Mary Magdalene is mentioned in all four gospels and we know that she was very close to Jesus. She was a very devoted follower of Jesus and supporter of his ministry. I believe that devotion came from an abundant gratitude from being rescued by Jesus from the dark clutches of evil. The Bible tells us of who she was before her encounter with Christ...

Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out...(Luke 8:2)

I can’t imagine having 7 demons to muck up my thoughts and desires and control my behaviors. It must have been a tortuous nightmare and one that she was powerless to rid herself of. We all have our sins and flesh to contend with but we are as powerless to free ourselves as Mary was. But, just like Mary, we have His promises of salvation and being free from whatever hold evil has over us:

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ 

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Mary was grateful and loved Jesus intently. Out of love and gratitude she stayed near Him as He traveled the land teaching. And she stayed near him as He hung on the cross suffering, and breathing his final breath. 

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”John‬ ‭19:25‬ 

I’m sure the Crucifixion would forever be a place of mixed sorrow and joy.  It’s near the cross that we too will find His promises fulfilled that give us a hope and a future...

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and Morning Star
Shed its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

And Mary, out of her endless devotion, was up early In the morning to go show reverence to Jesus by visiting his tomb. Because of that devotion, she had a special privileged encounter with the risen Savior. She was crying because his body was gone but Jesus called her by name and she then recognized her Lord was alive. 

She was one of the first evangelists of the wonderful news of a risen Savior. We too have the promise of an intimate relationship with Christ. We have to spend time with Him for these intimate encounters to occur. He wants to meet with us. He knows each of us by name and He wants to make himself known to us so we can share that knowledge with others. 

“But whoever loves God is known by God.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭8:3‬ ‭

Mary learned during her life that nothing could separate her from Christ or His love...not the demons inside of her ...not physical death ...not even an empty tomb. We have that same promise to trust in..

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans‬ ‭8:38-39‬