Why Mary Magdalene?

Reading and meditating on the gospel accounts of Jesus' resurrection, one striking detail comes clear:  in all four stories, it is the women who see Jesus first! (Yes, they went to the tomb first, but their testimony is pivotal, contrary to the culture of the day, and is a sign of the acceptance of women in the church.) But in all four accounts, Mary Magdalene
was there; and in John's version, Jesus appeared specifically to Mary Magdalene. Why did he choose her as the first witness to his resurrection?


Luke 8:1-3 tells us that the disciples followed Jesus "along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons." We don't know any more than that, but we can imagine the chaotic life she must have had, and the relief she felt in being free again. The details given in John 20:11-18 make it clear that she was a devoted disciple of Jesus. 

Like the woman who anointed Jesus' feet at Simon's house (Luke 7:36-50) Mary Magdalene had many reasons to be grateful to God. Her gratitude appears to have fueled her devotion. Her cry "Rabboni!" as she sees Jesus is a shout of awe and joy at seeing her beloved Lord again. 

So why did Jesus choose her? We could list many theological reasons, I suppose. But to me, one sticks out. She had been rescued from so much -- who knows what the demons had dragged her through -- and looking at her past, she may have had some element of self-doubt still bouncing around inside her head, like "I know I love Jesus, but maybe he doesn't really accept me." When she saw him and he spoke so lovingly, and gave her a mission, that would have knocked all such thoughts out of her head forever.

You and I sometimes think we're too messed up for Jesus to trust with anything, or that he really accepts us. But Mary Magdalene's story, I think, tells her and you and me, forever, that he loves all of us, no matter how messed up we think we are.