This is the story of pain and glory. One of the greatest cruelties—if not the greatest in history—was done to Mary Magdalene. She knew the yawning blackness of total despair.
Then Jesus rescued her. Jesus cast out seven vicious devils—devils she thought would never leave. Luke 8:2 “and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons.” Once deemed human garbage, she is now redeemed and planted into a family of indescribable love. Things would never be the same. Her nights of remorse, her days of futility, her shame, her emptiness, were now all distant memories.
For three years she lived a life she could have never imagined, crisscrossing Judea, hanging on Jesus’ every word, weeping gloriously over every miracle. Each morning, she awakened a more powerful and joyous woman of God! She thought that this would go on forever.
Each morning, she awakened a more powerful and joyous woman of God! She thought that this would go on forever.
People use the phrase “nothing could be worse…” They use it before describing something unimaginably terrible. I will use it this way: Nothing could be worse than to be in hell, and then taste heaven, only to return back to hell.
Then on that fateful Friday, it all went horribly, horribly wrong. How could the One Who called the dead back to life and silenced a storm at sea, be arrested? How could the One Who gave words of exquisite beauty, love and wisdom, be tortured and killed? No one wanted to save Jesus more than Mary. No one felt more horror and helplessness than she.
No one wanted to save Jesus more than Mary. No one felt more horror and helplessness than she.
That night, profound hope had given way to even deeper bitterness and disappointment. She must have thought, “If only I had never met Him. If only He had left me to die in the streets.” She slept only after exhaustion became more powerful than sorrow. Too wounded to go on living, and perhaps too tired to commit suicide…
Mary is of special importance to me today, because her testimony is the best one I can think of as we commemorate this Good Friday, in such a dark time as the one we are living in. Mary’s miracle is the miracle America needs now!
Here’s why: When the first shafts of Sunday morning light stirred her awake, she dreaded it. If ever a heart was broken beyond repair—if ever a soul would rage against the approach of hope—if ever a woman just wanted to go back to sleep and never wake up, it was Mary.
That is why she was shocked when she felt an odd energy coming over her. She soon felt an even stranger impulse—to go to the tomb where Jesus lay! How could she return to the only spot on earth that could reopen her wound?
What overruled her despair? What fuel was driving her so completely against her common sense and her broken heart?
What overruled her despair? What fuel was driving her so completely against her common sense and her broken heart? Paul answers that emphatically! “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).
Do you know any therapist capable of rebuilding the ashes and rubble of her soul? Can any drug, any teaching, any relationship, reassemble her heart the way the gentle but powerful Comforter could?
We all know about the power of the resurrection: it was the greatest display of power the universe has ever known; even greater than the alleged “big bang” that, theoretically, began the universe. The resurrection sent shock waves through the principalities and powers of darkness. It shattered Satan’s power and stripped him of the keys of death and Hell (Rev. 1:8). Jesus set the captives free in the bowels of the earth, and “led captivity captive” (Ephesians 4:8).
But, the first burst of resurrection power was much gentler. Mary was the first human to feel the power of the resurrection. Her eyes, which were red and sore from sobbing, were now refreshed and clear. Her arms which had hung limp from heartsick lethargy were now responsive, strong, and full of purpose. She sat up and found hope pumping through her veins. She wondered, “Why!”
A notion seized her, gently, but firmly. She knew she was to go to the tomb, and she immediately got going! Washing up, brushing her hair, and quickly getting dressed. All the while the expectancy of an indescribable ‘something’ was building in her soul. Before she knew it, she was out the door, and charging toward her worst fear. Only, now, she was not afraid.
She found the tomb vacant. Then she turned and saw Him whom her soul loved. Many awesome things happened that Easter, but none more wonderful than Mary reunited with her Savior.
She is the best testimony I can think of for our national dreams that have gone up in smoke.
In the genetically altered, politically charged, drug addicted, violent purgatory that is America today, Mary Magdalene stands as a poignant figure. She is the best testimony I can think of for our national dreams that have gone up in smoke. Our culture has wearied itself with perversion…hunting down everything natural and replacing it with a disfigured counterfeit. It has marched, protested, and boycotted the very color and life out of everything—to the point that everything is a cause for taking offense.
What happened to Mary, is proof that there is nothing better than the Gospel.
America! This is what you need!
“Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons” (Mark 16:9).
JESUS APPEARED FIRST TO MARY! He had never forgotten her. He knew she was suffering the most, so He healed this precious soul first!
Hope! Beautiful hope!
Thank you Mario for reminding me Jesus will never be defeated and those who love him will not be either! Blessed be his name❤️!
Beautifully written. I wish all my brothers and sisters in Christ a blessed and joyous Resurrection Sunday. Glory to God for His sacrifice for our worthless souls.
Through all he had suffered she was on his mind. The true heart of a father. Such love is hard to comprehend in our world today.
Thank you, Mario!
What a saviour, Jesus the incomparable. Bless this message of hope bless you brother Mario and bless us all to see what Mary saw.
What a beautiful, hope-filled portrayal! Thank you, Mario! God bless you in all you do and all the ground you are taking back from the forces of hell!
this is so beautiful to read this story should be. every were it gives hope
that people need to have and the Glory of our Lord
Beautiful!
Even so, come Lord Jesus. Rescue your bride! Set the captives free, open blind eyes and heal this land. We desperately need you.
