text: who really is mary magdalene?   i have an answer to this question.   the christian gospels mention mary magdalene a few times, with some confusion as to whether she and mary of bethany are the same person. mary magdalene is the only woman mentioned by name in all four gospels besides mother mary. she sinned more deeply, so she had more demons to eject. the number seven gives the clue.   jesus healed mary magdalene of seven demons (mark 16:9, luke 8:2); mary magdalene came to the dinner at simeon's house with an alabaster jar from which she anointed the head and feet of jesus christ (mark 14:3-9, john 11:2, 12:3-8); and mary magdalene was the first to see jesus christ resurrected from the tomb (john 20, mark 16:9, matthew 28).