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Text: Luke 8:1-3
Theme: Mary Magdalene goes from demonic to disciple and paints a picture of a believer who sticks with Jesus through thick and thin.
Date: 06/02/19 File name: TheyWalkedWithGodMaryM.wpd ID Number:
Mary Magdalene walked with God.
She is one of the more prominent women mentioned in the Gospels.
Unfortunately, much of her reputation is undeserved.
In A.D. 604, Pope Gregory the Great didn’t study his bible very carefully, and mis-identified Mary Magdalene with the “sinful woman” of Luke 7. Ever since Mary Magdalene has been identified as a prostitute ... a reformed prostitute, but a prostitute none-the-less.
The films Jesus Christ Superstar, The Last Temptation of Christ, and even Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ all portrayed her as a “soiled dove.”
Her reputation as a reformed prostitute, however, has no biblical support, but even today, more often than not, it’s how many Christians think of her.
It wasn’t until 1969 that Pope Paul VI officially corrected the mistake and took Mary off the “naughty list.”
Mary Magdalene has always been an important part of the Gospel story, and students of the Scriptures are well-acquainted with her name and her place in the Gospels.
Her fame rose to new heights in 2003 when author Dan Brown released his novel The da Vinci Code.
The novel explores an alternative religious history to Christianity.
The book’s central plot point is that Jesus and Mary Magdalene where married, and had children, and that the Merovingian kings of France were descended from the bloodline of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene.
Brown was not the first to make such a claim, but his book gave it new life.
The book became an international best-seller and was turned into a block-buster movie staring Tom Hanks.
The Da Vinci Code reignited a popular interest in Mary Magdalene's role in the history of Christianity.
The book is pure fiction, and if you like a good story with lots of plot twists, then by all means ... read the book.
BUT; understand that it is pure fiction.
About the only true facts in the book are that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were real historical figures.
When it comes to the life of Mary Magdalene, the Bible is our authority, not Dan Brown.
Everything we know about her is contained in a dozen mentions of her in the four Gospels.
The earliest mention of her in connection with Jesus is Luke 8:1-3, and her last mention is, among the women in Acts 1:14 gathered in the Upper Room praying on the Day of Pentecost.
Most of the texts about her connect her with those few female disciples who were with Jesus at his crucifixion, and who went to the tomb on Sunday morning to finish embalming his body only to be the first witness of the resurrection.
This message is about her life, and the life-lessons she provides us.
I. SHE WAS A WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN UNDER THE POWER OF SATAN
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.
The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;” (Luke 8:1–3, NIV84)
1. Satan is real ... demonic possession is real, and the Church dare not minimize this reality
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
(Ephesians 6:11–13, NIV84)
2. all men are under the influence of one of two “fathers”
a. all confessing Christians are under the fatherhood and influence of the True Father — the God of creation
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12–13, NIV84)
b. all non-believers are under the fatherhood and influence of a false father — the devil
“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here.
I have not come on my own; but he sent me.
43 Why is my language not clear to you?
Because you are unable to hear what I say.
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.
He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.
When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?
If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says.
The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”” (John 8:42–47, NIV84)
1) this verse doesn’t mean that every non-believer is demon possessed
2) this verse does mean that the world, the flesh, and the devil are the primary influence in all decisions made by the lost
c. the world rejects this doctrine, but they reject it at their eternal peril
3. Mary Magdalene’s life was a life of torment, and restlessness
a. she was in a hopeless and helpless condition
1) throughout the New Testament we see demoniacs suffering severe emotional, psychological, and sometimes even physical trauma
2) demons afflicted people with illnesses, and disabilities, but mostly they are agents of deceit, sent to keep men from seeing the light of Christ
ILLUS.
A book every Christian should read is entitled The Screwtape Letters, first published in 1942, and written by British author C. S. Lewis.
It’s a defense of the Christian faith written in the form of imaginary letters between two evil spirits.
One is a senior demon called Screwtape who writes letters of encouragement to his nephew called Wormwood.
The uncle's mentorship pertains to the nephew's responsibility in securing the damnation of a British man known only as "the Patient".
After the second letter, however, the Patient converts to Christianity, and Wormwood is chastised for allowing this.
In often humorous ways, Lewis uses these imaginary letters to illustrate the types of temptations demons use to undermine God’s Word among the lost and discourage the saved.
In Screwtape's advice, selfish gain and power are seen as the only good, and neither demon can comprehend God's love for man.
b.
Lewis helps the Church understand the power and the malevolency of demonic powers
4. Mary had lost all control, and dignity, and she was likely shunned by her family and community
II.
SHE WAS A WOMAN MIRACULOUSLY DELIVERED BY THE POWER OF CHRIST
1. Mary’s situation was hopeless
a. not only is she a sinner without Christ, she is demon possessed
b. men could do nothing for her
1) no surgeon could cut away the problem
2) no psychiatrist could psychoanalyze her problem away
3) no herbalist could aromaticize her problem away
“Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.”
(Psalm 108:12, NIV84)
2. then Jesus came to town
a. Christ delivered her and gave her a new life
“With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.”
(Psalm 108:13, NIV84)
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
(Hebrews 7:25, NIV84)
b. in Christ Mary Magdalene became a new creation
III.
SHE WAS A WOMAN WHO BECAME A DEVOTED FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
“Many women were there, watching from a distance.
They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”
(Matthew 27:55–56, NIV84)
1. Luke tells us that, along with some other godly women, Marry Magdalene followed Jesus throughout Israel and supported his ministry financially
a. where her wealth came from the Bible is silent, but church tradition has always maintained that she was a woman of means
ILLUS.
This is not totally unprecedented in ancient Israel.
We know from 1st-century Synagogue inscriptions that there were women of wealth throughout Israel who served as benefactors and patrons of houses of worship and various benevolent ministries.
2. out of gratitude, Mary gave herself, her heart, and her substance to Jesus
3. even in adversity, Mary’s faith in Christ stood firm
a. when Jesus is arrested, condemned, and crucified, virtually all of his Apostles and disciples abandoned him
b. with the exception of the Apostle John, the only disciples who stand with Jesus during his ordeal are women — including Mary Magdalene
“A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.”
(Luke 23:27, NIV84)
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”
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