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Women Who Followed Jesus: 40 Devotions on the Journey to Easter
Look with fresh eyes toward the Bible stories you have heard all your life. Contemplate, ponder, and glory at Jesus’ final days on earth, his heart-wrenching death, and marvelous resurrection alongside relatable women, chosen by God to play extraordinary roles in the fulfillment of Scripture throughout Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Women Who Followed Jesus honors ordinary women who were integral to declaring Christ as Messiah, serving as early church believers, and announcing Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture. From Lent to Easter to Pentecost, these forty fresh and thought-provoking Bible-based devotions draw readers closer to the risen Savior while reminding individuals that God has a purpose for each of our lives. The struggles and joys of Mary, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Salome, connect with everyday readers on topics such as patience, hope, faith, trust, persistence, sacrifice, grace, and love, addressing women’s needs that cross generations and centuries. Women of all race and background are at the heart of the first Christian Mary (Jesus’ blessed mother), Mary Magdalene (prostitute turned believer), Joanna (witness to Jesus’ resurrection), and Salome (present at the crucifixion). The story of Jesus unfolds in forty devotions narrated by women mentioned in Scripture. When these women unite, unselfish love and thanksgiving lead them to glorify God and praise Him for his remarkable plan of salvation. Each reading begins with a passage of Scripture. Then, grounded in the biblical account, readers are challenged to imagine each woman’s journey toward living with a risen Jesus. Poignant questions invite daily meditation and personal reflection. This biblical and research-based journey of the miraculous life, death, and resurrection of Jesus encourages readers to worship, grow, and submit to God’s plans, offering hope to women no matter what stage of life they’re in. The involvement of women in the work of Christ should be as commonly known as the story of his twelve disciples. Women Who Followed Jesus recognizes and honors the ordinary women God chose for his extraordinary purpose. Each of the daily entries offers greater appreciation of these important female voices. This spring season, contemplate, ponder, and learn by using this as your Bible study and listen as women of the Bible glorify God’s Divine Son, Jesus the Risen King.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published January 30, 2024
5 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Dandi Daley Mackall
352 books299 followersA professional writer for over 20 years, Dandi Daley Mackall has written dozens of articles for popular magazines and published around 500 books for children and adults alike, with sales of over 4 million.
A frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, she lives in rural Ohio with her husband, three children, horses, dogs, & cats. Awards include the Edgar Award for Best YA Mystery, the Helen Keating Ott Award for Contributions to Children's Literature; Distinguished Alumni Award from Mizzou; ALA Best Book; Christian Children's Book of the Year, Amelia Bloom, Mom's Choice Awards. Her YA novel, My Boyfriends' Dogs, is now a Hallmark movie.
A frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, she lives in rural Ohio with her husband, three children, horses, dogs, & cats. Awards include the Edgar Award for Best YA Mystery, the Helen Keating Ott Award for Contributions to Children's Literature; Distinguished Alumni Award from Mizzou; ALA Best Book; Christian Children's Book of the Year, Amelia Bloom, Mom's Choice Awards. Her YA novel, My Boyfriends' Dogs, is now a Hallmark movie.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 28, 2023
In this beautiful 40-day devotional, Mackall brings us close to the cross, revealing Jesus through the eyes of women who followed Him during His earthly ministry. Each day’s reading is moving and meaningful. Highly recommended.
— Robin Lee Hatcher, Christy Award winning author of the Legacy of Faith series
Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved/enjoyed it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1🌟 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
— Robin Lee Hatcher, Christy Award winning author of the Legacy of Faith series
Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved/enjoyed it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1🌟 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
March 26, 2024
Summary: 40 reflections through the eyes of women who followed Jesus to the cross and witnessed the resurrection.
Through most of church history, when speaking of the company who followed Jesus, the focus is upon the men, either those who became apostles, or Judas the Betrayer. We hear less often of the women. There was a company of women who traveled with and assisted Jesus, including providing out of their means, showing hospitality, and crucially remaining present until his death, and coming to his tomb on Sunday to finish preparing his body, hastily buried. Notably, women were the first witnesses to the risen Jesus, and condescendingly disbelieved by the men until Jesus himself set the record straight.
In this book of Lenten devotions, Dandi Daley Mackall looks at the final journey, and a few other events through the voices of the women who encountered and accompanied him. We hear from Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus Susanna, Joanna, wife of Chuza, the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha of Bethany, and Salome (the mother of James and John) Each of the reflections are preceded by scripture related to the reflection, the reflections are two pages long and followed by a few reflection/application questions. The text is also broken up with well-drawn illustrations, mostly floral.
