Mary Magdalene
Editorial introduction
After the crucifixion the disciples were shaken, Peter among them, and some were near to disbelief; a village woman from Magdala gathered them and asked whether it was the body of Jesus that had been killed or His soul. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells that scene in many forms, and the point is always the same: Mary Magdalene’s steadfastness made the apostles firm, they went out like lions, and without her the truth of Christ would not have spread as it did. She had no learning, lineage or wealth; queens of her day are remembered by their dates, while she is called the most steadfast of all Christ’s followers, a station hidden in her lifetime and made clear only centuries later. Love, not capacity, was the source: because the love of Christ filled her heart, every capacity was given. John’s Gospel shows another Mary at the tomb, weeping until her name is spoken and then carrying the message to the disciples, a distinct scene that deepens the theme of witness without merging the two accounts [1]. The strong are asked to strengthen the weak as she did, and to wonder whose gifts their own community has not yet seen. Her story opens onto Christ Himself and onto the meaning of His resurrection.
Although in the beginning, after His ascension, trembling and agitation prevailed due to the intense fear and dread that had arisen, yet after several days a woman named Mary Magdalene manifested such steadfastness and firmness that she established those men firmly and steadfastly in the Cause, and they arose to exalt the Word of God.
O maid-servant of God! Verily, Mary, the Magdalene, was a villager, but she kept firm in the Cause of Christ and confirmed the apostles at the time she declared to them (thus): "Verily, Christ is alive and eternal and death did not overtake Him; and verily, the foundation of His religion is not shaken by His crucifixion at the hand of the oppressors!" By this her face is eternally shining from the horizon of guidance.
The cause of their firmness was Mary Magdalene who gathered them and addressed them with eloquence and fervor: 'Why are ye agitated? Why are troubled? What is the cause of your retirement? Jesus always foretold about his death that a day is coming when I shall quaff from that cup. Now nothing has happened to throw you into such a consternation. Only this earthly, elemental body of Jesus is taken away from our midst but the Spirit of Christ is the Sun of Reality which is ever shining upon all the inhabitants of the world.
"Just as in the time of Christ: the disciples were agitated when they saw the body of Jesus crucified. Then Mary Magdalene came to them and said: 'Why are you agitated?' 'Because,' they replied, 'Jesus has been crucified.' 'Oh,' she said, 'that was the body of Jesus, but the Reality of Jesus is living and eternal. It is not subject to corruption.'
Mary Magdalene said matter is gone, and flesh, but the soul of the religion is forever.
She so encouraged and strengthened them by her words that their faith was confirmed; they became strong as lions and went out teaching in all directions, and by the power of God working through them, the knowledge of God spread all over the earth. Now in the eternal Kingdom their names shine as the most brilliant stars. Even here on this earth their names are remembered with love and reverence by millions.
Tell the believers that I want the strong ones among them to strengthen the weak, just as Mary Magdalene did after the death of Christ. On that famous even the disciples of Christ became very weak and disappointed, and some of them were full of doubts and were likely to disbelieve in him. At last they went to Mary and said to her, "Do you not know he is dead." She replied, "Well it does not matter was the soul killed or the body?" They answered "the body" Then she said to them, "Do not fear, he is still alive and will be with us always, and is ready at all times to help us, Go, be firm and strong, and do not let small things trouble you or fill you with doubts. Go and preach the word of God to everyone with sincere faith and you will be confirmed by the Holy Spirit.
After the death of Christ, the disciples were not at first firm. Peter denied Him. Mary Magdalene was the cause of their uniting. Out of her steadfastness, what a great result came. If she had wavered, the Truth of Christ would not have spread as it did.
After the Lord Christ suffered, the disciples wept, and gave way to their grief. They thought that their hopes were shattered, and that the Cause was utterly lost, till Mary Magdalene came to them and strengthened them saying: 'Do you mourn the body of Our Lord or His Spirit? If you mourn His Spirit, you are mistaken, for Jesus lives! His Spirit will never leave us!' Thus through her wisdom and encouragement the Cause of Christ was upheld for all the days to come. Her intuition enabled her to grasp the spiritual fact.
What apparent capacity did Mary Magdalene have? She was a village woman. Many greater women came who were all from royal lineage in the material world, or from among the famous of the lands and peoples. But because Mary had the love of Christ in her heart, through the love of Christ every capacity was given to her, to the extent that such a church was built in France in her name.
This Mary Magdelaine in whose name they have built a most wonderful church in Paris was a simple peasant girl. As she dedicated her simple capacity to the Cause of Christ, she became well-known throughout all ages.
