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The Women of Easter: Encounter the Savior with Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary Magdalene
ECPA BESTSELLER • This giftable Bible study for the Lenten season explores the stories of three women who played a vital role in the life and ministry of Jesus, as well as in the events of that first Holy Week that first Easter. With unforgettable insights and powerful life application for today's women, Liz Curtis Higgs delves into the biblical text to help us view Easter through the eyes of three women named Mary, each of whom has a life-changing encounter with Mary of Bethany, who prepares the way for the Lord’s burial when she anoints His feet and fills the air with her perfume; Mary of Nazareth, who remains by His side from His first breath to His last, her loyalty unwavering; and Mary Magdalene, delivered of seven demons, who bravely supports her Teacher through His darkest hours, then proclaims the glorious news of His resurrection What a trio. What a Savior! Your mind and emotions will be engaged and your faith strengthened as each scene unfolds, preparing your heart for a richer, deeper Easter experience. Higgs, a seasoned Bible teacher and award-winning novelist, combines her storytelling skills with a thorough verse-by-verse study of Scripture as together you explore the remarkable lives of The Women of Easter. "The perfect companion for Easter and beyond!" —Jennie Allen, visionary of “Liz Curtis Higgs is one of the most amazing teachers of God’s Word that I have ever experienced. Her in-depth knowledge of the Scriptures, gifting as a communicator, and personal relationship with the Lord make her unmatched in the ability to take biblical truth and make it applicable to anybody.” —Priscilla Shirer, New York Times best-selling author of Fervent
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2017
363 people are currently reading
1214 people want to read
About the author
Liz Curtis Higgs
76 books1,430 followersFormer Bad Girl, grateful for the grace God offers. Happy wife of Bill, one of the Good Guys. Proud mom of two grown-up kids with tender hearts. Lame housekeeper. Marginal cook. Pitiful gardener. Stuff I love? Encouraging my sisters in Christ—across the page, from the platform, online, in person. Unpacking Scripture. Traveling wherever God leads. Listening to His heart. Leaning into His embrace.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
April 16, 2017
Easter Sunday, the perfect day to finish this wonderful book!
"You're about to meet three women named Mary, each of whom has a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Mary of Bethany prepares the way for the Lord's burial when she anoints His feet and feels the air with her perfume. His mother, Mary of Nazareth, remains by His side from His first breath to His last, her loyalty unwavering. Mary Magdalene, delivered of seven demons, bravely supports her Teacher through His darkest hours, then proclaims the glorious news of His resurrection."
"What a trio! What a Savior!"
If you want to get fired up for God, this sister can hook you up, a favorite author!
He is Risen!!! 🙌🏻❤🙌🏻
"You're about to meet three women named Mary, each of whom has a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Mary of Bethany prepares the way for the Lord's burial when she anoints His feet and feels the air with her perfume. His mother, Mary of Nazareth, remains by His side from His first breath to His last, her loyalty unwavering. Mary Magdalene, delivered of seven demons, bravely supports her Teacher through His darkest hours, then proclaims the glorious news of His resurrection."
"What a trio! What a Savior!"
If you want to get fired up for God, this sister can hook you up, a favorite author!
He is Risen!!! 🙌🏻❤🙌🏻
April 11, 2017
This book was recommended to me by one of the women in my weekly devotional group. She also commented that Liz Curtis Higgs was doing a daily Lenten focus of the book on her facebook page. Well, that had me hooked. I got the book and very much enjoyed it. I did refer to the facebook page periodically, but I read it through with great interest. What a great concept, seeing the lead up to Easter through the eyes of women in the bible. Higgs breaks down the stories in the Bible starting with Mary of Bethany. I loved hearing more about the life and times of the people. The culture of what was going on interested me and helped me to understand the powerful messages so much better. It was almost like I was there and could see things so much more clearly. The questions at the back of the book were extremely thought provoking. They made you really think about the stories. As other reviewers said, there were a lot of notes, but I chose to ignore them because I did not want to interrupt the flow when I was reading. I really enjoyed this book and it was a great experience leading up to Easter. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
April 27, 2017
I have been a believer for a long time and it's easy to think I know all the 'stories' in the Bible. However you get something out of it each time you read the verses.
