Look Up: 35 Days to Finding Hope in Dark PlacesSample

Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ most celebrated disciples, is famous, according to Mark 16:9–10 and John 20:14–17, for being the first person to see the resurrected Christ.

The unchallenged facts about her life establish that Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, she was one of the women who accompanied and aided Jesus in Galilee, and all four canonical Gospels attest that she witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. John 19:25–26 further notes that she stood by the cross, near Mary the mother of Jesus, and the unidentified Apostle whom Jesus loved. Having seen where Jesus was buried, she went with two other women on Easter morning to the tomb to anoint the corpse. Finding the tomb empty, Mary ran to the disciples. She returned with Peter, who, astonished, left her. Christ then appeared to Mary and, according to John 20:17, instructed her to tell the Apostles that he was ascending to God.

This week, we're going to spend time studying the life of Mary and the "pit" of death.