Readings: Proverbs 31:10-31 | Acts 13:26-31 | John 20:1-2, 10-18
Text: Proverbs 31:10-31
Many admonishments in Scripture speak to human sins that are more commonly male: sexual immorality, guarding the tongue, fits of anger, etc. Yet, sin corrupts both men and women alike.
The man who was possessed by a legion of demons in Mark 5 is a picture of the wretchedness of man degraded to his lowest, animal like condition—screaming, running naked, wrenching chains apart. Women afflicted by sin whom we meet in the Gospels are often destitute. Some have resorted to prostitution. Others suffer bodily ailments with no cure to be had (Mark 5:25-34). They are usually outcasts from their families, probably taken advantage of because of their weak position. In our so-called advanced society, are we much better off?
If the demon-possessed man is found “clothed and in his right mind” after Jesus meets and heals him, what does a redeemed and sanctified woman look like? If sin has destroyed and distorted the image of God in each of us, what is the glory of woman supposed to look like?
We can’t go to the world around us. It teaches women to pursue outward beauty, engage in power struggles trying to prove that they’re as valuable as men according to metrics of work and leadership, money and power. Put simply, the world applauds women who seek to deny womanhood. The world, informed by the cracked image, can only repeat mistakes and amplify them. It has nothing life-giving to offer.
I invite you to consider the picture of the woman in Proverbs 31:10-31:
10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Hear this description, sisters in Christ, not as an exacting standard to which you are demanded to meet. Rather, hear this picture as what your Lord and Savior aspires to make you into.
Today, we are remembering Lord’s work in the life of Mary Magdalene, as a picture of a woman who was transformed by the Lord. [Actually, the commemoration is 22 July.]
- Mark and Luke tell us she had seven demons (Mark 16:9, Luke 8:2)
- She came from the down of Magadala, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee [Eerdmans Bible Dictionary]. Nothing is said of her family—whether that means they had cast her out because of the demons, or they were still living.
- She stayed faithful to the Lord to the end, even standing by His cross. (Matt. 27:56)
- She also [as we hear in the Gospel today], was the first personal visit made by the resurrected Lord (John 20:1-18).
Mary had a sketchy past. Some women have a pretty plain upbringing. Others have things happen to them or make decisions that lead to painful situations. Only the Lord knows what happened to Mary before He met her. Nonetheless, she was so badly harassed by demons that she was a shadow of herself. Demons want nothing good for people and take from them every shred of dignity and honorable quality they are given.
How do people typically regard a woman whom they label as “damaged goods”? You’ve lost your virginity, your purity (strange that no such standard is exacted on men). You’ve been taken out of the shrink wrap and you’re second-hand. Your body bears scars, your skin no longer has its vigorous and youthful attributes. The world and the people in it judge by these shallow standards, because usually what they find in a woman is nothing but a work of art for their own relishing and criticism, or someone to compare themselves to and boost their own self-image (just look at the cover of any “women’s” magazine).
But not so with the Lord. He received Mary in order to save this woman, this human being, whose life was precious in His sight. He looked past what the demons had marred, what possible years of abuse had done to her outwardly and inwardly. Free of any ulterior motive, Jesus saw her as the object of God’s mercy, the recipient of His grace, the vessel of His glorious renewal.
He cast out the demons who tormented her, freeing her from the spiritual and bodily abuse she suffered, which likely had blinded her. This was a cure which no other person could have worked—neither Pharisee nor physician. And so began her renewal.
Although we hear nothing of her earthly family, it’s clear from the Gospels that the Church became her family, which she was undauntingly devoted to. Luke tells us, “the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…and many others, who provided for them out of their means.” (Luke 8:1-3)
In this new family of the Church, they looked past her outward appearance. The Church saw her as beloved of the Lord, washed by Him, regenerated and renewed by His Spirit. We don’t hear what happened to Mary personally after the resurrection, but it is likely she continued to bear eyewitness (Acts 13:26-31, today’s epistle). She played an integral part of Jesus’ Gospel even after His ascension, and the early believers were blessed by her testimony.
After all, she was one of the few who personally saw the Lord’s crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. The rest of the disciples had fled (Matt. 26:56). She herself had seen it all, and though she had nothing to boast of, God had graciously chosen her to witness to these profound events of salvation!
So, consider Mary Magdalene not according to the way the world views and uses women. See her as the object of the Lord Jesus’ affection. He sets His love on women and men. He raises them from spiritual death and saves them from eternal destruction. As God made human beings to glorify and bring honor and praise to Him, so He imparts a unique task to godly women:
- To be filled with an internal beauty which surpasses outward jewels
- To bring honor to her husband and family, or wisdom and service to others if she does not
- To exercise prudence, strength, and devotion in her vocations, whether if it be to her family or to others whom she serves
- It is her glory to foresee, prepare, and provide for her household. How true it is that it is not good that man should be alone, because it takes the foresight and nurture of women to see that all needful things are attended to.
- Finally, her praise is not for outward beauty, because these can be painted on. Rather, the beauty of a godly woman is found in her faith and the exercise thereof—that she fears the Lord, trusts in Him, is renewed in Him, and thus reflects His sanctification in all that she does. Whether it be for her family or her congregation, it all brings glory to her Savior.
Sisters in Christ, for every part of you that does not yet align with this image, do not despair! The Lord Jesus has also set His love on you, and it is always His desire to renew you from what sin has done to do you and make you into the glorious workmanship of God that is a woman. So persevere in your Savior’s Word, confess the darkness that torments you, and be nourished and healed at His altar where He ministers to you in soul and body.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
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