I used this book with our Woman's Life Group where we looked up the verses and I read aloud the thoughts given by Liz Curtis Higgs and it was a real joy to do it as a group and find that the womans were the ones who followed Jesus all the way to the Cross and cared for His body afterwards and they were the first to see Him risen. Woman were important in the Lords life` and each one of us counts and we are Loved by Him.
Liz Curtis Higgs has been out to New Zealand a while ago and I got to meet her and she is a real joy and she gave me a lovely hug. We are worth it.
I used this book with our Woman's Life Group where we looked up the verses and I read aloud the thoughts given by Liz Curtis Higgs and it was a real joy to do it as a group and find that the womans were the ones who followed Jesus all the way to the Cross and cared for His body afterwards and they were the first to see Him risen. Woman were important in the Lords life` and each one of us counts and we are Loved by Him.
Liz Curtis Higgs has been out to New Zealand a while ago and I got to meet her and she is a real joy and she gave me a lovely hug. We are worth it.
April 17, 2022
Ive bee n wanting to read this for a few years and i finally did! This was a different style than I am used to from Liz Curtis Higgs, but it still grips your imagination while simultaneously digging into the Scripture. I love the fresh perspective of narrating Jesus' final week through the eyes and experiences of the women who followed Him. It was a little surprising to see how very *present* they were in so many crucial moments. I found this book to be a great way to focus my mind on the journey of Jesus Christ on his final week, in preparation for Easter.
February 10, 2017
The premise for the book intrigued me: a book about three Biblical women named Mary. What struck me was Higgs similarity in writing to Max Lucado's style--down to earth, plain speaking thoughts.
I wanted to like this book. Wanted it to be something that would help me look at Easter in a fresh new way. Unfortunately, I could not get past the first chapter for several reasons.
What immediately struck me was the amount of end notes in each chapter. Chapter one had over forty. If you have just a few sources of reference, I can appreciate an end note but when you are over ten, it's annoying for a reader to have to continually flip to the end of the chapter to find out who is actually the source of a particular idea. After two dozen notations, I was beginning to feel like Higgs was just compiling a reference on other people's works. Sentences would have partial phrases quoted--why not just assimilate their points into her own words?
Another annoyance was the fact that she would sometimes just cite a phrase within a verse, not the entire verse. And instead of having an in text reference, it would be in the end notes. I think it's imperative that Scripture be immediately identified as such, not up to the reader to go dig at the end of the chapter to see the reference.
Thirdly, the author quoted more translations than I have ever seen in one book. Copyright page says most are from NIV but in the first few pages, readers are hit with several others. I've been a Christian for over 30 years and some of the abbreviated versions I had never heard of. And I could not find anywhere in the book where there was a list of what the abbreviations stand for. Yes, one could look them up, but that seems like an unnecessary burden.
And finally, once verses were quoted from The Message and The Voice, I knew the book was not for me. Those may be fine for personal reading but it made me cringe to see them included as the basis for her points.
I guess if a reader can get past those things, it may be an insightful book. But when a book is largely a collection of a variety of ideas, I'd prefer to just read the individual works in their entirety.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Women of Easter from Blogging for Books for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.
I wanted to like this book. Wanted it to be something that would help me look at Easter in a fresh new way. Unfortunately, I could not get past the first chapter for several reasons.
What immediately struck me was the amount of end notes in each chapter. Chapter one had over forty. If you have just a few sources of reference, I can appreciate an end note but when you are over ten, it's annoying for a reader to have to continually flip to the end of the chapter to find out who is actually the source of a particular idea. After two dozen notations, I was beginning to feel like Higgs was just compiling a reference on other people's works. Sentences would have partial phrases quoted--why not just assimilate their points into her own words?
Another annoyance was the fact that she would sometimes just cite a phrase within a verse, not the entire verse. And instead of having an in text reference, it would be in the end notes. I think it's imperative that Scripture be immediately identified as such, not up to the reader to go dig at the end of the chapter to see the reference.