What a beautiful message of eternal hope. This is a message you could preach even when it’s not the season of the commemoration of the Resurrection .
Your messages have been an inspiration to me since I was twenty three and you were considerably younger. I’m now 79.
Thank you, it is again marvelous the way that God loves us, Now I understand why He appeared to Mary first. Thank you almighty Father for knowing and being there for all of us, help me be more aware of your presence and power, not being apathetic, Heal our nation, you are our only hope!
What an awesome blog!!!
THANK YOU DEAREST JESUS IN ADVANCE FOR THE UNPRECEDENTED REPENTANCE, SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL HEALING, AND REVIVAL THAT YOU’RE BRINGING TO AMERICA AND THE WORLD!! IN JESUS’S NAME, AMEN!!!!!!!!
So awesome! Thank you Jesus!
I pray that healing comes to Americans because that is the only thing that will save America. Not a political party, only Jesus. AMEN
I am not forgotten either. God is so good and His mercy endures forever. Thank you for your blogs and interpretation. Have a Happy Easter.
Mario, the tears are flowing. You have struck a chord in my heart that reaches the depths of my gratefulness for my savior, and all that he endured to redeem my life…to connect me, a broken soul at 18 yrs old, with my heavenly Father…for eternity. I lost my earthly father when I was 13. Five years later, a broken soul, I met the one who would always be alive and closer than my very breath. Oh, what a Savior. I’m now 71 and more in love with Him than ever.
What a day that will be when my savior I shall see!
Powerful as always!
Thank You JESUS for Mario.
Amen, HE has Risen…Shalom Shalom
This is what I needed to see today and may God bless you and all that you do for the Lord.
The FACT that Jesus appeared to Mary BEFORE His total ascension speaks of GOD’s GREAT MERCY! He didn’t leave her in her distress!
I agree, Mario, our world NEEDS The GOOD NEWS! We have a MERCIFUL SAVIOR!
Humanity, BELIEVE on the Lord, JESUS CHRIST, and be saved!
HALLELUJAH, What a Savior!
HALLELUJAH, what a Friend.
Yes ♥️ Amen
Love, Carl&Ruth
Your wisdom and insight of the scriptures and what we are living through today strengthens my soul and hope. Thanks for all you are doing in this crazy world.
As many times as I’ve read/heard this account, I am weeping Bro Mario ….HE is the only hope and HE has saved my very life so many times, even attempt at my own hands! Sharing the gospel…that GOOD NEWS! BLESSyou, in Jesus Name
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain and who has redeemed us by His blood to receive power, and riches, and wisdom and strength, and honor, and glory, and praise!”
God Almighty proclaimed Jesus “worthy.” Jesus “fulfilled” all the Law of God and received the promise of God the Father “ask of Me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance “ (Psalm 2).
We celebrate the cross—the tree of life upon which Jesus accomplished the objective of the war against sin and death and all of God’s enemies.
And we stand in wonder, in awe, at the grace and profound love of God to fulfill His promise to save and set free from sin and death as we celebrate His glorious resurrection and His reign as King of all kings and Lord of lords.
Praise God for this beautiful truth in scripture. May the Holy Spirit fall on all of the USA 🇺🇸 and send a Great Revival especially to our young families and our Grandchildren in Jesus Mighty Name. ❤️❤️❤️ Amen ❤️ 🙏 🙌
A blessing to read this account of Mary Magdalene. How precious of Jesus to let her see Him first after His resurrection! Thanks for sharing. I follow your ministry. I attended your Charlotte tent meeting last year. I thank God for your faithfulness to Him and your passion to win lost souls to Christ. Until He Comes
Thank you Mario for speaking what you know-Truth! Thank you for your boldness and passion to venture out where others fear to go. Thank you for dreaming dreams too big to imagine. Thank you for sparking the flames of revival.
Beautifully and powerfully said.
Mario, this rips my heart to see America in such shambles, but like Mary there is a light of hope. I pray for you and the tent meetings because of the many souls God brings to be set free through them. May He open the flood gates to allow those meetings to go on without the enemy interfering. Bless you, and thank you for all your prayers
“Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons” YES, Jesus, our savior, his blood cleans us as white as snow! HE has saved us.
Thank you, Mario for such a powerful reminder of the power, glory and beauty of Jesus and his great compassion for us all! We are made new, in Christ, through his resurrection. We are given his eyes of love to see and Holy Spirit power to bring hope to many. Bless you!
Graciously said. Messy redemption, freely provided for by Jesus but often difficult to receive. But then eternally grasped.
❤️Thank you,
Heavenly Father I glorify You and honor You! Please open the eyes of Americans.
Thank you for reminding me that our God is an awesome God who has perfect recall and will reward His people who will stand with Him no matter what. I’m a believing believer, I believe He is my way maker, miracle worker and I will praise His name forever!!
Peace and Blessings.
Thank you Jesus. Thank you Mario!
❤️🙏
Truly, this is soul salve. His chosen ones will not be disappointed 🙌🏻
Great word, Mario!
Si, amigo.
Dear Mario, This interpretation of the Mary Magdalene
account at the Garden Tomb is so full of LIGHT AND TRUTH. Thank you, dear brother in the Beloved!
Very great observation!
Fantastic word brother Mario!