A play on words: Magdalene

 

Traditionally Magdala is believed to be the town from which Mary Magdalene came. Though the word itself does not explicitly occur in the biblical text, it does appear in footnotes.

And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.[a] – Mark 8:10 (ESV)

[a] Some manuscripts Magadan, or Magdala 

Like Paul of Tarsus or Jesus of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene is sometimes referred to as Mary of Magdala.

We know that Mary was a woman of means since she is mentioned as one of the women who financially supported Jesus and His twelve disciples as they went on through one town and village after another, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God (see Luke 8:3).

We know that Mary is mentioned more often than the other female followers of Jesus and is usually first on the list.

Mary…and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to them out of their own resources. (Luke 8:2, 3 NRSVUE)

We know that Mary endured the torment of seven demons until they were cast out by Jesus.

Mary…from whom seven demons had gone out (Luke 8:2 NRSVUE)

We know that Mary ardently followed Jesus in Galilee and ministered to Him.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, who followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him (Mark 15:40-41 NRSVUE)

We know that Mary was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25 NRSVUE)

We know that Mary was first to see the resurrected Christ.

Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. (Mark 16:9 NRSVUE)

But did you know that Mary was actually called Magdalene? She was called Magdalene instead of Mary, like a home name. I have a friend named Corinne, but she’s called Sally and my friend Giselle is called Candace at home. So, Magdalene was probably her nickname. It is clearly stated in Luke 8:2: Mary, called Magdalene (NRSVUE) and in another version, Mary, who was called Magdalene (ERV).

But why?

Now, we know that Mary’s commitment and loyalty were unshakable; while others scattered, she remained stoic to the cause. Mary was no shirker; she was a dedicated follower devoted to her Rabbi right up until what was thought to be the end.

Without fear, she went to the tomb where she bravely responded to the “gardener”, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” (John 20:15 NRSVUE).

Mary was a courageous woman who overcame her demons; given the first apostolic charge by Jesus to announce His resurrection, she was a strong woman who stood her ground against those skeptical of her claim; she was a revolutionary who was instrumental in the formation of the early church.

So, it’s no wonder she was called Magdalene.

You see, beloved, Magdalene isn’t just a reference to a place, it’s derived from the Greek word “magdala”, a transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic, “migdala”, it is a word which means “tower” – Mary was called Tower.

It’s a play on words to not only inform where she was from but an apt expression of who she was.

Of all the disciples, Mary was the Tower, Mary was literally Magdalene. The Magdalene is our example of what true discipleship looks like.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A play on words: Magdalene” © 2026 October 20, 2026

 

 

Wings

 

There are references to wings all through the Bible.

A songwriter named Bob Ferguson wrote a song in 1958; the chorus went like this,

If I had the wings of a dove
If I had the wings of a dove
Well, I would fly, fly away, fly away
And be at rest

Some of you might remember this catchy chorus but did you know that these words are in the Bible? 

These words were taken from Psalm 55, a psalm King David wrote while experiencing a wave of anguish because of the betrayal of his most trusted advisor, Ahithophel, who joined forces with Absalom to revolt against his father David, which is a whole other sordid story for another day.

The king wrote,

Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest (v 6 NIV)

Other references to wings can be found in Psalm 36:7 (NIV),

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

And the all too familiar Psalm 91:4 states,

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;

In Deuteronomy 32:11, Moses assures the Israelites of God’s care,

He shielded him and cared for him…like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. (NIV)

When Ruth went to the threshing floor, Boaz asked, “Who are you?” She said, “I am Ruth, your servant girl. Spread your cover [or the corner of your garment; or your wings] over me…” (Ruth 3:9 EXB)

And before that in chapter 2, verse 12, Boaz had said to her,

May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. (NIV)

These verses barely touch the proverbial tip of the iceberg when it comes to wings related references. You would notice that they’re mostly referring to protection, that’s what wings symbolize in most of Scripture.

Psalm 18:10 and 139:9 describe the wind and the dawn as having wings to demonstrate God’s swiftness and accessibility.

