Mythology FataleVrouwen ThreeMarys
Luke 8:2, Mark 16:9 (casting out seven demons, first to see Jesus post-resurrection); Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25 (at crucifixion); Matthew 27:61, Mark 15:47 (at burial); John 20:14-18, Luke 24:10, Luke 7:36-50 (sinful woman washing and anointing Jesus’ feet, van der Wyden's depiciton)
According to the Christian New Testament, seven demons were cast out of Mary Magdalene. She stood by Jesus at his crucifixion. She was at his tomb when he was buried. She was the first person Jesus addressed after his resurrection. Nowhere in the bible is Mary Magdalene explicitly described as a prostitute.
There is a lot of confusion with her identity. She came to represent many different women.
...the woman taken in adultery?
...washes Jesus’ feet with her hair?
“In eastern Christian tradition, Mary Magdalene is regarded as having lived a life of great virtue. She is regarded as having been a close companion of Mary, the mother of Jesus. In western Christian tradition, various Mary’s within the Gospels were identified with Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene came to be regarded as a repentant prostitute only in western Christian tradition.
The association of Mary Magdalene with sexual sin has various biblical sources. Mary Magdalene was identified with the city woman who was a sinner. That woman, who had many sins, bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped his feet with her hair, and anointed his feet with oil. The seven demons cast out of Mary Magdalene were identified with seven deadly sins. One of those sins was lust. Jesus told the chief priests and elders of his people that tax collectors and prostitutes were entering the Kingdom of God ahead of them. Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the resurrected Jesus. Mary Magdalene was thus identified as a repentant prostitute.”[1]
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