Mary Magdalene: Tower of the Flock

     Mary Magdalene is a name that is known to hundreds of millions of people. In addition to her presence in the Bible, she is the subject of legends, classical art, popular books, documentaries and movies .
     Who was the woman we know as Mary Magdalene? Was she merely a ‘fallen woman’ upon whom the Messiah had compassion? Conventional Christian denominations think so. Was Mary the Messiah’s wife, as some popular books and legends suggest? What can we discover from Scripture about her?

Mary in Prophecy

     ‘Magdalene’ was not Mary’s last name – it was her title, signifying the role she played in the early Christian assembly. It is a conjunction of two Hebrew words – magdala and eder. ‘Magdala’ is the feminine form of the word for ‘tower’, and ‘eder’ is the Hebrew word for ‘flock’. The name that we know as Magdalene means, literally, ‘the [feminine] tower of the flock’.
     The Old Testament prophet Micah wrote of the Magdalene. “To you, Tower of the Flock [magdala eder], the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you the former dominion will restored, the kingdom will return to you.” [Micah 4:8]

In the Gospels

     Mary the Magdalene was from Bethany, and was the sister of Martha and Lazarus. [Mark 14:3, John 11:2, John 12:3] She has a conspicuously prominent place within the Gospels – one that stands out far above all the apostles.
     Mary Magdalene devoutly loved and served Yahshua [the Hebrew way of saying Jesus]. She was the only person who anointed Him. She traveled with Him, and was with Him at the time of his death. She was the first to visit the tomb, finding it empty. It was to her that Yahshua first showed Himself after the resurrection. [John 20:1; Mark 16:9] She it was who notified the other apostles of the miracle. [John 20:2-10] She was the most beloved of all His followers. In fact, it is possible to conclude that the “disciple…whom He loved” may have been Mary Magdalene. [John 19:25-27] [With James and His other brethren still living, it would have made no sense to have told John to take His mother into his home.]
     Her faithfulness to the Messiah is well-documented. But what of her character? Her disposition may be partly revealed in her name. Miriam [Meer-yahm], her name in Hebrew, means ‘rebellious’. [The names of people in the Bible sometimes are a title given them based upon their character or mission, or may be given them by Elohim (God/dess)]. Was this Miriam rebellious and headstrong? Perhaps.
     Mary Magdalene was not a flawless individual, and she evidently had an unvirtuous past. In Luke 7:37 she is called “a sinner”. It was said that she had seven ‘devils’ in her, which the Messiah cast out. [Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2] Tradition has it that she was not virginal when she met Yahshua.
     The best example of Mary’s especially intimate relationship with Yahshua is found in the writings of Mark and John. They remembered that she anointed Jesus’ feet with an ointment made of spikenard. The only other mention of spikenard in the Scriptures links it directly to physical intimacy and lovemaking. [Song of Solomon 1:12, 4:14] The erotic symbolism of Mary anointing the Messiah’s feet with spikenard would have been quite evident to first century Hebrews. [In Hebrew, the word translated as feet is also sometimes used as a euphemism to designate the genitals. See Isaiah 7:20, Ruth 3:7, Ezekiel 6:25, and Song of Solomon 5:3. Urine or piss, in Hebrew, is literally translated as ‘water of the feet.’] She also uncovered and unfastened her hair in His presence; that was something done only with family or intimate friends. Then she wiped his feet with her hair – an act that was only done with one’s lover. [Mark 14:3ff, Luke 7:38; John 11:2, 12:3]

Apocryphal Writings

     The word ‘apocrypha’ means ‘hidden things’. It is commonly used in reference to books that were not included in the common versions of the Bible, but which, nevertheless, were inspired or were narratives based upon real events. 
     In the Gospel of Philip it was written: “And the companion of the Savior is Mary Magdalene; Christ loved her more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on the mouth.” 
     In the Gospel of Mary, the Magdalene is the central figure. It describes the apostles mourning the loss of the Messiah, and fearing for their own lives. Mary Magdalene encouraged and strengthened the apostles. Then Peter said to her, “’Sister, we know that the Savior loved you more than all women. Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember – which you know but we do not, nor have we heard them.’” Mary then told them things which Jesus had told her, but which He had not spoken to the apostles. The Magdalene is portrayed as the temporary de facto spiritual leader of the disciples immediately following the Messiah’s death.

The Tower of the Flock

     Mary Magdalene related to the Messiah as no one else did. The few New Testament vignettes of her indicate that she was intimate with the Messiah in a way that was typical only between spouses. She was the woman whom He loved more than any other. The Magdalene truly was a ‘tower’ of strength to the disciples after the death of Yahshua. She encouraged them to hold together, and she taught them things that He had revealed to her privately. Mary was the Tower of Flock – the stronghold of the infant church. And prophecy declares that one day she will have a special place of dominion within the restored Kingdom. 
     Mary Magdalene was a woman with human frailties.  Initially rebellious, she may have run from herself and her destiny. But through her relationship with Messiah she became faithful to Elohim, and accepted her role at His side. Her tormented past was converted into a life of grace and good works. Overcoming her fears and self-doubts, she boldly became the apostle to the Apostles. She ministered to the Minister, she anointed the Anointed.
     The Messiah’s relationship with Mary the Magdalene is a type of His relationship with believers – who are called ‘the Bride’. When He finds us, we are tarnished with sin, slow to submit, and stubborn to give up our past. His love transforms us, drives the devils from us, and heals us. We try to run away. We try to avoid our destiny at His side. Through Him we become beautiful – we are transformed from someone who is ordinary to a person who is extraordinary and precious.
     We are called to become good examples, and towers of strength for others. When we surrender to Him, and become intimate with Him, we become one with Him eternally.

Also of interest: Eloah - Hidden Goddess of Israel

David Bruce Clark
Lion of God Ministries                                                                         
PO Box 33  Oak Grove MO 64075 
www.lionofgod.com

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