Mary Magdalene

A Loyal Disciple

Mary appears in all four gospels at the crucifixion (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49; John 19:25). She did not flee. When the male disciples had scattered, she stayed. She watched him die. She watched him be buried. And she was among the women who came to the tomb early on the first day of the week to anoint his body.

First Witness of the Resurrection

All four Gospels agree that Mary Magdalene was the first person to find the empty tomb, and John’ s Gospel records that she was the first to see the risen Christ (John 20:11–18). He called her by name. She answered, “ Rabboni” — Teacher. Jesus then sent her to tell the other disciples, and she became the first preacher of the resurrection.

This detail matters for the historical case for the resurrection. Women’ s testimony was not accepted as evidence in ancient courts. No first-century author would have invented a story in which the most important witness to the central claim of the faith was a woman. The fact that all four Gospels preserve this detail is one of the strongest indications that they are recording what actually happened.

A Note on the Legend

In popular culture, Mary Magdalene is often confused with the unnamed “ sinful woman” of Luke 7:36–50, or with Mary of Bethany, or with an imagined prostitute. This confusion arose in the Western church in the sixth century and was never grounded in Scripture. The New Testament presents Mary Magdalene as a devoted disciple, a generous supporter of Jesus’ ministry, a witness to his death, and the first witness of his resurrection.