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings – Malachi 4:2 (ESV)

Malachi delivered this messianic prophecy; it’s a play on words foretelling the promise of healing of the faithful.

Then [And look/behold,] a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years [probably a chronic menstrual disorder] came behind Jesus and touched the edge [or tassels see Numbers 15:38-39] of his coat [cloak; garment] – Matthew 9:20 (EXB)

This woman whose faith made her well, would have touched the tassels of Jesus’ outer garment which, according to Numbers 15:38-39, were placed on the corner of your garment; or your wings, like Boaz’s garment in Ruth 3:9.

It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word “kanaph” meaning “corner” and “wing”, is used in both Malachi 4:2 and Matthew 9:20. There’s healing in those wings!

Jesus, grieving over Jerusalem, lamented,

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. – Matthew 23:37 (NIV)

Beloved, these are but a few instances of wings contained in the Bible; there are many more references to wings, some are literal, but most are figurative.

So, when you read the Bible and you come across the word wings, research for yourself what it means in context, that you may have a better understanding of the Word.

Here’s one more,

those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Wings” © 2026 October 19, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God’s Mercy

 

1 Peter 1:3 (NLT), as it is written,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”

God’s mercy is a wonderful blessing, and though it is free, it still cost a great price – death on a cross. Jesus’ death was by far the greatest demonstration of God’s mercy toward an undeserving sinful people.

The truth is, we are all in need of God’s mercy every day of our lives. Some believe that they can do things to earn God’s mercy but that is not true. We are not required to perform any deeds in order to earn mercy.

God is merciful to us because He loves us so much that He gave His only Son as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. But to those who reject Jesus Christ as Saviour God’s mercy is not promised.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. – John 3:18 (NIV)

We must understand that God offered Jesus to die in our place because of His great mercy, and now we can receive new birth through believing, accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Beloved, God’s mercy is given to you afresh each day when you trust Jesus Christ for your salvation.

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

(Lyrics and Music by Thomas Chisholm / W.M. Runyan)

 

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “God’s Mercy” ©2013 (4-Oct-13) revisited October 19, 2026

 

The GOAT

 

Everybody wants to be the GOAT – the Greatest Of All Time. People beam with delight and strut with pride on being named or referred to as the GOAT.

In Jesus’ day, there were two brothers, disciples James and John, who wanted to be in positions of greatness and said to Jesus,

“Let us share the great honor you will have as king. Let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left.” – Mark 10:37 (ERV)

Jesus responded in verse 38,

“You don’t understand what you are asking. Can you drink from the cup that I must drink from? Can you be baptized with the same baptism that I must go through?”

Sometimes we ask to be elevated but we don’t understand what we are asking for, we don’t understand what it takes to hold such a position.

When my brother and I were young children, he told me something I have never forgotten. He said to me, “Never wish for what other people have because you do not know what they had to go through to get it.” Those were wise words out of the mouth of a pre-teen boy.

These sons of Zebedee hadn’t a clue of what Jesus would have to go through. They did not understand the price Jesus would have to pay.

Recently I’ve listened to certain celebrities speaking about the things they were forced to endure for fame, to be labelled the GOAT. Some have quit the business because being the greatest wasn’t worth it – the price was too great.

In their ignorance, James and John were undaunted, responding to Jesus’ questions with a resounding, “Yes, we can!” (v 39 ERV).

At another time, just after Jesus shared the last supper with His disciples, the question of greatness again showed its head.

Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest – Luke 22:24 (MSG)

Everybody wants to be great and being great at what you do isn’t a bad thing, but when it is saturated in pride is when there’s a problem.

In both instances, that saturation was very evident to Jesus, so He had to bring His disciples down many notches.

To James and John, Jesus said, Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. (Mark 10:43 MSG) and to the larger group, the greatest one among you must be like the youngest, and the leader must be like the servant. (Luke 22:26 GNT).

