A large crowd followed and pressed around him and a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” (Mark 5:24-28) This woman had a seemingly incurable condition causing her to bleed constantly which would have made her ritually unclean all the time and excluded her from most social contact. Being considered unclean would have been…

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.  The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group  and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (John 8:2-5) Imagine the complete humiliation of being in this woman’s place. She stood alone in public, surrounded by angry accusers. They announced to everyone present the sin she had committed, with a pious attitude that they were upholding the…

Soon after calling the twelve to follow Him, Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. In addition to His apostles there were also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene. While scripture doesn’t specifically say which events Mary was present at, there is a possibility that she could have met the Samaritan woman at the well. After Jesus had told the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah, she joyfully shared the news with her whole village and the people asked Him to stay and teach them…

The story of Mary Magdalene is one of my favorites. While it may seem short due to the few verses written specifically about her, the truth is that she was an eye witness to many stories that took place. She was there walking and talking with Jesus. She was there learning from His teachings. She was there seeing the healings and restoration of so many lives and she was there to receive and witness Christ’s endless compassion. Perhaps she was among the disciples that helped disperse the crowd after Jesus feed the 5000 with a few loaves and fish. Imagine how man people had questions. How many times do you…

When Mary was at the garden tomb Jesus asked her a question, “Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Mary was looking for Jesus in the wrong place, among the dead. She was looking for what had become familiar to her and she desperately wanted things to be back to normal. Then Jesus spoke her name, “Mary,” and she turned to Him and cried out, “Teacher!” Her encounter with Jesus cleared her vision. When our lives are turned upside down by trials, challenges and troubles who do we look for?…

Expectations have a way of creating unique and often disappointing situations. We can get so wrapped up in them that we dismiss anything that doesn’t align with them, because we believe that our way is the only way. The bible tells us differently. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Jesus was constantly demonstrating that by upsetting the status quo. What people expected or what the culture believed, was not how Jesus responded. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the…

When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’  When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” (John 11: 24-26) While Mary was traveling with Jesus and His disciples she saw and heard many miracles and teachings. One day after Jesus had finished praying He was driving out a demon that was mute.…

Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;  Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8:1-3 Mary’s story begins surprisingly like many of ours; she had demons. While our first thought is to think of someone being possessed by evil spirits, the truth is that our enemy, satan, is an evil spirit and he is constantly…