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Review by Lesa Bellevie
The Magdalene Gospel: Meeting the Women Who Followed Jesus, by Mary Ellen Ashcroft (Augsberg Fortress Publishers,
January 2002)
What a pleasant surprise it was to read this creative and well-written book. A piece of fiction, "The Magdalene Gospel:
Meeting the Women Who Followed Jesus" is set at Martha's home in Bethany on the Sabbath following the crucifixion. The
women who traveled with Jesus during his ministry are all together and trying to comfort one another, examining what it
was that drew them to Jesus and the effect that he had on their lives. The crucifixion is clearly a traumatic event for
everyone involved, particularly Mary Magdalene and Jesus' mother.
Because the women aren't allowed to do anything --including visit the tomb of their beloved master-- on the Sabbath, they
sit and comfort one another. They share stories, tears, food, and embraces. In the morning, they are presented with the
trauma of his death, and their confusion and grief is plain. But as the discussions continue, all through the day and all
night, they come to some conclusions about what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, what it meant to love him. And there
the book ends, with Mary Magdalene leaving to go to the tomb before the sun rises, ahead of the rest.
I don't often give glowing reviews to Christian inspirational books because most are tedious and preachy. Not so with
this book; the characters have depth and complication, and it's easy to identify with the situations they discuss. In
short, these women are *human*, not two-dimensional figures at whom we throw empty praise for simply being associated with
Jesus and receiving his teachings. Ashcroft wrote the book as a tool for women to examine their own lives in relation to
their religion and their relationships with Jesus, one another, and themselves. Suggestions for discussing the book in
groups and a study guide follows the text.
It is my pleasure to recommend this book to Christians and non-Christians alike. If you are at all fascinated by the
women of the New Testament, Mary Ellen Ashcroft has elegantly restored their voices.
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