Lessons to Take from Mary Magdalene at Jesus's Crucifixion and Resurrection

I'm writing this on one of the holiest days in the Christian religion-Easter. Writing this was also no preplanned or strategic in way. I had so many insights and perspectives on Mary Magdalene's role in this holiday that I simply felt like dumping them all out into a blog post was the best way to share them for those that would be interested and find value in them. So here we go:

The first comes from Mary Magdalene's presence at the feet of Jesus during his death. Unlike any of the designated male apostles, MM and Mother Mary remained with him despite what it meant-not just to witness someone you loved so completely and deeply die, let alone so horrifically-from a social stand point.

At that point in the history of Jesus' story, he was being persecuted. To be publicly associated with him and stand with him through to the end, was incredibly courageous. Perhaps people (even the Romans) could understand a Mother remaining by his side to the bitter end, but MM was making a bold statement. That her love and dedication to Jesus, all that he stood for, all that he was saying and trying to spread through out the world was her deepest belief also. That she was willing to risk her own life to be associated with Him and his messages.

This level of courageous is certainly extreme. A level that I certainly hope you never have to face, the willingness to be persecuted and put to death. You may be familiar, or have experienced this in a more moderate way though. For some, this societal persecution for who you and/or how you believe is real though. We've seen the shunning, shaming, and even death of those that have been transparent around these things throughout all history. Even our modern history.

And, also, to bring it into a micro-perspective-can you see the places, times, events, ways that you either have, or have not, been willing to allow others to see and know the ways in which you differ from them in perspective? Are there still times, ways, and places that you hide or run away from that which you truly believe only to not be judge or "persecuted" in some fashion? Can you even allow yourself to admit internally or express that which you deeply love or express in your heart?

Being able to do any of these, even just to yourself, is an act of courage and one that will change your course in life. It doesn't have to be in a bad way either. For all the fear it might bring up, this can be one of the single most liberating things you will ever do for your soul, your heart, and your life! The rewards it can bring are innumerable and without measure in value.

The second important lesson I'd like to illuminate is Mary Magdalene following Joseph and Jesus' body to the burial site, watching the process. Because what this says to me, is that she was willing to face the reality of the situation, be with her grief, and also get the details without just taking someone's word for it.

The decision to follow transfers the importance of not trying to bury our head in sand about what situation we find ourselves in, and are feelings-our grief. Like the others, she could have just went home. Cried it out behind closed doors. Tried to pretend it wasn't really happening or tried to push through to recovering from the loss as quickly as possible. Instead she decided to see it all the way through, each step, and without numbing or disconnecting from her feelings (one of her seven teachings is about embodying our emotions).

Do I really believe part of this was also about her wanting to get first-hand knowledge of his location of burial and details of how it was done? I do. I am no theological or historical scholar, my belief is strictly from what I am given by Spirit to aid in my understanding of these events, as well as of Mary Magdalene's personality.

She was tenacious. She had a grittiness and what some might call stubborness about her. She was the kind of woman that was going to face everything head on and see it all the way through. She was also the kind of woman that would need to investigate and observe things with her own eyes. All of her teachings have a clarity around her approach and philosphy that all things should be met in the eyes. Without rose-colored glasses. That the only way to truly to learn and embody something was to square off with it face-to-face.

I invite you to reflect on yourself now. Are there emotions or situations, current or in your past, that you have never addressed and dealt with head on? Are there things that you feel or have experienced where you are letting others give you the information and perspective-rather than learning or acknowledging your own?

The final things I want to delve into, in this blog post, is Jesus revealing himself to Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb and giving her the task of spreading the news. In all of that I have written about, this one gives me the sensation of it being the most weighted. The one that feels most significant, for me at least, to really let sink in. From a religious teaching that has bled in to cultural and societal influence, this is the thing that has been intentionally, or unintentionally, minimized. He gave this to HER. It was not an accident or coincidence. Nothing Jesus did ever was. It was planned. It was deliberate.

She was woman, even if you don't believe she was his partner-maybe especially if you don't believe that, and women were not typically transcribed in the Bible as having any place of equality to the significance and importance of men. Period. Yet all the gospels that talk about Jesus' resurrection specify that Jesus gave the task of spreading the news of his renewed presence to her.

She was the one that got to bare witness to the first sight of a whole new version of the world, a new way of perceiving life, and a new concept of life after death. He gave that to her, and then he made it her responsiblity to tell all that would listen about it.

Again, I share my spiritual interpretation rather than text book knowledge or academic study, these things above are not just of this specific event but are also symbolic and representative of more that he was asking of her and putting in her hands. In fact, I strongly believe that the direction he gave her and the conversation had was much more involved than what was put down in the Bible.

Reread the way I have laid it out above: Through giving her the experience to witness him first and giving her the task to share the information, he was asking her to spread a new version of understanding the physical world, a new way of perceiving the experience of life, and a new way to understand our relationship to life after death. And this is what she went on to do. Relentlessly. Fleeing her own persecution to the South of France (Go check out my spiritual pilgrimage to follow her path) where she could continue to spread his teachings. He gave it to her because he knew she would. He gave it to her because he knew she would protect his real meaning with bravery. He gave it to her because he knew she was up for it, even if she had no real idea of the fullness of what she was agreeing to do. He gave it to her because he knew the pureness of her love and heart for him would give her the passion to keep pursuing despite whatever adversity she would face in the future.

So, as a closing thought and contemplation for you from the presence of Mary Magdalene through these major events; what new version of life is trying to be shown to you? What has God/Creator/the Universe given to you to carry forward in this world that you have not been acknowledging or sharing? What is uniquely in your character and heart that you can identify as an asset to be an extension of Source here in this lifetime?