Encounter the Savior with Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary Magdalene
by Melissa Meyers
“Change stirred the air, like the desert wind sweeping up grains of sand. Invisible, but palpable. Lazarus, once in a grave, was now alive. Jesus very much alive, would soon be in the grave, though the disciples could not fathom the possiblity.” (Chapter 3, p. 45)
This is just a small taste of the book discussion, we are deep diving into on Wednesday nights. If you are looking for an Easter read to give you a fresh lens on the story, I’d highly recommend this book. What Liz Curtiz Higgs does while staying true to scripture is describe the settings, and explores the Easter narrative from three women’s perspectives, Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary Magdalene.
Here are a couple of nuggets gleamed from the book so far about these three woman.
Mary of Bethany is the sister of the ever practical sister, Martha, and the resurrected Lazaras, who spent four days in the grave. She is the one who sat at Jesus feet and soaked in his words. Later she would be chastised by the disciples for annointing Jesus’ feet with a year’s worth of perfume and wiping them with her hair. Jesus’ response? Mark 14:9…wherever the gospel is preached…what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus, was frequently mentioned throughout Jesus ministry. She stood at her son and her Lord’s feet as he hung on the cross. She was there at his birth and she would be there at his death. The angel Gabriel’s visit probably fresh in her mind, even years later. Luke 2: 19 – Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The night of Jesus’ death, she along with Mary Magdalene went to buy spices for the body. She is a faithful servant of God, and has a mother’s heart that is reflected throughout scripture.
Then we get to Mary Magdalene, who has often been confused with other Marys in the Bible. Mary Magdalene is named by the city she came from Magdala. Mary Magdalene was the woman, who Jesus freed from seven demons. She with a group of women traveled with Jesus and the disciples, helping to support the ministry with their own means. See Luke 8: 1-3. Throughout the Bible, Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name fourteen times across all the four gospel accounts. She was there alongside Mary as they crucified him. Faithfully standing by, and she was there on the morning of the resurrection, when the stone was rolled away from the tomb, and these words were declared to her.
Mark 16:6 – “You are looking for Jesus of Nazarene, who was cruxified. He has risen! He is not here.
Liz Curtis Higgs goes back to scripture again and again throughout the read. What she does is weave the narratives of the gospel together and allows us to look at the Easter story through the lens of these three women as they experienced Jesus in their lives. This helps us connect with the story. Sometimes, this helps give us new insight, challenges us to dig into scripture on our own, and to experience the Easter narrative anew. He is Risen Indeed!
Melissa Meyers is co-editor of The Stir, wife to John, and mother to Malcolm (20) and Emily (17). She is a Neonatal Nurse and Creative Writer, who is always looking for ways to communicate God’s truth through stories. She is the author of, Beneath the Ancient Dust: Inspirational Stories from Nine Years in Afghanistan and The Snow Trillium. Her hobbies are drinking coffee, reading, and taking long walks. She will accept an invitation for coffee anytime and loves to hear how God is working in your life.