JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY
Whenever Mary Magdalene thought about Jesus, I suspect a melody like “joy unspeakable and full of glory…” started playing in her heart.
However, she had not always been a joyful person. In fact she was downright mean at one time. She was often depressed, always unhappy, self-destructive, and quite explosive. She could not live a “normal” life. Nobody liked to be around her. Although she had come from a good family, she was not a good person. She heard voices in her head telling her to do mean things. They had convinced her to that she was no good and she needed to kill herself.
But then Jesus came. At first she didn’t want to be around Him. She sensed there was something different about Him. Something inside of her wanted to flee. A voice in her mind said, “Go. Don’t listen to this man.” But she had heard so much about Him. He had healed people. He had cast out demons. She didn’t know if He could help her but she knew she was sick emotionally and was afraid she was losing her mind. Something had to be done!
Jesus looked at her standing in the crowd. At once she fell down before Him crying. She hadn’t wept in years. All she could blurt out was “Help me!” Reaching down to her, Jesus spoke with authority and commanded the spirits who had been afflicting her to leave. Seven times He spoke. Seven times she felt movement in her body. Her head hurt and then something left. She had pain in her stomach and then it was gone. Her chest tightened and then she felt release. Her eyes watered, her nose ran, she coughed up foul smelling phlegm, and she suddenly felt hot and perspired profusely. Immediately there was a calming peace in her heart that she had never known before. There was joy. She could think clearly. She could even see more clearly! Jesus had set her free!
So she followed Him. She served Him. She ministered to Him from the resources of her grateful family. She told others about Him and what He had done for her. And she had that melody in her heart that told of “joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
But then the unthinkable happened. The people turned against Jesus! The only thing He had done was love, heal, cleanse, and teach. They didn’t understand! But ultimately that didn’t matter. The leaders and the crowd mocked when the soldiers crucified Him. She stayed there all day. If only she could do something for Him now. If she could, she would gladly take His place on that cruel cross. When He died, she died too. There was nothing to live for. She followed the men as they placed Jesus’ body in the tomb. She saw that they needed to use more spices. Maybe she could do that for Him. It was too late for now. The Sabbath had begun. She stayed by the grave until well after dark.
The next day found her by the grave until some soldiers came to stand guard. She and the other women bought some spices after sundown and went back to the grave before dawn on the first day of the week. But the tomb was opened! The body of her beloved Jesus was gone! She told the disciples and returned to the tomb. She was devastated.
But then Jesus came. He was alive! He called her by name. He calmed her fears. She was able to touch Him and hold Him. She didn’t understand but she was a peace again. Jesus set her free from darkness again. There was joy unspeakable and full of glory.