My name is Mary, They call me the Magdalene because I came from the town of Magdala. I barely remember my time before I met the Nazarene. He told me I had seven demons inside me. And I knew that there was something driving me, and driving me mad! Apparently I wasn’t a very pleasant person. I had no control of myself or anything I did or said. And I really don’t know how it all started. Maybe it was something that was passed down through the generations, or maybe I just wasn’t wise enough to be on the guard against them. I just didn’t know how.
All I knew is that I was miserable. I didn’t trust anyone, not even myself. My family had forsaken me because they didn’t know what to do with me. Most of the time, I just roamed around and bothered people. Apparently, children were afraid of me, and I can’t say that I blame them. Sometimes I stayed by myself out in the countryside. I wasn’t comfortable around sane people.
Then, one day, there was a group of people walking down the road where I happened to be. What I was doing, I can’t really say, but they stopped and started to talk to me. The leader, the Nazarene, Jesus is His name, looked at me and said my name as though He already knew me. And I guess He did. He is God, after all. He knows all. He knows everyone and everything there is to know.
He asked if I wanted to be free, as if that was even a possibility! I didn’t know what to think. What do you mean, free? How can anyone be truly free from something like this? I had heard about the religious leaders going through the motions of setting people free from evil spirits, but I don’t know if they really knew how and if it ever worked. I didn’t trust those hypocrites anyway!
But, Jesus, He was different. There was compassion in His eyes, real true compassion. He looked like He actually loved me. Now, I ask you, why would anybody love someone like me? But I could tell that He wasn’t pretending or trying to make fun of me. He really cared!
I said, “Yes, Lord, I want to be free. Can You help me? Do You know how?” He gave me an earnest look and a small smile and He said, “Yes, Mary, I know how. And My Father loves you and wants you free. He is the one who told me about you and where to find you. He has been watching over you until now to make sure you will get your freedom. He has great plans for you, Mary!”
A little bit of hope was born in my heart at that moment, and I felt it melting. It didn’t feel like a rock anymore but more like melting snow on a sunny day. And as my heart softened, my tears started, and when Jesus spoke stern words to the demons and commanded them to leave and never return, everything started to feel new. I started to feel clean, like I had been washed from the inside out. The world looked new; the sky was bluer and the sun brighter.
Was this really happening to me? Was I finally free? Really FREE? I had never felt like this before as far as I could remember. All of a sudden I laughed out loud, Jesus did too. And so did His friends who had watched the whole thing happen. They looked like they were almost as amazed as I was.
It has been a few years now and I am still free. And I am still serving my Master, doing everything I can to spread the good news about the Savior. While He was still here I watched Him do so many miracles. He healed so many people and just loved people just the way they were. And I watched people get set free just like I was. And there is Salvation in HIs name! You can be forgiven and live free from sin.
And He was right about our Father, He did have great plans for my life! After I saw Jesus die on the cross and then rise again with a glorious new body, I just had to tell everyone! And then I was with the rest of the disciples when Jesus took His flight to Glory. O, what a beautiful sight! And soon He is coming back for us the same way! What a happy reunion that will be!
And you should have been there on the day of Pentecost! That was a truly amazing day. We were all filled with His Holy Spirit and power. Power to witness; power to live a holy life, power to live for Him! And so many people received Salvation and joined our group that day! Can you imagine: 3000 people joining a group of 120! What a day!
But until He comes I intend to do my best to be faithful to my calling, telling everyone I meet about my Savior and Lord. He has been so good to me and to so many people. And He continues to be faithful to His people, those who trust Him and live by His Word.
If you just believe and put your faith in Him, you can be part of His big family, too!
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“One Woman’s Testimony” is written by Maud Barker.
You can read about Mary Magdalene in the Bible, in Mark 15 and 16; Matthew 27 and 28; Luke 8 and 24; and John 19 and 20.
