"Mary"

She was troubled and tormented,

And hopeless as could be,

Plagued with seven demons,

They ruined her life, you see.

And then the great Hope-Giver,

Came and brought her peace,

Drove out all the darkness,

And gave her sweet release.

And for this she loved Him,

And followed to the end,

Even when upon the cross,

On her He could depend.

Weeping and discomfited,

Her heart was broken full,

Of pain and grief and sorrow,

And none could stop the pull,

Of that early Sunday morning,

When to the tomb she ran,

One last favor for the Savior,

That’s when new hope began.

She found the stone all rolled away,

Angels present with their news,

Weeping still and wondering,

Not knowing where or whose,

The blessed corpse of Jesus,

Had been moved to who knows where,

She didn’t recognize Him,

When He soon came standing there.

Then Jesus spoke out loud her name,

And then with joy she knew,

He sent her then to spread the word,

As hope within her grew.

The first to be a witness,

Of. Jesus’ death and rise,

Entrusted with the miracle,

The greatest in our eyes.

Through all the years and all the tears,

And centuries long past,

We will remember what she did,

Her faith will ever last.

And one day we will join her there,

With all those gone before,

From a big mess to a messenger,

Who praises evermore.

“She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. ‘Dear woman, why are you crying?’ Jesus asked her. ‘Who are you looking for?’ She thought He was the gardener. ‘Sir,’ she said, ‘if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.’ ‘Mary!’ Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, ‘Rabboni!’ (wich is Hebrew for Teacher.)” (John 20:14-16, NLT)

What a beautiful moment! Mary Magdalene, the first to the empty tomb and the first to see Jesus after He is raised, becomes the first one Jesus sends as His witness to the others. This one, from whom He had cast seven demons and who followed Him all the way to the cross, was the one He could trust with the miraculous good news! Many of us can see our story in hers, and are given great hope by how the Lord used her. No matter the past demons, Jesus says, “Go tell them I am alive!” Yes, Lord, we will.

Lord, help us tell everyone You are alive, in Jesus’ name.

Art by JaNeil Anderson, used by permission. Thanks, JaNeil, and God bless you.