Mary of Magdala: My name is Mary. I’m from Magdala. I’m one of those women, one of those who followed Jesus from Galilee and helped take care of him and the disciples.
This man, this man they killed today? This man healed me. He set me free from the worst kind of bondage you can imagine. He cast out seven demons from me, who tortured me constantly. I didn’t think I’d ever get free of those voices, the incessant chatter inside, telling me how worthless I was, how I’d be better off dead. He gave me back my life.
After that he was my life. I would have followed him anywhere. He was my Lord. So following him and tending to his needs and those of his disciples – what else could I do? He set me free, and all I wanted to use my freedom for was to serve him.
That’s how it was for all of us – this motley collection of people who had been set free – from demons, from sin and degradation, some from blindness, crippling diseases; some from despair and loneliness and meaningless lives; some from greed and lust. Just a bunch of people who love him because of what he did for us. Selfish kind of love, when you think about it. But it was real, it was real when you were with him. He made it real. He made us all able to love in a way we didn’t naturally know.
And now he's gone.
So... now we have to bury him. I hear some guy from the Sanhedrin has given him a tomb until we can bury him properly. It’s too late now to anoint him before the Sabbath begins. We’ll have to do it first thing Sunday morning… I’d better find the others and find out where they’re taking him.
Oh, my sweet Lord. My sweetest friend. What have they done to you? What have we done to you?
You are welcome to join my congregations for online worship at noon today - here is the link. Our Holy Week line-up of mostly online services is here.
After that he was my life. I would have followed him anywhere. He was my Lord. So following him and tending to his needs and those of his disciples – what else could I do? He set me free, and all I wanted to use my freedom for was to serve him.
That’s how it was for all of us – this motley collection of people who had been set free – from demons, from sin and degradation, some from blindness, crippling diseases; some from despair and loneliness and meaningless lives; some from greed and lust. Just a bunch of people who love him because of what he did for us. Selfish kind of love, when you think about it. But it was real, it was real when you were with him. He made it real. He made us all able to love in a way we didn’t naturally know.
And now he's gone.
So... now we have to bury him. I hear some guy from the Sanhedrin has given him a tomb until we can bury him properly. It’s too late now to anoint him before the Sabbath begins. We’ll have to do it first thing Sunday morning… I’d better find the others and find out where they’re taking him.
Oh, my sweet Lord. My sweetest friend. What have they done to you? What have we done to you?
You are welcome to join my congregations for online worship at noon today - here is the link. Our Holy Week line-up of mostly online services is here.
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