A Heart That Moves God

A HEART THAT MOVES GOD – MARY MAGDELENE
Mary Magdalen has always been a predominant and fascinating figure for Christianity. But who was she really? The Gnostics hailed her as the companion of the Savior and the woman He loved most. Early Christian writers called her the Bride of Christ and the apostle to the apostles. But for centuries her most durable image has been that of a prostitute who repented and devoted her life to Jesus – an image that both shaped and so some extent reflected the Church’s attitude toward women.
All that we really know of the real Magdalen are the four facts noted in the Gospels: she was one of Christ’s followers; she was present at His crucifixion; she was one of the earliest witnesses of His resurrection; and she was the first person to be charged with proclaiming the Christian message. After nearly 2000 years, we are beginning to take a good look at Mary Magdalen and how her life epitomizes the condition of women in the Church and in society. Mary Magdalen had a heart that moved Jesus to return before the process of ascension had been completed, just to comfort her.
The situation with Mary’s heart speaks of the situation of all our hearts. Mary Magdalene was tormented, she was isol

Like my grandfather did when he lurched toward my grandmother’s body, Mary lurched toward the risen Jesus. Jesus says to Mary, “Do not touch me! For I have not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren and tell them that I have ascended to my God and to your God!” This was a key moment in Christianity and discipleship. Jesus interrupted his process of ascension to come and comfort this crying emotional Jewish woman, who had a heart for Him so profound that she had to be there and have Him. That is the kind of heart that moves God! At this moment, Mary became the first evangelist!

Mary had an encounter in her heart when she met Jesus. Jesus delivered her from seven demons, and she was for the first time in her life free. Oh, how wonderful it is when we first experience that freedom when God releases us from our burdens and our yokes. There is nothing like it. There is nothing like it when you experience that unconditional love for the first time and knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you, more importantly, you did not have to prostitute yourself for it. Until this experience occurs, all that you will know is the isolation of your tower until Jesus unlocks the door and bids you to leave and come and follow Him. This is what Mary experienced. She was completely consumed with emptiness and in bondage until Jesus set her completely free. What did she do next? Hopefully, what we would feel compelled to do, she followed Him. When people get truly saved, they follow and become disciples. Mary walked away from her lifestyle, became a disciple of Christ Jesus and ministered to Him of her substance. In other words, she gives her Lord everything she has, not only her body and her heart; but all of her finances to support the Gospel. She did not care how it looked to be with a group of women (groupies) following a group of guys! They walked around from town to town and ministered to the needs of these fisherman type men. They preached the Gospel, the good news, the glad tidings or as defined: “the good glad merry news that makes men shout and leap for joy”.

Mary’s life would be forever changed because Jesus was crucified. Where was Mary when Jesus was crucified and all of the disciples were gone? She was standing right there, with the one she loved and the only one who had ever loved her. Where was she to go? Jesus had given her life and a reason to live. This was something beyond loyalty; this was worship. Jesus is crucified. In John 19:25 says, “there stood by the cross