RC Principle #6

#6 : Serve in Ways that Transform

After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. Mark 16:9
 
Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him, 'Rabboni' (which is to say, Teacher). John 20:16

It’s hard to know how to finish our devotional series on the six principles of Redemptive Compassion. “Serve in Ways that Transform” describes everything Jesus did in his earthly ministry. He came not to be served, but to serve. Everywhere He went, lives were transformed. But one woman’s journey with Jesus has always stood out in my mind - Mary Magdalene.

We don’t know all of Mary’s backstory but scripture repeatedly mentions that she had been delivered from seven demons. So I think it’s safe to say that her life was characterized by torment, pain, and evil beyond anything most of us can imagine. But somewhere along the way she met Jesus. Often, people’s stories fade into unrecorded history after their encounter with Jesus but Mary’s continues to unfold.  The metamorphosis of her identity is more dramatic than a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

Mary followed Jesus so closely, her heart so bent on Him, that she went all the way to cross and then to the tomb. I bet she hung on every word He said and followed every action with her eyes. Somehow the “woman with seven demons” became the first person to see Jesus after the resurrection. And how did she recognize him? When He said her true name, “Mary!” 

The dictionary definition of “transform” goes something like this: “to make a thorough or dramatic change in form, appearance or character.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Romans 12:2 talks about being transformed by the renewing of our minds, no longer conforming to the ways of the world, that we may know God’s perfect will. It is both a new beginning and a journey of change.

But how does this happen? People transformed by Jesus are those willing to be served by Him (think Peter and the foot washing scene in John 13). Those willing to receive His cleansing, His teaching, His provision, His discipline, His wisdom, His love. As followers of Jesus, we must humble ourselves to receive from Him as Mary did - then we will be able to serve others in ways that transform.

A wise person once said, “You can’t give away what you don’t have.” Let us continue to soak in the gospels and the principles of Redemptive Compassion as we seek to help others in need. Our stories of transformation are still unfolding, too!