Michael Jackson Or Mary Magdalene

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS NOT TO PUT DOWN MICHAEL JACKSON. MY SOLE PURPOSE IS TO COMPARE THE LIFESTYLES OF TWO INDIVIDUALS, AND TO HELP CHRISTIANS SEE THE NEED TO PUT GOD & HIS WILL FIRST IN THEIR LIVES. AGAIN, THIS ARTICLE IS NOT TO CRITICIZE MICHAEL JACKSON AT ALL. THIS ARTICLE IS TO HELP CHRISTIANS SEE THAT WE–BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A CHURCH–MUST RE EXAMINE OUR PRIORITIES & MOTIVES, AND LEARN TO PUT CHRIST FIRST IN ALL THAT WE DO AND PLAN. My intention is to NOT criticize or put down Michael Jackson; my intention is to send out an alarm to Christians to see their need to put God first and to let His will be everything to them.
Thank you!

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One chose to be a king. The other chose to serve the King.

Which destiny will you choose?

Which destiny are you choosing right now in your life?

Two “Lost Weirdos”

One started out as an amazing music star. Thousands of fans dubbed Michael Jackson as the “king of pop.” But in the end, he spiraled downward into–what pop music critic Robert Christgau called– “a lost weirdo.”[1]

In contrast, the other person, Mary Magdalene, started out as what some may call a “lost weirdo.” In her book, Desire of Ages, this is what Ellen White writes about Mary:

Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. He might have extinguished every spark of hope in her soul, but He did not. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin………

When to human eyes her case appeared hopeless, Christ saw in Mary capabilities for good. He saw the better traits of her character. The plan of redemption has invested humanity with great possibilities, and in Mary these possibilities were to be realized. Through His grace she became a partaker of the divine nature. The one who had fallen, and whose mind had been a habitation of demons, was brought very near to the Saviour in fellowship and ministry. 

(Desire of ages pg. 568)

What a contrast this is!

Michael Jackson started out as a supreme music idol, but at the end he died a tragic death. But for Mary Magdalene, she started out as a sinful, broken mess, but at the end she faced triumph when she was given the privilege of being the first person to see Jesus after He resurrected.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

(John 20:17-18)

But why is it that Mary Magdalene had such an inspiring, long-lasting legacy…while Michael Jackson’s legacy was short-lived?

The Difference

Listen to more of what Ellen White writes about Mary Magdalene:

 It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned of Him. It was Mary who poured upon His head the precious anointing oil, and bathed His feet with her tears. Mary stood beside the cross, and followed Him to the sepulcher. Mary was first at the tomb after His resurrection. It was Mary who first proclaimed a risen Saviour.

(Desire of ages pg. 568)

Did you catch the difference between Mary Magdalene and Michael Jackson?

The defining moment that would set in motion the destinies of two individuals was where they chose to pour out the most of their personal devotion and love.

For Michael Jackson, it was his “obsession with fame.” [2] And while it’s true he achieved it–but what did all that fame cost him in the end?

But for Mary Magdalene, she poured out her love and devotion on Christ! And what did that cost her?

A beautiful and inspiring legacy of true love and devotion to Christ; all recorded on the pages of sacred history.

Here’s what Jesus Himself said about Mary Magdalene:

But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.  For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.  For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.  Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

(Matthew 26:10-13)

For Michael Jackson, he built up a memorial for HIMSELF; it was all based on SELF.

And guess what?

That whole self-centered memorial has now been buried away by time and the ever-shifting spotlights.

But what about Mary Magdalene?

Her memorial was based on humbly honoring God. And as a result, the promise of 1 Samuel 2:30 became a reality in her life:

Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

(1 samuel 2:30, emphasis added)

Michael Jackson may become forgotten and unknown by many new coming generations. But Mary Magdalene’s own sacrificial surrender to love, honor, and follow Christ has stood and will continue to stand as an eternal pillar of inspiration to thousands who read her story in Scripture.

Two Legacies

So, dear reader, which legacy will you choose to leave behind?

Which memorial do you TRULY want your life to set up?

Which destiny will you choose? Which destiny are you choosing right now in your life?

Are you choosing to live for self– a life based on obsession with fame, wealth and worldly gain?

Or, are you choosing to live for Jesus Christ– a life based on selfless devotion and heartfelt love to the gospel?

One chose to be a king.

The other chose to serve the King of kings.

Which destiny will you choose?

Which destiny are you choosing?

A Prayer

Friends, when all is said and done, and Jesus returns to take His people home, do you really think those who spent their lives chasing after worldly fame and riches will inherit the Heavenly Reward?

If the answer is no, then why do many of us strive for the legacy of fame and wealth–the life that this world offers, and carelessly neglect the legacy of selfless devotion that Jesus longs for His followers to have?

Could it be that, like what Jesus did to Mary Magdalene in Luke 8:2, we ourselves need to be set free from the demons of selfishness, pride, materialistic lust, love of fame, love of applause, and worldly gain?

and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons

(Luke 8:2)

Dear reader, do you want Jesus to cast out the demons in you and allow Him to fill you with that Spirit of humble devotion that Mary had? Is it your desire for Jesus to set you free from the demons of worldliness and fill your whole heart and mind with His Holy Spirit?

If so, then I wanna just appeal to you to pray the following prayer below:

I’d like to conclude this blog post with a beautiful sermon by Israel Ramos, one of the founders of a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian youth conference called GYC. It’s my hope and prayer that, as you listen to his sermon below, you’ll be even more convicted to move forward in living out a legacy of selfless devotion.

The same selfless devotion that Mary Magdalene lived out!

Amen! Maranatha!

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[1] https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cdrev/jackson,m-ble.php

[2] https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv102-02.php