matthew 27:55, 56). John adds that she even stood by the cross of Jesus with his mother (John 19:25).

Mary Magdalene and her companions watched as Joseph of Arimathea removed Jesus’ body from the cross and laid him in the tomb (Luke 23:50-56). After the Sabbath, they returned to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices (Luke 24:1, 10). In their grief, these women sought to do one final service of love for Jesus. They followed him faithfully, even to his grave.

Reflect:

• What qualities do you see in Mary that helped her grow as a disciple? Which would you like to imitate? Why?
• Mary expressed her gratitude and love for Jesus by listening to him, supporting him financially, and staying close to him—even seeking to bury his body with dignity. How can you express your love for Jesus?

Pray:

“Jesus, I am so grateful for the ways you have blessed me and changed my life. Help me to show my love for you in concrete ways today.”

Where Have You Laid Him? Mary came to the tomb early and was distressed at not finding Jesus’ body. So she ran to tell Simon Peter (John 20:1-2) and returned to the empty tomb. Mary assumed that the body had been taken away—perhaps stolen (20:11-13). Even when Jesus himself stood near her, Mary mistook him for the caretaker of the garden where the tomb was located (20:14-15).

How could Mary—who knew Jesus so well—fail to recognize her beloved Lord? Perhaps her tears blinded her. She may have been overwhelmed by sorrow and deceived by her expectations, unable to comprehend any other possibility than finding his corpse. Or maybe Jesus’ resurrected body was so gloriously transformed that he was unrecognizable. We just don’t know, but we do know that when Jesus spoke, everything began to change.

Jesus asked Mary, “Whom are you looking for?” (John 20:15). Was she searching for the Lord or for her preconceived image of him? But once he said “Mary!” Jesus pierced through her grief and doubt (20:16). With this single word, he freed her from the hopelessness that had taken hold of her as she watched him die. When Mary heard her name, she turned and recognized her Lord. In a surge of joy and relief, she exclaimed, “Rabbouni!”—a pledge of her faith in Jesus and in his resurrection (20:16).

Reflect:

• At first, Mary Magdalene didn’t realize that Jesus was speaking to her. Why do you think she failed to recognize him? What hinders you from recognizing Jesus’ presence? What helps you to be aware of him and to recognize his voice?
• Imagine the risen Lord appearing to you and calling you by name. What might he be saying to you? How do his words affect you? How will you respond to him?

Pray:

“Jesus, thank you for being with me—even when I don’t realize it. Help me to recognize your voice when you are calling me. Lord, increase my faith.”

I Have Seen the Lord! Mary Magdalene, first to see the risen Lord, is most remembered for her Easter testimony. She is also known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.” When she proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord,” she was the first to convey the good news to the men who had been closest to Jesus (John 20:18; Mark 16:9-10). Mary was an eyewitness to the ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Perhaps she shared her memories with the believers who made up the early Church. According to some early writings, Mary Magdalene later went to Ephesus with John and the mother of Jesus, and was buried there.

Mary had accompanied Jesus from village to village, from Galilee to Jerusalem. With love and perseverance, she even followed him to Golgotha and the tomb. There, she heard Jesus’ voice, and his words filled her with faith. Her doubts dispelled, she continued to follow Jesus and proclaim him as her risen and victorious Lord. Like Mary Magdalene, we, too, are called—by name—to hear Jesus’ word, to follow this same Lord, and to proclaim his resurrection.

If Mary Magdalene were here, she might urge us to stay close to Jesus even if we feel we have lost our faith. She might also tell us to cling to the Lord’s promises in Scripture each day. So let’s take her advice. Let’s tell Jesus that we want to trust in him, no matter what comes our way.

Reflect:

• Jesus gave Mary Magdalene a commission: “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17). Why do you think Jesus chose her?
• With whom might Jesus want you to share your experience of his resurrection and his presence in your life?

Pray:

“Jesus, I believe that you are the risen Lord and that you live in my heart. I love you, Lord. I trust that you love me and my family and that you will never abandon us. Help my faith to grow more and more each day—and give me the courage to share it!”