Pride must never be left to bloom; it must always be nipped in the bud. James 4:6, quoting Proverbs 3:34 says,

As the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (GNT)

Too many of us yearn to be the GOAT; it’s just as prevalent in the church as it is outside the church. Everybody’s vying for a label of one kind or another. Mind you, nothing is wrong with having aspirations, but humility must play a part.

Jesus said to the disciples,

Who is greater, the one who sits down to eat or the one who serves? The one who sits down, of course. But I am among you as one who serves. – Luke 22:27 (GNT)

Jesus also told them that the leader must be like the servant (v 26).

For all those who like to be known as the GOAT, do you know what the goat symbolizes in Scripture?

The goat is symbolic of the nature of sin. Leviticus 16:7-10 describes a ritual which was performed on the Day of Atonement where two goats had sin “imparted” to them to atone for the sins of the people.

The goat also symbolized a demon, and the goat was symbolic of the Greek general and emperor, Alexander the Great and his empire.

The goat could represent one who was ready to fight against God and Jesus said that on Judgment Day, the goats will be separated from the sheep, that is the unrighteous from the righteous.

Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. – Matthew 25:41 (MSG)

Still want to be the GOAT?

Beloved, Jesus Christ said,

The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness. (John 10:10 GNT)

The goat, as sin, steals, kills and destroys you spiritually, while life in all its fullness is to be found, not on the basis of status, but by humility, discipleship, service and in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The GOAT” © 2026 October 17, 2026

Lust

 

When the topic of lust comes up, the problem is usually placed squarely upon men’s shoulders. Lust is a man-issue and not just a male-issue.

The truth is, we all have a problem with lust, as women also indulge in the perversion of love.

Ephesians 5:3 (MSG) says,

Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity…

So, we hear the word lust and immediately our minds think of unrestrained sexual cravings, and it’s true that lust is frequently associated with sexual desire so, that’s understandable but do you know that lust refers to much more than that?

As verse 3 to 4 go on to say, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.

A single blog post can never thoroughly cover the gamut of lust. You see, lust is indeed an intense craving but it’s not confined to the sexual. We can lust after anything; we can have unbridled urges for something other than sex. But no matter what form these lustful passions may take, they all interfere with our relationship with God.

For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. – Ephesians 5:5 (AMP)

Nothing and no-one are to be placed before God; He must be first. Overcome by lust, our passion is misplaced. Whatever is lusted after holds such a place of honour in our lives, that even when we know what’s best, we stubbornly refuse to let it go.  

Our obsession is more important to us than God; it becomes our god.

God said, in Exodus 20:3, 4 (AMP), You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness…[as an object to worship]. And we find the words, put God first in Proverbs 3:6 (TLB).

We fall in lust with it and out of love with Who.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. – 1 John 4:8 (NIV)

God is love and lust is an abhorrent to love. Lust is definitely not love; they’re driven by two completely different forces.

The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. – James 1:14-15 (MSG)

Lust is rooted in selfishness, that’s the bottom-line. Human beings can develop a lust for just about anything; that’s how addictions are developed.

According to Matthew 5:28 (MSG), Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body

Lust is formulated in the heart. Lust erodes and corrodes our minds Lust causes us to make bad decisions and wrong choices. Lust devolves into destructive behaviours with devastating consequences.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible wrath of God is upon all those who do them. Don’t even associate with such people. – Ephesians 5:6-7 (TLB)

Certain people’s unbridled lust for fame, prominent social status, adoration, lavish lifestyle, attention and acknowledgement have all led to murder.

Certain people’s unbridled lust for gratification of any sort has enslaved them to a life of addiction.

Certain people’s unbridled lust for riches has committed them to a life of crime.

Certain people’s unbridled lust for power has them doing unspeakable injustices to their fellow man.

Certain people’s unbridled lust to love and to be loved has made them seek love in all the wrong places and from all the wrong people.

Lust, left to fester, can lead to obsession that is difficult to break free from, but there is a way of stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us (ref. Hebrews 12:1 AMP), for the fight against lust isn’t ours alone.

For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature. – 2 Peter 1:4 (AMP)

Lust is a struggle, but you can gain victory over it, you can break free from the gnawing addictions and the wounds they have inflicted.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us victory, sets us free, and heals our wounds.