Thirdly, the author quoted more translations than I have ever seen in one book. Copyright page says most are from NIV but in the first few pages, readers are hit with several others. I've been a Christian for over 30 years and some of the abbreviated versions I had never heard of. And I could not find anywhere in the book where there was a list of what the abbreviations stand for. Yes, one could look them up, but that seems like an unnecessary burden.
And finally, once verses were quoted from The Message and The Voice, I knew the book was not for me. Those may be fine for personal reading but it made me cringe to see them included as the basis for her points.
I guess if a reader can get past those things, it may be an insightful book. But when a book is largely a collection of a variety of ideas, I'd prefer to just read the individual works in their entirety.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Women of Easter from Blogging for Books for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.
June 10, 2018
I absolutely LOVE the non-fiction Liz Curtis Higgs produces. Every word she writes is full of the love of the Word, as well as authority that she backs with notes and citation. She's also so down to earth and not holier than thou it's like you are reading the words of a close friend who loves Jesus and the reader.
The title of the book pretty much says it all. It's about the women who were present leading up to, during and after the original Easter. It's how she says it that hits home with me. Many times my eyes would fill with tears and my heart felt like it was expanding out of my chest with the warmth of love. It truly is awesome how God loves us all, regardless of our frailties. Not saying we don't need to try to be better, but He loves us before we are better.
I don't think I could do this book justice in a mere review. I think reading it is part of a person's personal journey and that the reader will get out of it what they need and that need will be different for every reader. I definitely received a lot from this book. I don't want to say it'll be life changing or heart warming, because it will be different for all readers, but I do think it will be important in a different way to all who read it.
This is one I will need to re-read over and over again. I am sure I will learn new things from it each time I read it. It has a study guide at the end of it, so I would recommend if you are using it as such, to get a physical copy of the book, unless you are very good at moving back and forth in an eBook format. This is one I will be getting as a physical book.
5, awed and humbled, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
The title of the book pretty much says it all. It's about the women who were present leading up to, during and after the original Easter. It's how she says it that hits home with me. Many times my eyes would fill with tears and my heart felt like it was expanding out of my chest with the warmth of love. It truly is awesome how God loves us all, regardless of our frailties. Not saying we don't need to try to be better, but He loves us before we are better.
I don't think I could do this book justice in a mere review. I think reading it is part of a person's personal journey and that the reader will get out of it what they need and that need will be different for every reader. I definitely received a lot from this book. I don't want to say it'll be life changing or heart warming, because it will be different for all readers, but I do think it will be important in a different way to all who read it.
This is one I will need to re-read over and over again. I am sure I will learn new things from it each time I read it. It has a study guide at the end of it, so I would recommend if you are using it as such, to get a physical copy of the book, unless you are very good at moving back and forth in an eBook format. This is one I will be getting as a physical book.
5, awed and humbled, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
March 13, 2017
Join the Women of Easter
Some were mentioned by name.
Others were never identified, but throughout the life of Jesus, we learn that there were “certain women” who traveled with Jesus, who welcomed Him when he needed a meal or a place to stay, who “provided for Him out of their means.” It is significant that there is no record in Scripture of any of these women flagging in their loyalty, denying Jesus, or abandoning Him when the chips were down. A group of them were present at the cross, and then, without even realizing the significance of their actions at the time, certain women showed up at the tomb and bore witness to the resurrected Christ.
It was clear that God had chosen them to be there.
Liz Curtis Higgs honors The Women of Easter with her carefully constructed re-telling of the final weeks of Jesus’ life. Liz focuses on Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary Magdalene, but also shares the stories of other women as they meander across history’s stage. Rather than lifting her protagonists out of the story one by one with three distinct bios, she considers them in context as they interact with each other, with Jesus, and with other major players within the narrative arc of Scripture.
With her characteristic humor, insight, and thorough research, Liz shares powerful wisdom from the lives of first-century women that (if we let it!) will impact the way we follow Christ in the 21st century, because, the truth is that you can spot a Woman of Easter by the way she lives:
Women of Easter are transformed by seeking what is “needful.”