Consider how Mary Magdalene was only a peasant girl.
For example, Mary Magdalene was the daughter of a farmer and but a peasant; yet, today her name is known and renowned throughout the world, because in his day she accepted Christ and went forth to serve Him."
Caiphas was the most learned man of his day and knew the bible by heart, yet he was deprived of knowing Christ because He was only called; while Mary Magdelene, who was ignorant and knew nothing, was chosen and accepted Him.
But Mary Magdalene, who was a village woman, because she served the Kingdom of Christ and sowed seeds in fertile soil, what a harvest she produced! Due to the blessing of that harvest, churches are still being built in her name and she is praised in all churches. And after nineteen hundred years, now 'Abdu'l-Baha is proving her supreme station - that in the Kingdom of Christ she rendered more service than all the apostles, even becoming the cause of the firmness and steadfastness of all the apostles.
Address thou the maid-servants of the Merciful One, and say: "Verily, Mary Magdalene was a villager, but on account of her keeping firm in the Cause of Christ after His death, she was rendered successful in such a matter, whereby her face is shining and beaming forth on the horizon of the universe forevermore! And she surpassed even men in defending the fortress of the Cause of God against the attack of the hosts of suspicions.
All were shaken but Mary Magdalen. She was a veritable lioness. She gathered the others together and said, "Why do ye mourn? Did not the Christ foretell his crucifixion? Arise, and be assured.
In the Mosaic Dispensation, Asiyih shone forth from the horizon of steadfastness with a radiant countenance, and in the Dispensation of the Spirit, Mary Magdalene, after the ascension of the Beauty of Jesus, arose with such firmness and steadfastness that she perfumed the horizons with the fragrances of the love of God.
O ye maid-servants of God and leaves of the Tree of Eternal Life!
Blessed are ye for attaining to that which was the greatest hope of Mary the Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jacob!
When His holiness the Spirit (Christ) was martyred, the only one who was not disturbed at all was Mary Magdalene. For the rest of the disciples were confused and discouraged. When Mary became a believer, and fell upon the feet of Christ, although she was a villager of no good repute, Christ did not withhold His feet from her.
It is said of Mary Magdalen that out of her went seven devils. This means seven evil qualities which Jesus cast out of her by teaching her the Truth. She was not such a bad woman as some supposed before her conversion, but the wonder is that such a saint and miracle of purity and goodness could have been created by the New Birth. She was greater than all the disciples of Jesus because she alone stood firm after His death, and never wavered.
But you must turn your face wholly toward the kingdom of Abha, giving perfect attention; the same attention that Mary Magdalene had for His Holiness Christ. Be like her and I will assure you that you will get physical health and spiritual health.
Mary Magdalen was only a woman of the town, and they used to blame her very much, but after she believed in Christ see her glory! Judge by the present, how many days have passed, and we are now talking about her.
Out of the rough fisherman He made the great Peter, and out of the poor village girl of Magdala He made one who is a power in all the world today. Many queens have reigned who are remembered by their dates in history, and nothing more is known of them. But Mary the Magdalene is greater than them all. It was she whose love strengthened the disciples when their faith was failing. What she did for the world cannot be measured.
Such a one was Mary Magdalene. The greatness of her station was not known during her lifetime, but after nineteen hundred years God has made it clear that this woman was the most steadfast of all the followers of His Holiness Christ.
… Now, after this long period, the station of Mary Magdalene has been revealed. Hence we must have faith that at the proper time every reality will likewise become revealed.
Mary the Magdalene, even an adultress, will be promoted to such a lofty station.
… He officiated Mary the Magdalen the holiest of the holy souls, an angel.
O faithful leaf, in the Christian Dispensation and the Messianic cycle, after the ascension of the Spirit of Being to His glorious station, all the companions and friends were scattered except for one of the handmaidens of the All-Merciful whose blessed name was Mary Magdalene - and Magdala was a humble village on the shore of Lake Tiberias.
… Until now her worth and station had remained hidden - now it has become clear and evident. This paragon of beauty manifested such power that she became the pride of heroic men.
[In the afternoon, when certain honoured women attained His presence, He related the story of Mary Magdalene:]
how, through faith and service to the Cause of Christ, she became the pride of men and renowned throughout the horizons.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
When Her Holiness the Essence of Sanctification and Reality of Holiness, Mary the Virgin - upon her be greetings and praise - became sanctified and purified from worldly concerns, she bore such a luminous fruit that she became the shell for that divine pearl and the target for endless arrows of cruelty.
For thought and discussion