If you were to ask someone to name five biblical women, Mary Magdalene would almost certainly make it to the list. Her name appears 12 times in the gospels, and her story has taken on mythical proportions.

Mary Magdalene deserves top billing—not in fictionalized accounts of her life but among the ranks of women who sincerely followed Jesus. It’s time to separate truth from fiction, a task only made possible by digging into God’s word.

Who She Wasn’t

Before we uncover the truth of who Mary Magdalene was, let’s first debunk the junk. Extrabiblical claims about her began in 591 AD when Pope Gregory 1 claimed Mary Magdalene was the sinful woman of Luke 7. That gave birth to the popular depiction of Mary Magdalene as a former prostitute. But scripture never even hints at that.

Fast forward 20 centuries later, The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown took heretical literary license by claiming Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ wife and the mother of His child. Again, this has no basis in scripture.

Now it’s time to meet the real Mary Magdalene, whose story requires no embellishment.

Who She Was

Like the sinful woman of Luke 7, Mary Magdalene lived a life of gratitude in the light of deliverance.

Soon afterward He went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the 12 were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.—Luke 8:1-3 (ESV)

These three verses give us a wealth of information about Mary Magdalene. First, her name tells us she was from Magdala near the Sea of Galilee, around which Jesus concentrated much of His three-year ministry.

Second, we learn Jesus cast seven demons from her. Scripture shares many harrowing stories about demon possession—e.g. the possessed boy whose life was perpetually at stake and the demoniac who had terrifying strength. We don’t know how the demons tormented Mary Magdalene, but we can be certain they tormented her until Jesus set her free.

Third, we learn Mary Magdalene was one of several female disciples, including Joanna, who traveled with and supported Jesus “out of their means.” In sweet irony, Joanna used her husband’s income as Herod’s employee to fund Jesus’ ministry. But we don’t know whether Mary Magdalene was wealthy or even how she earned money. 

What we do know is she was healed. She was grateful. She was faithful. She was generous. And she stuck by Jesus to what she believed to be the end, and even beyond.

Her Critical Mission

Mark 15 tells us Mary Magdalene was among the women watching at a distance as Jesus breathed His last. The men had fled; only the women remained. Then Mary Magdalene and another Mary observed where Jesus’ body had been laid. They would continue to minister to Him in His death.

After the Sabbath, during which work was forbidden, Mary Magdalene and two other women went to anoint Jesus’ body for burial. But someone would first have to roll away the 1- to 2-ton stone that blocked the tomb’s entrance.

Imagine their surprise at seeing the stone had been rolled away. She wept, thinking her Lord’s body had been stolen and not given the respect it deserved.

And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Having said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.—John 20:11-14 (ESV)

Blinded by grief or by His transformation, Mary mistook Jesus for a gardener and begged Him to tell her where they had laid Him. One word—her name, “Mary,” uttered by His lips—opened her eyes. 

But their reunion was brief. She immediately received her marching orders.

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.”—John 20:17 (ESV)

Mary Magdalene was not only the first to see the risen Lord but also was the first to proclaim His resurrection. At first they did not believe them until they saw Jesus for themselves. 

What We Can Learn from Her

How do you respond to Jesus’ grace and healing? Mary Magdalene responded with servitude, generosity and obedience. In a culture that looked down on female disciples, Mary Magdalene followed and learned and helped further the gospel.

Even when she thought her Lord was gone, Mary Magdalene continued to serve. Her grief was great, but her ears were quick to recognize Him calling her name. Her feet were quick to take the news of His resurrection to His disciples, even if they initially discounted the witness of a lowly woman.

Live a life that is fully yielded to Jesus. Stand firm to the end. Listen for His voice. And be ready to answer the call when He gives you your own set of marching orders. These are the lessons Mary Magdalene still teaches us today.

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This is Part 27 in a series about biblical women—some named, some not, some honorable, some less so. But all have earned a place in scripture, and all have important lessons to teach us.