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“Jesus said to her, “Mary”.  She turned and said to him in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means teacher).” John 20:17 (ESV)

Mary Magdalene, a woman from Magdala associated with brokenness.  Also, she was a controversial woman in the Bible.  When we’re first introduced to Mary, Luke shares with us that Jesus had healed her from seven demons.  Commentaries speculate she had experienced sexual abuse in her past.  Words like prostitution and mental illness surrounded her.  She was an outcast.

I love the way The Chosen series depicts Mary’s “salvation experience.”  She shares with Nicodemus – “I was one way before and now I’m another and the thing that happened in the middle was Him.”

Jesus had touched her broken life and mind and redeemed her in a way only He could.  The change was evident to all who knew her.

When Jesus died on the cross, Mary was one of the few followers who stayed near him.  Others had scattered for fear but not her.  It’s easy to imagine her devastation when the only one who had saw value in her was now dead and gone. Without Jesus what would become of her now?

When she arrived at the tomb that morning, she was in search of his body to anoint it with oils for a proper burial.

Completely focused on her grief – she didn’t notice Him.  But then He spoke.  He only said one word.  Her name.  In Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, Mary is called “Maryam.”

He didn’t reveal Himself to her by telling her who He was. He revealed himself by telling her who she was.

One word – her name – spoken with an intonation of love, grace and mercy that only Jesus can utter. Her soul knew it was her Lord, her Redeemer.

This broken and redeemed woman became the first witness to Jesus’ resurrection, the cornerstone of Christianity. She would be the one to go and tell the disciples.

Whatever your past holds dear sister, it cannot keep you from redemption in Jesus.  No matter how broken you may feel – it’s never too late to bring it to the feet of Jesus.  Allow Him to heal and redeem those broken areas.  Then watch how He will use you for the Kingdom.

The enemy knows your name – but he calls you by your past – your brokenness. If you allow him, he will continue to lie to you. To haunt you with memories and thoughts that you’re not good enough.

But Jesus knows your sin – your past – your brokenness – and He calls you by your name  “a redeemed child of God” – his daughter.

Let that be the voice you hear above all others today.

“The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned”. (Psalms 34:22, ESV)

“Jesus, we bring our brokenness to You, teach us to hear Your voice above all others -redeem us for Your glory.”

For His Glory

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s life