Dinah Chapman Simmons - Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles

Mary Magdalene is named more than a dozen times in the four gospelsmore than any other woman and more than most men, even most of the Twelve Apostles! And, as Peters name heads the lists of male followers of Jesus, Mary Magdalenes name almost invariably heads lists of women followers. It seems reasonable to conclude that she was well known and well respected in the early church.

The gospels place Mary Magdalene among the disciples involved in Jesus public ministry and also tell us of her presence at the cross and at the empty tomb. She was probably one of the group of women gathered together with Jesus male disciples on Pentecost, as described in Acts, although the only woman actually named in that passage is Mary of Nazareth (Acts 1:14). Her part in Jesus story spans the public ministry to Pentecost (and no doubt beyond).

Most of what we know about Mary Magdalene comes from the passion and resurrection narratives. Surely, her great Easter morning proclamationI have seen the Lord!is the reason her name has been remembered throughout Christian history. With these words, Mary Magdalene became the first of Jesus followers to proclaim the good news of the resurrection to other followers. It is this role as messenger of the good news on Easter Sunday that earned her the ancient title apostolorum apostolathe apostle to the apostles.

But Mary was part of the story of Jesus well before the resurrection. We know that she was present during his public ministry, and she was present at his crucifixion. This abiding presence is an important aspect of discipleship. Luke 8 tells us that Mary Magdalene and a number of other women were followersdisciplesof Jesus during his public ministry. And it is these same women who stayed with him during the crucifixion and who were witnesses to the empty tomb.

As we get to know Mary Magdalene (or Mary of Magdala, as she is sometimes called), we will explore the journey of discipleship that brought her toand fromthe empty tomb and that led to her being honored with the title of apostle. We will look at discipleship and apostleship, and at how these terms apply to Mary and to other women of the early church. And we will see, I hope, that these words can be applied to us as well! We, too, are called into a life-changing relationship with the Lord. We, too, are called to be disciples... and even apostles!