by Barbara Letterman

My name is Mary Magdalene, and I want to tell you a story about my friend Jesus. Before I met Jesus I was considered an outcast. I didn’t have any friends; even on the street strangers would avoid me. For you see, seven evil spirits filled my body. I had heard about this Jesus, and I wanted to see him for myself. A great crowd had gathered and I went to catch a glimpse of him. Oh, the look of kindness and love on his face! He saw me, and with the touch of his hand he drove the evil spirits out of my body! He saved my life! I started to do simple tasks of cooking and laundry for him and his disciples. By these simple acts of service I was able to hear some of his teachings and witness for myself some of the miracles that he did to help others.

I never thought that I would witness his death! I remember that terrible day when darkness fell on the entire city and you could feel the earth tremble. A crowd had gathered, and they yelled, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” “If he is the King of the Jews, let him save himself.” Oh how I wanted to stop them! There was nothing that his followers or I could do. We stood and watched as they nailed him to the cross, and I heard his last words, “It is finished.” As Joseph carried his lifeless body to the tomb, I followed crying and wanting to do something, but what?

The sky was growing dark as I left the tomb and hurried to the house of Salome, the mother of James and John. We gathered the precious oils and spices that would be needed to prepare his body. This would be my last act of service to my Lord and friend.

On the morning of the third day, as the sun was rising, we hurried through the streets with our small pouch of oils and spices. I wondered how we would be able to move the big stone that the soldiers had placed at the entrance to the tomb. I need not have worried, for when we arrived at the tomb the stone was gone!! How could this have happened? Fearfully and slowly we entered the tomb. Before us was a young man in a dazzling white robe. The brightness filled the tomb, and he told us not to be afraid, that Jesus was alive and we should go and tell his disciples. Then he was gone.

The disciples laughed at us when we told them of our discovery. Finally John looked at me and then at Peter. In that moment something happened. I don’t know what it was, but they stood and together left to go to his tomb.

I followed, staying far behind, and watched as John hesitated at the opening. Peter rushed in and shouted something I could not hear. Then I saw John enter. Moments later they came rushing out and hurried off. I thought that they were going to get the others.

I stayed behind and wept, wondering where my Lord had been taken. Suddenly a man dressed in simple clothes, whom I thought to be the gardener, spoke to me. “Woman, why are you weeping? Who is it you seek?” Looking through my tears I cried, “Sir, if you have carried away his body, please tell me!” His eyes softened, and he spoke only one word: “Mary.” In that instant I knew that it was Jesus! Joy pierced my body, and I fell to his feet weeping, “Teacher!”

Gently he helped me to my feet and told me that he must return to the Father in heaven. He assured me that God would be with me forever and that I was his beloved child. He told me to go and find the disciples and let them know that I had talked with him. My feet seemed to have wings as I hurried to tell them that Jesus was alive! Some still doubted me, but it did not matter. I knew that I had seen the living God, the resurrected Jesus. I now knew that there was hope after sadness and laughter would follow the tears. I now knew that there was life after death!