Beloved, we serve a God who is infinitely merciful and whose love never fails (ref. 1 Corinthians 13:8) – He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

So, under guidance of the Holy Spirit, take stock of your own life, to make sure that [you are] not going the wrong way. Ask Him to lead [you] on the path that has always been right. (Psalm 139:24 ERV)

Also, to avoid the enslavement of lust and be drawn into the freedom of love, watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (Ephesians 5:1-2 MSG).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Lust” © 2026 October 16, 2026

 

His Sheep

 

Jesus saw the many people and felt sorry for them because they were worried and helpless—like sheep without a shepherd to lead them. – Matthew 9:36 (ERV)

Sheep are the animals most mentioned in the Bible. They are described as lost, blessed, thirsty, hungry, fat, lean, separated from goats, blemished, unblemished, sacrificed, scattered, wandering, innocent, harmless, confused, easily strayed, offered upon the altar, found, rescued, led, exalted, eaten, gathered, persecuted, in need of feeding, helpless, fearful, responding to their name, protected, anointed, knowing the shepherd’s voice, righteous, known by the shepherd…

We are all these and more, since Psalm 100:3, describes us as the sheep of the Lord’s pasture.

Hebrews 13:20 tells us that Jesus is that great Shepherd of the sheep.

Therefore, we, as the sheep of the Great Shepherd, are to look to Jesus as the provider of all our needs. Only Jesus can thoroughly satisfy us in every way and in every aspect of our lives. Jesus’ deep love and undeniable care for us is clearly reflected in the words of Psalm 23.

As it is written,

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. – Psalm 23:1 (NIV)

Now, beloved, continue reading and reflecting upon Psalm 23 and pray that the Lord will grant you a deep revelation of who you really are as “the sheep of His pasture”.

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “His Sheep” ©2012 (02-10-12) revisited October 16, 2026

Avad

In translating the bible to English different words were used to translate the same Hebrew word. One such Hebrew word is “avad”, where in some versions of the bible it’s translated as “worship” and in others as “serve”.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. – Exodus 8:1 (NIV)

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me. – Exodus 8:1 (AMP)

Same verse, different words; we see this happening throughout the bible depending on the version we read. So, which is it? Is it “worship” or is it “serve”? Because aren’t these two words describing two different things?

According to Google, to worship is the act of showing reverence, honor, devotion, and supreme worth to a divine being, or holding someone or something in deep, extravagant love and admiration, while to serve is to perform duties, work for, or provide something useful to a person, organization, or purpose.

But how does the bible define worship and service?

When it comes to the One True Living God, worship expresses itself in adoration, thanksgiving and service to Him. To worship God is to serve Him and not only by singing songs on a Sunday morning in church. It’s our responding to God with our entire lives.

When we worship God in service to Him, in what ever form that service may take, it demonstrates the depth of our devotion. Jacob’s service to Laban (Genesis 29:27; 30:36) or Joseph’s service to Pharoah (Genesis 41:46) are mere echoes of how we are to serve God.

But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River? Or will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land? You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15 (ERV)

“Avad” dominates Joshua’s admonition. This wasn’t a religious puff piece but a wholehearted declaration of allegiance to God.

Look at how Jesus Himself used the word “avad”. 

If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living…If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. – John 12:26 (AMP)

It wasn’t long before early Christians apprehended Jesus’ concept of “avad”.

You see, Hebrew words don’t just describe an action, they also describe the outcome of that action. Serving God isn’t simply about performing a task in church; to serve Him is much deeper than that. God desires for us to encounter His manifest presence through our worship.

God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. – John 4:24 (AMP)

Beloved, “avad” does not denote passivity, it involves action and though service and worship are distinct, “avad” incorporates them both. The connection between service and worship is undeniable; every day your worship of God should take the form of service.

It’s not enough to worship once a week or serve every now and again, “avad” is about surrendering yourself completely to God in worship and in service.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Avad” © 2026 October 14, 2026