"Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it."
-Mark 16:9-10
Mary Magdalene was taunted by people, calling her "witch" and "devil girl", but Jesus didn't see that. Jesus wasn't afraid of the demons inside of her, because hello, he's all powerful God! But Jesus saw her as a person; a person whose mind was descended into the gates of hell while her body remained on earth. That's why Jesus came. To save her!
I love this because it shows us just how deep Jesus' love and power is. He COMMANDED the demons to come out and his voice was so powerful that it SHOOK them out. Jesus was FEARLESS.
But then he spoke to Mary with a tender voice and brought Mary back to herself. Mary has never experienced this kind of love and mercy towards her. Mary was finally free, and Mary freely traveled with Jesus and the disciples. Jesus saved her and her natural response was to follow him.
She was there on the mountaintop when Jesus fed the 5,000, she was there when he healed the blind, she was there at the cross when the disciples all fled except John. She was there at the tomb. And even when John and Peter left the tomb, Mary stayed weeping because she thought her Lord was taken. Mary was the first one to share her story and pray for people Jesus casted out demons out of. Her faith amazed everyone! She was a leader among women. She proclaimed to others how Jesus saved and changed her life!
Mary wasn't fearful of man anymore because she knew her Lord was even stronger than her demons. Mary wasn't scared to be around men or cared what they thought of her because a man (Jesus) showed love towards her that changed her life forever. She was able to receive love because Christ loved her first!
Mary was CHOSEN by God to be the first to proclaim the astonishing good news, telling others "I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:8)
Mary was so committed to Jesus and she loved him so much, she couldn't leave his side. What great news it was when Jesus told her that he would be with her always to the end of the age!!
Jesus is so compassionate to love those who are so far from the Father, as far as the gates of hell! And he is so patient and kind to bring us to himself. He is so patient even to his disciples who had a hard time believing. If only judas could have known his patience! Jesus would have forgiven his lack of faith and betrayal, but judas never went to him because judas didn't think Jesus was his savior.
If your life is hard and you're suffering right now from your consequences or from someone else's wrong choices, know that God doesn't hate you. He isn't far from you. He loves you! And he wants to have an intimate, close relationship with you. All you have to do is cry out to him. He will hear you! I know this because his word has proven true over and over again!
"God is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." -psalm 34:18
Oh His grace! Oh His love! ❤️
"God comes to us from FAR...he DRAWS us with his loving-kindness..." -Jeremiah 31
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