As far as we know, except for John, none of the disciples were at the cross to witness the death of Jesus. But the women were, and of the three Mark mentions by name, the most notable is Mary Magdalene.

Mary has been seriously misrepresented throughout history.

She has been characterized as the classic “sinful woman” – a prostitute – who Jesus delivered from her immoral lifestyle.

The hugely successful musical of the ‘70s, “Jesus Christ Superstar” portrayed her as having fallen in love with Jesus through the song, “I don’t know how to love Him.”

In more recent times, Dan Brown tried to convince readers the church had covered up that Mary and Jesus were married in his best-selling novel, “The Da Vinci Code.” But that is all it was – a fictitious idea without any basis in history.

Who was Mary Magdalene, and why did she become a devoted follower of Jesus?

The answer is found in a short statement about her in Luke’s Gospel – “Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.” (Luke 8:2) We are not told how long she had lived like this, but it’s clear that until she met Jesus, no one had been able to deliver her from her torment.

Descriptions of demon possession in the NT are confronting and tragic. We read of one demon throwing its victim into uncontrollable seizures and another forcing a man into self-harm and living in a graveyard. While we don’t have the specifics, we can be sure that Mary, possessed by seven demons, lived a life of horror and mental torture.

But one day she met Jesus, changing her life forever and where do we find her on the day He dies? At the foot of the cross, with a group of other women whose lives He had also changed.

Jesus changed Mary’s life and He can change yours as well. Whatever the torment, whatever the pain, whatever the rejection, you can bring it to Him right now and He will deliver you from it.

All He asks from you is that you follow Him to the cross.

Today’s Bible reading: Mark 15:35-37