What can we learn about one of Jesus’ most devoted followers? Listen as Susie and Liz Curtis Higgs look at the life and faith of Mary Magdalene and how Jesus brought her from darkness into light.

Liz offers the background for the common misconceptions about Mary.

“In the sixth century, Pope Gregory preached a homily in which three of the women of the Bible were combined into one… [he] was speaking to an audience who was illiterate and didn’t have access to the Scriptures. The woman in Luke 7 who was a prostitute was packaged with Mary of Magdalene and Mary of Bethany who anointed Jesus’ feet. People have been confused for centuries. They built a whole legend around her that she was married to Jesus, had three sons and moved to France. This is completely separate from Scripture.”

So, what do we know about this woman who was mentioned fourteen times in the gospels?

• She was from Magdala, hence the surname “Magdalene”

• She was a woman of some means who financially supported Jesus and His ministry

• She had seven demons driven out of her by Jesus

• She was a devoted follower of Jesus who was present at His crucifixion

• She was the first one to encounter Jesus after He was resurrected. Liz points out that for Mary to venture to Jesus’ grave, a place for the dead, was probably very spiritually risky for her. In this act we see her radical faithfulness.

Liz shares what we can learn from this redeemed daughter of God.

“The women who followed Jesus were very daring. No good woman followed an itinerant pastor around. The fact that they were doing it held them up to ridicule. If you were cured of an evil spirit or disease, wouldn’t you want to be close to the Man who delivered you? It was His nature to go to the people who needed Him and knew they needed Him.”

Key Scriptures: Ephesians 1:7; Luke 8:1-3; John 19:25

Theme Song: The Same Power by Jeremy Camp

Highlight : Radical, imperfect devotion

Redemption stories: Mary Magdalene

This program has been previously aired.