May 15, 2025
Our dog Dixie was rescued last year and she knows it. It was at the end of summer and to be quite honest she was on the brink of death, close to dying.
She had been on the side of a bridge for four days, according to a lady who was trying to feed her. Her hair was matted and overgrown. She had been hit by a car. With temps in the 90s that week, she was a goner if someone didn’t help her. My beloved did.
It’s the sweetest thing. Dixie knows she was rescued. (She has a sweet, appreciative spirit.) She also knows full well who did the rescuing. While she loves me, there is no question who she truly adores: my beloved.
Dixie wants to be with him. She wants to sit close to him, see him, walk with him, ride in the car with him. You get the picture. Dixie follows him everywhere she possibly can.
That’s how I picture Mary Magdalene.
Jesus rescued her from seven demons (Luke 8:2). Because of that, Mary Magdalene became a faithful follower, committed to Him and His ministry. She wanted to be near Him, see Him, hear Him. Jesus had rescued her, and she wouldn’t forget it or get over it.
When Jesus and the 12 disciples traveled about from one town and village to another, some women traveled with them and helped support them financially. Mary Magdalene was one of the women listed (Luke 8:1-3). Her name also pops up at several other important events.
Mary Magdalene was near the cross when Jesus was crucified (John 19:25). She couldn’t leave Him.
Mary Magdalene and some other women were watching from a distance as Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body down from the cross. They saw Joseph wrap His body in linen and place it in the tomb. Luke 23:55-56 tells that the women went home and prepared spices and perfumes, but had to rest on the Sabbath.
When Jesus, her Savior, was crucified, Mary Magdalene was heartbroken and confused. After the Sabbath, she went to the tomb - the last place she had seen Him, but His body was not there. She stood outside weeping.
Jesus was there. Blinded by grief, she couldn’t see that it was Him. She didn’t EXPECT it to be Him. He asked why she was crying.
Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” My beloved once said, “She wanted to go get Him, because He had gone and gotten her!”
And then the most beautiful thing…He spoke her name. “Mary.” And she knew! Can you imagine hearing Jesus speak your name? Shew!
Mary Magdalene’s previous mission was to help meet the needs of Jesus and the disciples (Mark 15:41). Now, a new chapter was beginning. Jesus had a new role for her: go and tell (John 20:17). So, she did.
When Jesus rescued Mary Magdalene, she never got over it. She fully surrendered her heart and life to Him. Let that be our story, too!
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Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife, newspaper columnist, and the author of Weiner Stew: Inspiring Stories from Appalachia. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.
