The Mystery of Mary Magdalene
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Jesus Gets Acquainted with Martha

(Note:  In an effort to keep this investigation an simple and straightforward as possible, let us continue this investigation as though the woman caught in adultery was Mary Magdalene, even though supporting evidence has not been completely presented. By using this approach, maybe the details in this investigation will prove to be easier to synthesize.)    

Unbeknown to the Pharisees, they chose the wrong prostitute to condemn Jesus. The woman caught in adultery had a legal defense that permitted Jesus to lawfully spare the woman from death. Jesus did not usurp the Laws of Moses or the Law of God – in fact, He brilliantly demonstrated how the laws should work! (In God’s order, mercy does not negate the demands of the law.) This loophole indicates that Mary Magdalene could have been the woman caught in adultery because Mary Magdalene was totally evil. I have no doubt that when divine joy displaced demonic depravity within her body, Mary worshiped at the feet of Jesus   Furthermore; consider the behavior of Mary Magdalene. After Mary became a free woman, she reciprocated in three ways. First, Mary Magdalene anointed the feet of Jesus with the most expensive perfume that money could buy. Second, Mary Magdalene bravely stood at Jesus’ feet as He hung from the cross. And finally, Mary Magdalene was at the tomb Sunday morning when Jesus arose. I think Mary’s gratitude toward Jesus is displayed by her action. On the very day that Jesus cast out her demons, I am sure that she invited Jesus to come to her home and meet her sister. It makes sense that Mary’s gratitude to Jesus and her miraculous transformation paved the way for Martha to also become a devout believer in Jesus. (Martha’s faith and devotion is revealed in John 11:20-27)

The next question we need to address is this: Could Mary Magdalene have been a sister of Lazarus? I think the Bible affirms this, but the evidence comes in small steps. First, review the passage: “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.’” (John 11:1-3)

(Note:  John wrote this account many years after the fact and even then, John makes it clear that Mary, the sister of Lazarus, was the same Mary who poured perfume on the Lord’s feet. But was she Mary Magdalene?)

Prior to his death from Leprosy, Lazarus did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. I make this assertion based on four reasons First, as a leper (Matthew 26:6) Lazarus was forced to live in isolation (Leviticus 13: 45,46), and therefore, he could not live with the family. So, it seems reasonable to conclude that most of the knowledge Lazarus obtained about Jesus came through hearsay. Second, the Bible does not indicate that Lazarus was acquainted with Jesus prior to his resurrection. When Martha called for Jesus to come to Bethany because Lazarus was near death, she referred to Lazarus as “the one you love.” Many commentators have interpreted this expression to mean “your very close friend.” However, I think there is a more poignant explanation. First, there is no indication in the Bible that Lazarus and Jesus were close friends unless we treat Martha’s invitation to mean such. Second, Mary and Martha knew that Jesus came to seek and save the lost sheep of Israel. (Luke 19:10; Matthew 18: 12-14) In other words, Jesus came to save the unlovely – the prostitutes, tax collectors and lepers. Therefore, we should understand the phrase, “the one you love” as meaning the one lost sheep whom Jesus came to save.  Mary and Martha wanted their brother to accept Jesus. In this light, Martha’s request for Jesus was directed at Christ’s mission, and His friendship with Lazarus. (Smart woman.) Third, since Lazarus was a Pharisee (Luke 7:36), it is quite likely that his religious beliefs blinded him to the divinity and mission of Jesus. Fourth, Lazarus must have been a leper for some period of time before he died. If they had been such good friends, why didn’t Jesus heal Lazarus of his disease earlier? We know the disease eventually killed Lazarus and we also know that leprosy is not a short-term illness. When these four considerations are harmonized, I conclude that Lazarus and Jesus probably knew of each other, but I do not think Lazarus became a believer until Jesus resurrected him.

Jesus Honored

After Jesus resurrected Lazarus, Lazarus held a feast at his house to publically honor and thank Jesus for healing him and restoring him to life. This feast was particularly offensive to the teachers and Pharisees because Lazarus was a Pharisee. This made the Pharisees so angry that they schemed to kill Lazarus, too. (John 12:10) According to Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3, Lazarus had a surname. He was called Simon and “Simon the leper.” (See Matthew 26:6; Luke 16, and also in the reading room of this site titled, “The Rich Man and Lazarus.”)  When Simon Lazarus held this feast, he did not know that Jesus had set Mary free of seven demons some months earlier. This ignorance could be due to several reasons such as isolation while suffering from leprosy, the final months of illness, and/or his refusal as a Pharisee to tolerate anything said about Jesus. With these things in mind, consider this passage from Luke 7:

“Now one of the Pharisee [Simon Lazarus] invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisees house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisees house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisees who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner. ‘”

(Note:  Even after Lazarus had been resurrected by Jesus, did you notice the skepticism that remained in Lazarus’ heart? Lazarus said to himself, If this man [Jesus] were a prophet, He would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.” Simon’s skepticism affirmed two points. First, Lazarus and Jesus had not been the best of friends as many people claim. Second, Lazarus had evidently not been close to his sisters, perhaps due to his illness or religious views, because during the past six months they began to believe that Jesus was the Son of God.)

