Two Animal Rights Comrades Reunited. By Dr. Chapman Chen

Upon Jesus’ rising, the first to behold Him was Mary Magdalene. Jesus entrusted her with proclaiming His resurrection (John 20:17–18) to the other disciples, making her the first witness—showing His profound trust in her. This is because Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ closest comrade in the sacred cause of animal liberation, His most beloved disciple, and His dearest companion. When these two closest vegan comrades were reunited after Jesus’ crucifixion, we can imagine how emotional the scene was.

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1. What the Canonical Gospels Say

Per John 20:1–16, Mary visits the tomb early on Sunday morning and finds it empty.

She runs to Peter and another disciple, who come, see the empty tomb, and leave.

Mary remains, weeping outside the tomb. She sees two angels inside, who ask why she is crying. Then she turns around and sees Jesus, but does not recognize Him. She mistakes Him for the gardener. Jesus says: "Mary!" Upon hearing her name, she recognises Him and calls Him "Rabbouni" (Aramaic for "Teacher"). Per the longer ending of Mark (verses 9–11), Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He has cast seven demons. She tells the disciples, but they do not believe her. Down below, we will see why Jesus and Magdalene are so close to each other.

2. Jesus as Magdalene’s Lifesaver

Around 25 AD, Mary Magdalene, afflicted by “seven demons”, and having heard of Jesus’ name as a rabbi who had cured many sick and possessed people, walked ten hard miles from her home in Magdala to Capernaum, in order to seek Jesus out and beg Him to save her. Jesus then cast the demons out (Mark 16:9), and healed Mary “of evil spirits and infirmities” (Luke 8:2). This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship and an everlasting bond.

3. Jesus’ Most Faithful Follower

Unlike society, which may have viewed her as impure or tainted, Jesus affirmed her worth, drawing her into His inner circle and making her His most trusted disciple/follower. As Jesus journeyed from city to city, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God, Magdalene was always with Him (Luke 8:1–3). She even provided financial assistance to support Jesus' ministry (ibid.). (Her name, "Magdalene," originates from Magdala, a prosperous fishing town, which suggests that she was a woman of substantial means.)

Mary then accompanied Jesus all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem for the Last Supper (Matthew 27:55–56; Mark 15:40–41; Luke 23:49). Unlike Peter and other disciples who fled or denied Jesus during His trial (Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–27), she remained faithful. She followed Jesus even to the cross, standing by Him in His final moments (Matthew 27:55–56; Mark 15:40–41; John 19:25). Her loyalty extended beyond the crucifixion, as she was present at His burial and the tomb (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55) and later, as aforementioned, at His resurrection (Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–11; Luke 24:1–10; John 20:1–18).

4. Animal Rights Comrades

Jesus’ revolutionary Temple raid involved taking direct action (Matthew 21:12–13 ; Mark 11:15–17), wielding a whip (John 2:15), table overturning (Matthew 21:12), liberating all animals about to be slaughtered like oxen, sheep and doves (John 2:15-16 ; Mark 11:15) , and blocking all commercial traffic (vessels) through the Temple (Mark 11:16). In all these, He’s probably aided by His disciples and followers, especially Mary Magdalene. They likely fought shoulder to shoulder. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Him alone to blockade the 35-acre Temple; and He would have been arrested or even chopped into pieces by the Chief Priests and Scribes on the spot.

5. The Apostle of the Apostles

In Super Evangelium S. Ioannis Lectura (Commentary on the Gospel of John) (Ch. 20), St. Thomas Aquinas writes, “Mary Magdalene is called the apostle of the apostles, because she was sent to the apostles by the Lord.”

Indeed, the Gospel of Mary reveals that Jesus entrusted Mary Magdalene with a leadership role among the other disciples after His departure.

Similarly, in the Pistis Sophia, possibly dating as early as the second century, Jesus stresses that Mary Magdalene is the most blessed and perfect woman, whose status in the Kingdom of Heaven will be higher than all the other disciples (question 96), and whose view no one can challenge (question 19). Scholars also recognize her as a key leader in early Christianity (King 2003; Schaberg 2002).  

6. Jesus’ Closest Companion

In the Gospel of Mary (Ch. 5.5), Peter asserted that Jesus loved Mary Magdalene more than all other women; the Gospel of Philip (111.30-35) even discloses that Jesus often kissed her on the mouth. The text describes her as His "companion," which in the original Greek (κοινωνός, koinōnos) can mean a close partner, possibly even a spouse. This raises the question of whether their relationship extended beyond spiritual companionship to include a marital bond.

