"The Real Mary Magdalene"

I saw a TV show on ABC (Australia) Sunday night called "The Real Mary Magdalene" (http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200412/programs/ZY7210A002D26.htm). It examined the factual evidence behind the story we all "know" about Magdalene. Was she really a prostitute who anointed Christ's feet? As it turns out, the New Testament never says she is a prostitute. Nor does it say it is her who anoints his feet.

Jesus meets Mary:

Luke 8

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

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No mention of her being a hooker! And was it Mary who anointed his feet?

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--------------- Here's what the New Testament says about the anointing: Luke 7:37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, And there was a woman in the town who was a sinner; and when she had news that he was a guest in the Pharisee's house, she took a bottle of perfume, and behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, and knew that he was sitting at meat in the house of the Pharisee, having taken an alabaster box of myrrh, And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster-box of ointment, Now one of the Pharisees repeatedly invited Him to a meal at his house; so He entered the house and reclined at the table. and lo, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having known that he reclineth (at meat) in the house of the Pharisee, having provided an alabaster box of ointment, Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. And went in and took her place at the back of him, near his feet, weeping, so that his feet were washed with the drops from her eyes, and with her hair she made them dry, and kissing his feet she put the perfume on them. and standing at his feet behind him weeping, began to wash his feet with tears; and she wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the myrrh. And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. And there was a woman in the town who was a notorious sinner. Having learnt that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house she brought a flask of perfume, and having stood behind, beside his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with the tears, and with the hairs of her head she was wiping, and was kissing his feet, and was anointing with the ointment. --------------------------------- No mention of it being MM or a prostitute! So there is then the Gospel of Phillip from the Nag Hammadi scriptures: The Gospel of Phillip (http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/naghamm/gop.html) Nag Hammadi Scriptures As for the Wisdom who is called "the barren," she is the mother of the angels. And the companion of the [...] Mary Magdalene. [...] loved her more than all the disciples, and used to kiss her often on her mouth. The rest of the disciples [...]. They said to him "Why do you love her more than all of us?" The Savior answered and said to them,"Why do I not love you like her? When a blind man and one who sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one another. When the light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and he who is blind will remain in darkness." ---------------------------------------- Then we have the The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene http://www.gnosis.org/library/marygosp.htm      Chapter 5 1) But they were grieved. They wept greatly, saying, How shall we go to the Gentiles and preach the gospel of the Kingdom of the Son of Man? If they did not spare Him, how will they spare us? 2) Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and said to her brethren, Do not weep and do not grieve nor be irresolute, for His grace will be entirely with you and will protect you.     3) But rather, let us praise His greatness, for He has prepared us and made us into Men.     4) When Mary said this, she turned their hearts to the Good, and they began to discuss the words of the Savior.     5) Peter said to Mary, Sister we know that the Savior loved you more than the rest of woman.     6) Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember which you know, but we do not, nor have we heard them.     7) Mary answered and said, What is hidden from you I will proclaim to you. 8) And she began to speak to them these words: I, she said, I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to Him, Lord I saw you today in a vision. He answered and said to me,     9) Blessed are you that you did not waver at the sight of Me. For where the mind is there is the treasure. -------------------------------------------- So the summation of the show was the suggestion that: 1) There is no evidence to suggest Mary Madgalene was a prostitue 2) According to the NT, MM played a critical role in Christ's last days. She was the ONLY disciple at the crucifixion, she found the empty tomb and she was the first person he appeared to after the Resurrection. Surely such a person should be acclaimed by Christianity, not besmirched?! 3) According to the 3rd century Gnostic scriptures of Phillip and Mary, she was "the most loved" of the disciples and kissed Jesus on the mouth. She also appears to be a strong leader of the Apostles. How, then, did such a woman end up known as a prostitute? Was she the victim of a slander campaign lasting two millenia? Did the heirs to Peter & Paul sect of Christianity do a deal with Caesar in the 4th century (Constantine) to wipe out the Mary sect and destroy for all time her reputation?

Comments

[MattyT]

This stance was also popularised in Dan Brown's uber-bestseller "The DaVinci Code"...if you haven't read it, it's a wothwhile read!

[Claire Smith]

I am sooooooo glad to read somthing closest to reality abouth Mary Magdalene in a long time. Thankyou. I feel the same way about Peter and Paul. Look at the Lutheran churches. They don't acknowledge Mary, Jesus' mother. We need to do something about this rightaway. Claire Smith, glassco79@yahoo.com

[Nina Mander]

This is very interesting... there's so much being said about Mary Magdalene at the moment... indeed, there's nothing in the Bible to say that Jesus wasn't married... perhaps early Christians thought that there was too much confusion around and people were following leaders of faith groups rather than Christ so they tried to eliminate too much confusing information. Perhaps they wanted to re-focus on Christ as being the means to salvation and the centre of people' faith. However, I don't see how anyone could think that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute... perhaps this was the opinion of people who couldn't tolerate independent women?