The Bible discusses this feast in four places – Matthew 26, Luke 7, Mark 14 and John 12. Because there are differences in the details, some people conclude there are two or more feasts. I am convinced the verses refer to one event. Four different writers wrote the gospels years later and this is why their perspectives are somewhat different. According to Luke 7:37, the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus had lived a sinful life in that town and Simon Lazarus was well acquainted with her past. According to Mark 14:3, Mary anointed the head of Jesus instead of His feet. I do not believe Jesus was anointed several times with very expensive perfume by different women. Jesus was anointed one time with the most expensive perfume money could buy.

“Jesus answered him, ‘Simon, I have something to tell you,’ Tell me, teacher,’ he said. ‘Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.’ ‘You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’”

(Note:  At the feast, Jesus assured Mary that her sinful past had been forgiven. Why did He need to assure her of this? After Jesus set Mary free of demonic possession, she felt a burden of guilt and worthlessness. Her sense of unworthiness overwhelmed her every time she thought about her sordid past. Mary’s past could not be changed, but her soul had been freed of demonic control. Consequently, Mary was full of sorrow realizing that Jesus had come to die for her – one of the lost sheep of Israel. She loved Jesus as she loved God – in the highest and holiest sense. As a healed prostitute, her love for Jesus had nothing to do with sexual attraction. As she anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, her tears and the great sorrow she felt flowed from a genuinely repentant heart. On the basis of her genuine sorrow for her sins, Jesus lawfully forgave her! [Ephesians 2: 8,9; 1 John 1:9] Meanwhile, a resurrected but self-righteous Pharisee named Simon Lazarus was talking to Jesus, but he did not really love Jesus as Mary did. At this time, Lazarus did not yet realize his need for a Savior. He was happy to be alive again, and he was happy to be freed of leprosy, but Lazarus had not come face to face with the condemnation which God’s law imposes on sinners. This is why Jesus said to Lazarus, “But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Pharisee paradigms die-hard.)

The Anointing

When the day of the feast for Jesus drew near, I am sure the Holy Spirit inspired Mary to do something that would never be forgotten. Mary purchased the most expensive perfume that money could buy. Three gospel writers agree that the perfume came in an alabaster bottle. She bought the perfume to  “anoint” Jesus before His death, even though it was the custom to anoint the bodies of people after they had died. (John 19:40) In this case, the Holy Spirit prompted Mary to anoint her sacrificial lamb before He died. As the magnificent scent wafted through the crowd at Simon’s house, the fragrance caused everyone to stop and notice that Jesus was being anointed by a woman who had lived a very sinful past. One of Jesus’ disciples expressed disgust at Mary’s extravagant actions and complained about the money wasted, but Mary did not notice. Her own soul had been set free from guilt. She was forgiven and she wanted the world to know that God Himself was in their midst. Obviously, Mary’s actions had touched Jesus and He promised her that whenever this story was told, she would be remembered for what she had so generously done. (I have often wondered if the scent from the perfume remained on Jesus for a few days and if the fragrance was detected as He prayed for all of His disciples in the garden. – John 17)

“The other guests began to say to themselves, ’Who is this who even forgives sin?’ Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’ After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (Luke 7:36-8:3)

Conclusion

Contrary to what some people may say, whether or not the woman caught in adultery is Mary Magdalene is not a “serious” theological matter. I base this on what the Bible teaches; that it is wrong to worship dead people. The Bible declares, Worship God!” (Exodus 20:3; Revelation 19:10) So, I would include this study in the category of “interesting topics.” Nevertheless, I will close with four conclusions. First, I am 95% convinced that Mary Magdalene and the unmarried prostitute caught in adultery were one and the same person. I say this for one of the following four reasons. (1) The only way that Jesus could have upheld the Law of Moses and saved the woman caught in adultery from certain death was because she was demon possessed. We know that Mary Magdalene had seven devils cast out of her, even though there is no record of Jesus doing so. (2) I also believe that Mary Magdalene was a sister of Lazarus and she was the woman with a sinful past. Because Jesus set Mary free and forgave her, out of gratitude she spent a fortune on perfume. (3) Mary Magdalene became a very bold woman for Christ and she stood bravely with the mother of Jesus at the foot of the cross. She was also the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection because she no longer feared the religious police after she saw Jesus deliver her from their schemes. (4) The Bible is clear that Mary and other women who loved the gospel supported Jesus and His disciples out of their own means because they wanted everyone to know the joy and freedom that comes through Christ.

Mary Magdalene’s story is a beautiful one illuminating the love of Jesus and the power of His gospel. This story is important because it continues, even today, to mirror two types of people. Mary Magdalene was in bondage to seven demons. Her soul was dead until Jesus gave her life and set her free. She was condemned to die as a prostitute, but Jesus’ lawfully extended grace. Similarly, Lazarus was also in bondage. His body was covered with leprosy and his mind corrupted by the ideas of the Pharisees until he died from the disease. Then, Jesus called him forth to life and I am sure that Lazarus eventually received Christ as His Savior. As interesting as all this is, remember that our heavenly Father also called Jesus to life so that Jesus might continue to implement the magnificent plan of salvation. All this that one day, all of God’s children can sit together under the Tree of Life and ask Mary Magdalene, in person, if she was the woman caught in adultery who Jesus set free!    

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