Equally importantly, in the Gospel of Philip (112.1-5), the disciples questioned Jesus (possibly enviously) “Why do you love her more than all of us?” Instead of directly answering their question, Jesus reverses it: “Why do I not love you like her?” This rhetorical structure suggests that His love for Mary Magdalene is of a different nature rather than simply greater in intensity. Again, it suggests a unique bond between them.

Moreover, in 2012, Harvard scholar Karen L. King announced the discovery of an ancient papyrus fragment, known as the Gospel of Jesus’ Wife, dating to the 4th century AD. The fragment contains the phrase: "Jesus said to them (his disciples), 'My wife…'" (ABC News 2012). While its authenticity remains debated, it adds to the speculation that Jesus and Mary Magdalene may have been married.

7. Conclusion

Whether the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene is understood as master-disciple, comradely, romantic, or spousal, it is unquestionably a profound bond — one strong enough to withstand even life-and-death trials in the sacred struggle for those helpless, voiceless, defenceless creatures of God.

#VeganChrist #VeganGod #VeganChurch #VeganTheology

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Two Animal Rights Comrades Reunited (Simplified Version). By Dr. Chapman Chen 

Upon Jesus’ rising, the first to behold Him was Mary Magdalene. Jesus entrusted her with proclaiming His resurrection (John 20:17–18; Mark 16:1–11; Matthew 28:1–10) to the other disciples, making her the first witness—showing His profound trust in her. This is because Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ closest comrade in the sacred cause of animal liberation, His most beloved disciple, and His dearest companion. When these two closest vegan comrades were reunited after Jesus’ crucifixion, we can imagine how emotional the scene was. Below we can see why the two were so close.

1. Jesus as Magdalene’s Lifesaver

Around 25 AD, Mary Magdalene, afflicted by “seven demons”, walked ten hard miles from her home in Magdala to Capernaum, in order to seek Jesus out and beg Him to save her. Jesus then cast the demons out (Mark 16:9), and healed Mary “of evil spirits and infirmities” (Luke 8:2). This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship and an everlasting bond.

2. The Most Faithful Follower

Unlike society, which may have viewed her as impure, Jesus drew her into His inner circle. As Jesus journeyed from city to city, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God, Magdalene was always with Him (Luke 8:1–3). Mary then accompanied Jesus all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem for the Last Supper. Unlike Peter and other disciples who fled or denied Jesus during His trial, she remained faithful. She followed Jesus even to the cross, standing by Him in His final moments. Her loyalty extended beyond the crucifixion, as she was present at His burial and the tomb and later, as aforementioned, at His resurrection.

3. Vegan Comrades

Jesus’ revolutionary Temple Raid involved taking direct action, wielding a whip, table flipping liberating all animals about to be slaughtered like oxen, sheep and doves, and blocking all commercial traffic via the Temple. In all these, He’s probably aided by His disciples and followers, especially Mary Magdalene. Or He would have been arrested or even chopped into pieces by the Chief Priests and Scribes on the spot.

4. The Apostle of Apostle

In Super Evangelium S. Ioannis Lectura (Commentary on the Gospel of John) (Ch. 20), St. Thomas Aquinas writes, “Mary Magdalene is called the apostle of the apostles, because she was sent to the apostles by the Lord.” Indeed, the Gospel of Mary reveals that Jesus entrusted Mary Magdalene with a leadership role among the other disciples after His departure.

5. Jesus’ Companion

In the Gospel of Mary (Ch. 5.5), Peter asserted that Jesus loved Mary Magdalene more than all other women; the Gospel of Philip (111.30-35) even discloses that Jesus often kissed her on the mouth. The text describes her as His "companion," which in the original Greek (κοινωνός, koinōnos) can mean a close partner, possibly even a spouse. And the disciples questioned Jesus (possibly enviously) “Why do you love her more than all of us?” (Gospel of Philip 112.1-5). Further, in 2012, Harvard scholar Karen L. King announced the discovery of the Gospel of Jesus’ Wife, dating to the 4th century AD. The fragment contains the phrase: "Jesus said to them (his disciples), 'My wife…'" (ABC News 2012).

6. Conclusion

Whether the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene is understood as master-disciple, comradely, or romantic, it is unquestionably a profound bond in the sacred struggle for those helpless creatures of God. #VeganChrist #VeganGod #VeganChurch #VeganTheology