Mad Mary: A Bad Girl from Magdala, Transformed at His Appearing

by Liz Curtis Higgs

Book Overview

Here's the truth, sister: Mary Magdalene has been knocking at the door of my heart for three years. She got squeezed out of Bad Girls of the Bible when I realized I needed more time to research her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1578564476
• ISBN13: 9781578564477
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Waterbrook Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Very creative author

This is a very unique way to study the Bible and its interesting characters. Higgs is extremely witty and creative!

Bible's most notorious "bad girl" not really bad at all!

After reading Liz Curtis Higg's previous works, "Bad Girls of the Bible" and "Really Bad Girls of the Bible," I, too, was left wondering why she left out the "baddest" girl of the them all, Mary Magdalene. Well, this book more than made up for the omission. And it turns out, Mary wasn't that bad at all--she wasn't a prostitute like most people believe, she wasn't the one who annointed Jesus' feet, and she was never in love with Jesus. The only bad thing that happened to her was that she was possessed by demons (and haven't we all been at some point in our lives?...just kidding). Misinterpretation of her story by a patriarchal medieval Catholic Church is what gave her the bad reputation. Thank God Liz came along to set things straight! She explores who Mary Magdalene REALLY was through careful study of her appearances in the New Testament. (And as always, Liz makes Bible study accessible to everyone, even those who have never touched a Bible in their lives.) If anything, Mary Magdalene was a powerful and influential woman in her day--she was independently wealthy, she wasn't married at the time so she was free to follow Jesus as she chose, and Jesus Himself placed great importance upon her within his circle of followers. In fact, it was she (and none of the other (male) disciples) whom He chose to appear to first and foremost after His resurrection. That's got to say something about the woman herself! What I love most about Liz's books is that she tells us how God EMPOWERS women. After living though so many centuries of the Christian church being run by men and limiting women's involvment, many have come to see as Christianity being "anti-woman." But according to Liz, this is not true. She presents God as very pro-woman, and points out many examples of how God has used women over the centuries to do great things. But I would recommend for ANYONE to read this (man or woman) because there are so many misconceptions of Mary Magdalene in our culture today, and it's about time we change our beliefs.

MAD ABOUT MARY

THIS IS ONE OF MRS. HIGGS' MOST THOUGHT PROVOKING BOOKS YET, IN MY OPINION. IT IS VERY WELL RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN IN A MANNER THAT MAKES YOU GO BACK AND READ THE SCRIPTURES REGARDING MARY OF MAGDALA.MRS. HIGGS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS. THOUGH MOST OF HER BOOKS TICKLE YOUR FUNNY BONE, THEY GIVE YOU CAUSE FOR GREAT THOUGHT TOO. I PUT HER ON MY LIST OF TOP WRITERS, UP THERE WITH MAX LUCADO.

I'm mad about "Mad Mary."

I loved her books "Bad Girls of the Bible" and "Really Bad Girls of the Bible", so I couldn't wait to get my hands on her latest, "Mad Mary." I wasn't disappointed. WOW! what a book. I couldn't put it down. Ms Higgs does it again. She stirred my emotions with her dipiction of a modern day Mary. I could feel this woman's pain. I found myself in tears more than once.I repeatedly compared the fictional charactors to their real counterparts, in scripture. Jake is so compassionate, it's easy to see him as a modern Jesus. I could go on but I don't want to give away any of the other charactors.Once again I am in awe of Ms Higgs talent. I have discussed parts of her previous books in a Sunday School lesson. I have a feeling I'll be working this one in too.

Liz devotes a whole book to THIS "bad girl"!

Perhaps you have read Liz Curtis Higgs' books "Bad Girls of the Bible" and "Really Bad Girls of the Bible". Each book tells the story of those notorious women of the Bible whose stories exemplify God's grace. In these books, Liz writes a contemporary short story dealing with these women.In the preface of this book, she said that in thinking about what women to put in her two previous books, she realized that Mary Magdalene needed a book all to herself! The first half of the book is a fictional account about Mary Margaret Delaney, a contemporary "type" of Mary Magdalene. This part of the book alone is reason enough to buy the book! The writing is fabulous, and the story really draws you in.But there is an excellent study that takes up the last half of the book. You will enjoy joining Liz with your Bible open, to better understand this woman that we THINK we know all about, but really don't! Liz quickly dispels any pre-conceived notions we have about Mary M's background. I'll let you read it for yourself to find out the details!Great food for thought! Study questions at the end of each chapter make this book a WONDERFUL one to study with your small group!Please check out my other reviews of Christian books (and Christian music)!May God bless you in your study of His Word!