Bible Character Explorer
New Testament • 1st century AD
Mary Magdalene
First Witness of the ResurrectionThe woman delivered from seven demons who became the first witness of the risen Christ
"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master."
John 20:16 (KJV)
Overview
Mary Magdalene, named for her hometown of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, was delivered by Jesus from seven demons and became one of his most devoted followers, helping support his ministry financially alongside other women. She stood at the cross when most of the male disciples had fled, was present at the burial, and was the first person to see and speak with the risen Jesus, whom he then commissioned to tell the other disciples he had risen.
Gospel Connection
Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Christ at the tomb is the first recorded meeting between Jesus and any human being after his resurrection, making her a foundational witness to the event on which Christianity stands or falls. Her complete transformation, from a woman held by seven demons to the one entrusted with the first proclamation of the resurrection, is a vivid picture of what the gospel does: it does not merely improve a life, it raises it from death to a wholly new purpose and identity in Christ.
Discover More
See how this life points to Christ in the Gospel Connection section above.