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Mary
Magdalene: Tower of the Flock
By David
Bruce Clark
Mary Magdalene is a name that is known to hundreds of millions of people.
In addition to her presence in the Bible, she is the subject of legends
and popular books.
Who was the woman we know as Mary Magdalene? Was she merely a fallen
woman upon whom the Messiah had compassion? Conventional Christian denominations
think so. Was Mary the Messiah's wife, as popular books and legends
suggest?
What can we discover from Scripture about her?
Mary in Prophecy
“Magdalene” was not Mary's last name – it was her
title, signifying the role she played in the early Christian assembly.
It is a conjunction of two Hebrew words, “magdala” and “eder”.
Magdala is the feminine form of the word for “tower” and “eder”
is the Hebrew word for “flock”. The name that we know as Magdalene
means, literally, “the [feminine] tower of the flock”.
The Old Testament prophet Micah wrote of the Magdalene. “To you,
Tower of the Flock [magdala eder], the stronghold of the daughter of
Zion, to you the former dominion will be restored, the kingdom will
return to you.” [Micah 4:8]
In the Gospels
Mary the Magdalene was from Bethany and was the sister of Martha and
Lazarus. She has a conspicuously prominent place within the Gospels,
one that stands out far above all the apostles.
Mary Magdalene devoutly loved and served Yehshua [the Hebrew way of
saying Jesus]. She was the only person who anointed Him. She traveled
with Him and was with Him at the time of his death. She was the first
to visit the tomb, finding it empty. It was to her that Yehshua first
showed Himself after the resurrection. [John 20:1; Mark 16:9] She it
was who notified the other apostles of the miracle. [John 20:2-10] She
was the most beloved of all His followers.
Her faithfulness to the Messiah is well-documented. But what of her
character? Her disposition may be partly revealed in her name. Miriam
[Meer-yahm], her name in Hebrew, means “rebellious”. [The
names of people in the Bible sometimes are a title given them based
upon their character or mission, or may be given them by Elohim (God/dess)].
Was this Miriam rebellious and headstrong? Perhaps.
Mary Magdalene was not a flawless individual, and may have had an unvirtuous
past. It was said that she had seven “devils” in her, which
the Messiah cast out. [Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2] Tradition has it that she
was not virginal when she met Yehshua.
The best example of Mary's highly intimate relationship with Yehshua
is found in the writings of Mark and John. They remembered that she
anointed Jesus’ feet with an ointment made of spikenard. The only
other mention of spikenard in the Scriptures links it directly to physical
intimacy and lovemaking. [Song of Solomon 1:12, 4:14] She also uncovered
and unfastened her hair, and wiped his feet with it – something
that was only done with one's lover. [Mark 14:3ff, Luke 7:38; John
11:2, 12:3]
Apocryphal Writings
The word “apocrypha” means “hidden things”. It is
commonly used in reference to books that were not included in the common
versions of the Bible, but which, nevertheless, were inspired or were
narratives based upon real events.
In the Gospel of Philip it was written: “And the companion of the
Savior is Mary Magdalene; Christ loved her more than all the disciples
and used to kiss her often on the mouth.”
In the Gospel of Mary, the Magdalene is the central figure. It describes
the apostles mourning the loss of the Messiah, and fearing for their
own lives. Mary Magdalene encouraged and strengthened the apostles.
Then Peter said to her, “Sister, we know that the Savior loved
you more than all women. Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember,
which you know but we do not, nor have we heard them.” Mary then
told them things which Jesus had told her, but which He had not spoken
to the apostles. The Magdalene is portrayed as the temporary de facto
spiritual leader of the disciples immediately following the Messiah's
death.
The Tower of the Flock
Mary Magdalene related to the Messiah as no one else did. The few New
Testament vignettes of her indicate that she was intimate with the Messiah
in a way that was typical only between spouses. She was the woman whom
He loved more than any other.
The Magdalene truly was a “tower” of strength to the disciples
after the death of Yehshua. She encouraged them to hold together and
she taught them things that He had revealed to her privately.
Mary Magdalene was human. Initially rebellious, running from herself
and her destiny, through her relationship with Messiah she became faithful
to Elohim. Her tormented past was converted into a life of grace and
good works. Overcoming her fears and self-doubts, she boldly became
the apostle to the Apostles. She ministered to the Minister, she anointed
the Anointed.
She was the Tower of the Flock – the stronghold of the infant church.
And prophecy declares that one day she will have a special place of
dominion within the restored Kingdom.
David
Bruce Clark is a seer and teacher of hidden Biblical truths. For information,
write to Lion of God, PO Box 33, Oak Grove, MO, 64075, or email at david@lionofgod.com
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