T2W Fall Online Bible Study

Week Eleven – Mary Magdalene

Psalm 16 – Every Woman’s Journey

By Carri Pratt

“For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit.” Psalm 16:10

  

Reminder:  Jesus is not as concerned about your past mistakes as He is about your future choices.

“Soon afterward He was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene 

(seven demons had come out of her);” Luke 8:1-2

Luke writes that Mary of Magdala, aka Mary Magdalene, was filled with seven demons. She was a miserable wretch caught in the bondage of sin. Well, that sounds pretty similar to how we all were before the Amazing Grace of Jesus Christ.

What might her demons have been?  Perhaps they may have been addiction, anger, jealousy, a critical spirit, greed, vanity, depression, selfishness, regret, unforgiveness or actual demons.

No matter what the demons may have been, or what our demons may currently be, Jesus has come to set us free! 

The words of Chris Tomlin’s version of Amazing Grace, written by English poet and clergyman John Newton, embraces some powerful truth we should all recognize:

My chains are gone

I’ve been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love, Amazing Grace

When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, He gives us the incredible gift of forgiveness and freedom from the sin that oppresses us. Some may argue that with Jesus comes boundaries and lack of freedom when actually the exact opposite is true.

Mary Magdalene was eternally grateful to Jesus for freeing her of these bonds and allowing her to experience His peace, joy and hope.  In return for her faithfulness, Jesus chose her to be one of the very first to experience the knowledge of His resurrection.  Jesus rewards faithfulness.

“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons”. Mark 16:9

As Psalm 16:10 states, Jesus will not allow any of His faithful followers to “see the pit.”  Whether the pit referred to here is actually Hell or the sinful bondage that feels like a living hell, all can experience relief because “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

Challenge:  Focus on what Jesus has done for you. Do you have any demons keeping you in bondage? Ask Jesus to release you today.  Thank Him and rejoice! Serve Him with a faithful heart of gratitude.

Read Mary Magdalene’s Story in Mark at Biblegateway.com