Magdalene

Title: Magdalene
Author: Angela Hunt
Genre: Historical Fiction

Since Dan Brown's DaVinci Code seems to be getting a lot of attention these days, I thought I would pick up yet another biography on the life of my favorite Biblical character, Mary Magdalene. Right now Mary seems to be in the spotlight of things causing possible controversy.

To start off this blog, I should explain who I believe Mary Magdalene was. She was a woman that was delivered of 7 demons by Jesus Christ. After this deliverance, she became a follower of Jesus and quite possibly, helped to fund his ministry. That being said lets indulge in the book!

Angela Hunt has Mary's life starting off with her husband, and 2 sons. Her older son is married to a wonderful woman and expecting their first child. Her younger son is just a few months old. They all live together and are a comfortable Jewish family. Mary has her own business as a dyer of cloth.

Tensions are mounting in Israel as the Romans cause great distress to the Jews. One night when Mary is called away from home, some Roman legionaries come in and kill her entire family...so she thinks. Mary is driven to deep depression and feels she has nothing to live for but revenge. In her quest for vengeance, she comes across a woman who claims she can help her if she submits to the idols within her sales booth. Once the spirit of these idols enters Mary's body, she becomes a slave to the demons within and finds herself roaming the graveyards among the hillsides.

One day, while living her life of darkness and insanity, Yeshua enters her scene and she is completely saved and restored from the evil that ransacked her life and body. She devotes her days to following Yeshua, however, she can not forget the unresolved injustices done to her family.

The story plot continues to have Mary seeking justice for her family, even after she witnesses the death, and resurrection of her beloved Yeshua. When the Comforter comes, the author has Mary wrestling between the gift of the Holy Spirit and her quest for vengeance. The story ends when Mary finally thinks she is getting justice done for her family, but is in for the shock of her lifetime when she realizes that vengeance isn't the answer.

While Angela Hunt correctly portrayed Mary Magdalene on the major Biblical points, it is important to understand that this is a work of fiction. Personally, I was a bit disappointed to see the book spend so much time on revenge and basing that as the main plot. However, the ending was appropriate.

If you are looking for more information on the life of Mary Magdalene, I would also encourage to pick up the book Unveling Mary Magdalene. This is an excellent work by one of my favorite authors, Liz Curtis Higgs. For my review on this book, click here.