Some of the most moving for me are those of Mary the mother of Jesus, particularly at the cross. Through her, we hear the mockery of her son, and the stunned wonder with which she addresses a young priest, “Do you not yet understand the scriptures or the power of God? The Messiah comes to die for the sins of us all?” Mary thinks of how the Son, her sons provides for all humanity, yet wonders humanly how she will be provided for with him gone. Then Jesus speaks to her, “Woman, behold your son: and to John, “Behold your mother.” And she knows the Lord will provide.
I wish I could have gotten a review out before Lent (sorry Paraclete Press!). I’ve certainly been grateful for these imaginative yet biblically grounded reflections that help me appreciate the role of the women in Jesus’ life. If nothing else, get these for next year!
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Through most of church history, when speaking of the company who followed Jesus, the focus is upon the men, either those who became apostles, or Judas the Betrayer. We hear less often of the women. There was a company of women who traveled with and assisted Jesus, including providing out of their means, showing hospitality, and crucially remaining present until his death, and coming to his tomb on Sunday to finish preparing his body, hastily buried. Notably, women were the first witnesses to the risen Jesus, and condescendingly disbelieved by the men until Jesus himself set the record straight.
In this book of Lenten devotions, Dandi Daley Mackall looks at the final journey, and a few other events through the voices of the women who encountered and accompanied him. We hear from Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus Susanna, Joanna, wife of Chuza, the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha of Bethany, and Salome (the mother of James and John) Each of the reflections are preceded by scripture related to the reflection, the reflections are two pages long and followed by a few reflection/application questions. The text is also broken up with well-drawn illustrations, mostly floral.
Some of the most moving for me are those of Mary the mother of Jesus, particularly at the cross. Through her, we hear the mockery of her son, and the stunned wonder with which she addresses a young priest, “Do you not yet understand the scriptures or the power of God? The Messiah comes to die for the sins of us all?” Mary thinks of how the Son, her sons provides for all humanity, yet wonders humanly how she will be provided for with him gone. Then Jesus speaks to her, “Woman, behold your son: and to John, “Behold your mother.” And she knows the Lord will provide.
I wish I could have gotten a review out before Lent (sorry Paraclete Press!). I’ve certainly been grateful for these imaginative yet biblically grounded reflections that help me appreciate the role of the women in Jesus’ life. If nothing else, get these for next year!
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
February 7, 2024
Women Who Followed Jesus is designed to accompany you through the story of Christ’s life leading up to his death and resurrection. Told in the unique voices of the women who journeyed with him, this forty-day devotional gives readers every reason to believe that Jesus appeared post-resurrection first to women because they, more than anyone else, understood his mission and the impact of the gospel.
Dandi Daley Mackall has applied her considerable skill as a storyteller to giving her readers the feeling that they are experiencing shared conversations “overheard” across the years. Familiar names and familiar stories are interspersed with vignettes from less familiar characters in the cast of Jesus’s earthly ministry.
The Women Who Followed Jesus were the women who witnessed the miracles, received grace, listened to his teaching, and found the path away from shame. During the forty days leading up to Easter, we are invited to live in company with them, to see what they saw, and to follow Jesus, too.
Many thanks to Paraclete Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
Dandi Daley Mackall has applied her considerable skill as a storyteller to giving her readers the feeling that they are experiencing shared conversations “overheard” across the years. Familiar names and familiar stories are interspersed with vignettes from less familiar characters in the cast of Jesus’s earthly ministry.
The Women Who Followed Jesus were the women who witnessed the miracles, received grace, listened to his teaching, and found the path away from shame. During the forty days leading up to Easter, we are invited to live in company with them, to see what they saw, and to follow Jesus, too.
Many thanks to Paraclete Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
July 7, 2025
In Women Who Followed Jesus, author Dani Daley Mackall dramatizes nine women in narrative (historical fiction) accounts of their encounters with Jesus. Before each woman’s story are scriptures. After each first-person biblical account are questions for reflection and a prayer. This book clarified the women, and gave insight into how they may have felt. I also learned about Jewish customs because of the deep research.
It is packaged as a devotional for the Lenten-Easter season, but this book is wonderful just to read straight through, or as a devotional any time during the year. It would also be great for a group Bible Study.
It is packaged as a devotional for the Lenten-Easter season, but this book is wonderful just to read straight through, or as a devotional any time during the year. It would also be great for a group Bible Study.
January 19, 2024
After reading Three Wise Women ~ 40 Devotions Celebrating Advent with Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna by Dandi Daley Mackall, I’ve looked forward to reading Women Who Followed Jesus. Again, the author’s careful study of Scripture and first-century historical references and skillful writing compels readers to walk with eight women who followed Jesus during His in-between times--birth, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection. Her educated imaginings point readers sheds light on the grace and mercy and companionship available to us today.
April 1, 2024
I loved this. I don’t normally do Easter devotionals … but I loved the author’s Christmas book so I wanted to try it … and THIS was amazing. I will read this again.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews