Summary:
Mary Magdelene has gone from reformed prostitute to the wife of Jesus and mother of his child. This article discusses the role of Mary Magdelene in the Bible, throughout history, and in popular culture.

Details or Sample:
Misunderstood Mary Magdelene
by Rebecca J. Stigall

Mary Magdelene is quite possibly the most controversial woman in the Bible. Once labeled a prostitute, she has recently been given the illustrious title of the wife of Jesus and the mother of his child. Whatever the truth, Mary Magdelene, after the Virgin Mary, mother of God, is perhaps the most talked about woman in the New Testament.

Now that she has shed her image of prostitute, most Biblical scholars agree that Mary Magdelene was one of Jesus’ most devoted followers. She has achieved sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church and has had a festival named in her honor by the Lutheran Church on her feast day of July 22. Scholars believe that her name stems from the town of Magdala where she was born.

Mary Magdelene was a patron of Jesus and his ministry. Luke 8:1-3 describes Mary as one of several women who supported Jesus in this manner, as well as a woman whom Jesus had cured of seven demons.
8:1Now it happened that after this he made his way through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, 2as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3Joanna the wife of Herod´s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources (The New Jerusalem Bible).

As mentioned in Matthew 27:55-56, Mary was also one of the women present at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.
55And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him. 56Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee´s sons (The New Jerusalem Bible).

Her presence at the crucifixion is also mentioned in Mark 15:40-41
40There were some women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary who was the mother of James the younger and Joset, and Salome. 41These used to follow him and look after him when he was in Galilee. And many other women were there who had come up to Jerusalem with him (The New Jerusalem Bible).

As well as in Luke 23:55-56.

55Meanwhile the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus were following behind. They took note of the tomb and how the body had been laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And on the Sabbath day they rested, as the Law required (The New Jerusalem Bible).

Matthew 28:1-10 recalls how Mary Magdelene and her companion were witness to the risen Christ.
28:1After the Sabbath, and towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to visit the sepulchre. 2And suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3His face was like lightning, his robe white as snow. 4The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they were like dead men. 5But the angel spoke; and he said to the women, ´There is no need for you to be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, as he said he would. Come and see the place where he lay, 7then go quickly and tell his disciples, "He has risen from the dead and now he is going ahead of you to Galilee; that is where you will see him." Look! I have told you.´ 8Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. 9And suddenly, coming to meet them, was Jesus. ´Greetings,´ he said. And the women came up to him and, clasping his feet, they did him homage. 10Then Jesus said to them, ´Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; there they will see me.´ (The New Jerusalem Bible).
As does Mark 16:1-8.

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