Mary Magdalene

For those who follow a lectionary and remember different biblical characters on certain days of the year, Wednesday, July 22, was Mary Magdalene’s day. Now it may seem odd to have special days to remember people in the Bible, but it is better than not remembering them at all. It is also better than observing “National Pancake Day” (February 25) or “National Hammock Day” (which was also July 22).

Mary Magdalene is worth remembering. She was delivered from seven demons (Lk 8:2). Seven is often used to represent completeness. It could be that she literally had seven demons, or the term may indicate how completely she was in the control of evil forces. Either way, the fact Jesus delivered her gives us hope. Whatever our problems, whatever our sins, to whatever extent we have come under the control of evil, there is hope for us.

Sometimes we imagine that Jesus may be able to deliver us from the guilt of sin, but that those who have been deeply involved in evil will never be of much use to the Master. Mary is an example that disproved that theory.

Mary the demon-possessed was chosen as the first witness of the resurrection (Jn 20:11-18). In those days, many people would not accept the testimony of a woman. This was especially true of a woman with a checkered past. But the Lord chose Mary as the first to witness his resurrection and announce it to others.

It seems that the Lord has often chosen to use unexpected instruments in his work. Mary is, of course, not the only example; but she certainly is a prominent example. Yes, the Lord can use the highly educated. He can use the middle-class, the respectable, the expected ones. But he also chooses to use the down and out, the troubled and even the demon possessed. He can use me. He can use you.

It is good to remember Mary Magdalene. It is better to remember that the Lord who cast out her demons, and used her as his first witness, can cleanse and use us as well.

Geerhardus Vos

In 1992, I purchased a book by Geerhardus Vos. I did not like it. He did not seem to be saying anything of significance.

In May of this year, I was supposed to attend a conference in Pennsylvania. But the conference was cancelled by the pandemic. As a consolation, the conference organizers sent me several free books. One of them was by Geerhardus Vos.

This time, before reading what Vos wrote, I read the forward, which was by Sinclair Ferguson. Ferguson noted that Vos was difficult to read for at least two reasons. First, his native tongue was Dutch, and he often seems to be thinking in Dutch although writing in English. Secondly, Vos is simply over our heads at times. His students (he taught at Princeton from 1892 to 1932) often found that he assumed them to have knowledge that they did not actually have.

I have not gone far in the free book, but what I have read has impressed me immensely. Perhaps this book is a better sample of his writing. Perhaps I am older and more ready to understand. Or perhaps the hint that Sinclair Ferguson dropped was what I needed. Essentially, Ferguson was saying, “If you do not get something out of reading this, the problem is not with the author, but with you.”

I do not recommend that every Christian read the writings of Geerhardus Vos. But I do recommend that every Christian read the Bible. In making that recommendation, I am aware that we will not always understand what we read. But a lack of understanding is not always the fault of the author. Sometimes the reader is the problem. Let’s not blame God for our lack of understanding. Our preconceived notions, our sinfulness, our lack of concentration and persistence are more likely the root cause of our failure to understand.

Geerhardus Vos – even the man’s name should give us the hint that perhaps his writings will require study, not mere causal reading.

God, the creator and ruler of all, the source of all wisdom, the possessor of all knowledge – perhaps we ought not to expect that we will always understand him immediately and without effort.