Portraits of a Resurrection People: Mary Magdalene
ReferEnce texts:
Luke 8:1–3 NIV, John 19:25 NIV, Matthew 27:61 NIV, Mark 15:47 NIV, John 20:1–18 NIV
Overview:
As we continue into Eastertide, we shift from Portraits of a King to Portraits of a Resurrection People. These are individuals whose lives were shaped by the reality of the risen Jesus. This week, we reflected on Mary Magdalene—a resilient, capable, and often misunderstood figure in the New Testament. Far from being a marginal character, Mary stood at the heart of Jesus' ministry, supported it financially, and was present through His death and burial.
Mary’s story was marked by presence, recognition, and being entrusted as the first witness of resurrection. Her encounter with Jesus shows us that this new life is marked not by spectacle but by recognition—not by certainty, but by a love that stays. Jesus sends her to tell the story, and with her simple yet cosmic declaration—“I have seen the Lord”—we hear the first proclamation of new creation
The resurrection of Jesus is the divine vindication of His life and teaching—affirming that self-giving love is stronger than violence, mercy stronger than judgment, and humility stronger than empire. It is the beginning of God's healing of the world, the first breath of a new reality breaking in.
Reflection questions:
What do you learn about Mary Magdalene from these texts, and how does it inform our understanding of faith and strength?
How is her recognition of the risen Jesus both personal and cosmic in its implications?
What does her story reveal about how God chooses to make Himself known?
In what ways is resurrection not just about comfort but about reorientation—about seeing, living, and loving differently in light of what is being made new?
As you reflect on Mary’s encounter, what part of your life feels like it’s still in the dark? What might it mean to carry your grief, hope, or longing with the idea of believing you'd be able to recognize if something new emerged there?
Practices:
🟤 Stand still long enough
Mary didn’t rush away from the tomb—she stayed. Set aside intentional time this week to remain with a question, grief, or hope you might normally move past. Ask God to meet you there.
🟤 Name and Be Named
Reflect on the power of Jesus calling Mary by name after all they had lived through together. In prayer or journaling, listen for how God might be naming you—calling out identity, healing, or purpose.
🟤 Recognize Resurrection
Resurrection signals the start of a new creation. Practice paying attention this week to where mercy, renewal, or other signs of life might be emerging—in relationships, in your city, or in creation itself.
Prayer Prompt:
God of resurrection,
you meet us in places of joy and in shadows of doubt,
in the quiet of ordinary days
and in the surprise of something new.
You call us to belong—
not as strangers or spectators,
but as your people,
rooted in love, made whole in you.
Open our eyes to see you, Christ,
in the moments we overlook
and in the places we’re tempted to rush past.
Give us the courage to be open to your presence.
As new life rises in and around us, give us eyes to recognize your reality— in our homes, our neighborhoods,
and this city we call home.
Amen.
