Mary Magdalene is a perfect example.

Mary Magdalene was a prostitute from whom Jesus cast out seven demons, as mentioned in Luke 8. She was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. She was in love with Jesus and may have actually been married to Him. Quite the woman, Mary Magdalene.

Of course, these legends are not true. She did have seven demons cast out, but there is nothing in the Bible about her being a prostitute. There is nothing in Scripture that suggests this Mary was the Mary who was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. The attachment to her name of Magdalene indicates where she was from, that being the town of Magdala, which is over 90 miles from the town of Lazarus and Martha, so she could not have been their sister. Scripture does not say that she loved Jesus in a romantic way and it certainly does not say that they were married. (There is a family in France who claims to be the last living descendants of Mary and Jesus. The local Catholic church accepts this claim.) So, how did this woman from a small lake side town come to be an example of a sinful character turned to be the recipient of wonderful redemption and chosen to be one of the women at the tomb?

I have no idea. I know that she is mentioned thirteen times in the New Testament, all in the four Gospels. According to Mark and John, she was the first to whom Jesus appeared after Resurrection. There were seven women in the New Testament named Mary, most designated by who their children were (as in Mary, the mother of James) and Mary Magdalene was designated by her town of origin. Both practices were very common in the New Testament. By the way, the name ‘Mary’ means ‘rebellion’ and was given to many girls as a hope that one day the people would rise up in rebellion against Rome. That aside, Mary Magdalene is a very special person in the New Testament because she had the courage to be there and to take an active role in the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus. But she was not the person she is painted to be by the Catholic church and some Protestant churches.

The only thing I can figure is that man seems to have a need to make everything much more dramatic than the truth. The Bible doesn’t say that Pilate washed his hands dozens of times a day out of guilt until he died, but we are taught that he did. The Bible does not tell us that Peter was the first Pope, but we are taught that he was the first Pope. Historically, we are told that Napoleon was such a good general because he was making up for being short, but in fact, he was of normal height for the time. We do like our sensationalism and drama.

 Right now as I look at the on-line headlines I see that a new poll says that those who have defied the social distancing guidelines were also those who voted for Trump in 2016. The ones who obey are the ones who voted for Clinton. I see that computer models (which have yet to be right about anything) are saying that May 26 is the earliest that it will be safe to reopen around the country. I see that the plunge in oil costs is going to wreck the stock market. I see bad news on top of bad news. Now that deaths seem to be leveling out there is not as much news about the deaths. And, of course, nothing about recoveries. All that is important is the news that is depressing and gloomy and bad and sometimes spectacularly bad. You have to dig to find good news.

But there is good news, if you really look. The fabled curve is flattening. It appears tens of thousands of people had the virus and never knew it because they didn’t have symptoms, but now they have antibodies in their blood. And Spring is here in all its beauty! Yes, things are different this year, but the farmers are ready to hit the fields. So many things have been canceled, but families are drawing closer. Entertainments are gone, but people are making their own entertainments. There is a new appreciation for teachers. Folks are seeing a new breed of superhero emerge; the healthcare workers.

And the best news is this; we have given it all over to the Lord. We have been told in Scripture that there would be periods of time like this, times of disease and famine and war. But it is all in His hands. We all have a ministry right now. Actually, it is the same ministry we have always had, but now it seems much more urgent. Our ministry is to walk with the Lord. We are to show the way to Christ. We are to break out of the mold the world is mired in and create something new.

I talked to Doris Mattern this week. She told me of sitting on her deck and one of the neighborhood ladies walked up and they started to talk. More than six feet separated them, but they were able to visit. Then another lady walked up. Then another and then another. Five ladies visiting, following social distancing. These things do not have to stop us from being good and kind and loving people. Christ can use any situation.

Don’t let what other people say define your situation. People say that Mary Magdalene was a harlot, a gold digger, someone who had no faith. But actually, she was a Godly woman determined to do the best she could do for Jesus. And today she walks with Him.

 Please folks, just because people say things, don’t turn from Jesus. Give it all to Him.