Mary Magdalene lived on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We know almost nothing about her life. Luke tells us that she was among the women who supported Jesus and the disciples. Aside from this, the only detail about her life—recounted both by Mark and Luke—is that Jesus had exorcised seven demons from her. She must have lived a very wild life to have been in such a state. Why of all possible things about her life is this fragment remembered? Even the number seven, the number symbolizing completeness, suggests that Mary was under the complete control of the enemy. Yet, Jesus delivered her—and for this she is remembered. Mary shows up in the Gospels in one other place: at the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Mary Magdalene was with Jesus’ mother standing by the cross. They together saw Jesus crucified, iron spikes driven into splintering wood, the cross lifted and set in its hole. They saw the soldiers cast lots for his garments. They heard those passing by hurl abuse. They heard Jesus proclaim, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” They heard the two thieves both mocking Jesus at first, then one repentant, turning to Jesus and saying, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Mary was there to hear his reply, “Today, you shall be with me in paradise. She stood silently by as Jesus spoke to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” And then to John, the beloved disciple, “Behold, your mother!” As John took Jesus’ mother away, Mary Magdalene and the other women moved some distance away from the cross. She was still there to hear Jesus call out with a loud voice, “It is finished!” She saw him bow his head and give up his spirit. She lingered. She saw the soldiers break the legs of the two thieves and she saw when they had come to Jesus—finding him already dead—the spear plunged into his side, and blood and water pouring out. Again, she lingered. When Joseph of Arimathea came to take down the body, Mary was still there. She saw his body wrapped in clean linen. When Nicodemus came bringing 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes—enough to bury a king—Mary was looking on. She saw Jesus’ body laid in the new tomb and the large stone rolled in front of the entrance.

This woman from whom seven demons were cast out became the primary witness of the crucifixion, of the hours on which Jesus hung on the cross, of his death, of his body being taken down and prepared for burial, of his body being laid in the tomb and of the stone rolled to close the entrance. Only once, when mentioned with Mary the mother of Jesus, is her name given last. In every other occasion, her name is listed first. This woman from whom seven demons were cast out, the most unlikely witness, a "mere" woman—considered in that day little more than a possession—she becomes the first witness. Three days later on the morning of the resurrection—of all possible people—Jesus appears first to the most unlikely: Mary Magdalene. She is the one commissioned to go tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” In choosing Mary, he exalts women to a high place of dignity—never thought possible. He gave to her the commission of being the first herald of the resurrection, “I have seen the Lord!” And he chose a witness who according to the standards of the day would have been deemed entirely unreliable—save one thing: the witness of a radically changed life! Indeed, she had seen the Lord so clearly the day he set her free, “I have seen the Lord.” Our words of witness are important, but when they are backed with the witness of a changed life—not the change that we ourselves have done, but the change that he has accomplished—then our words become reliable and believable. And I too along with Mary can proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!”