Mary of Bethany understood that there is a time for bustling around and being productive — and there is a time for quietly listening. Big Sister Martha must have eventually absorbed some of that lesson along the way, because when their brother Lazarus died, “she who served the food also dished out the truth: “It is for Your coming, [Jesus,] that the world has waited.” God had chosen one of His faithful women to make the bold proclamation that Jesus’ decisive “I am” was a revelation of His identity. Martha’s response was a resounding, “Yes, I see that YOU ARE!”
Women of Easter recognize that Jesus endured the cross because we were “the joy set before Him.”
Mary of Bethany understood that when she anointed Jesus’ feet with valuable oil, she was performing an act of worship. John 12 informs us that “Martha served” that day, and so together, the sisters showed up and met a need in preparation for Jesus’ future act of redemption which, at the time, they could have only dimly understood.
All our worship and all our acts of righteousness flow from the cross. Just as Jesus took joy in the small gift of a widow, He sees our small gifts, and He rejoices, calling them “good.”
Women of Easter know when to stand back and watch Jesus at work.
Mary of Nazareth (Jesus’ mother) shows up in quiet maturity at the Wedding in Cana, and she set the stage for her Son to perform the first of many signs “through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” Scripture does not record Jesus saying, “Thanks, mum!” but actions speak louder than words, for while He was hanging on the cross in agony, He made provision for her future by asking John to take her into his home.
While four soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing, four women stood with Him in quiet support: Mary, Mary’s sister (possibly Salome?), Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. These women were standing on a risky piece of real estate, for the Romans were not above inflicting the same terrible punishment upon families of an enemy of the state who was being crucified. With Jesus’ feet only about a yard above the ground, these women were witnessing His suffering close by — and even so, Jesus was utterly alone in His anguish. It could not have been an easy vigil for these brave women, but they kept watch while Jesus shook hell’s gates.
Women of Easter stay close to Jesus even when hope seems gone.
While there is no Scriptural evidence that Mary Magdalene was actually a harlot, the Bible does inform us that Jesus cast seven demons out of her. Her background is . . . challenging, perhaps; nonetheless, she “is mentioned by name fourteen times across all four gospel accounts.” Loyal, fearless, and willing to do whatever she needed to do to support her beloved Teacher, Mary Magdalene showed up at the garden tomb, not really sure how she was going to achieve her goal of rolling away a huge stone in order to attend to Jesus’ body. My take-away from this is that when we show up for the impossible, we might be surprised at how God takes care of the details.
Women of Easter realize that it’s all about relationship.
Our first-century sisters didn’t realize that they were going to be eye-witnesses to the most important event in history. They came to the tomb to attend to the dead body of a much-loved friend/relative and found a living, breathing Savior! Then, having been commissioned by the risen Christ to share the good news, Mary Magdalene trumpeted the truth that changes everything: “I have seen the Lord!”
Liz shares the encouraging truth that even the very first Easter was not a picture perfect affair. No. It was “full of disbelief, fear, and confusion” as even Jesus’ closest disciples struggled to absorb the truth.
Likewise, with our Easter bonnets askew and our Resurrection Sunday dinner menus still up in the air, we are invited to come, by faith, to the empty tomb. We are invited to rejoice, and we have been charged with the privilege of sharing the good news. By faith, we, too, are The Women of Easter.
//
This book was provided by the publisher through Blogging for Books in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Some were mentioned by name.
Others were never identified, but throughout the life of Jesus, we learn that there were “certain women” who traveled with Jesus, who welcomed Him when he needed a meal or a place to stay, who “provided for Him out of their means.” It is significant that there is no record in Scripture of any of these women flagging in their loyalty, denying Jesus, or abandoning Him when the chips were down. A group of them were present at the cross, and then, without even realizing the significance of their actions at the time, certain women showed up at the tomb and bore witness to the resurrected Christ.
It was clear that God had chosen them to be there.
Liz Curtis Higgs honors The Women of Easter with her carefully constructed re-telling of the final weeks of Jesus’ life. Liz focuses on Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary Magdalene, but also shares the stories of other women as they meander across history’s stage. Rather than lifting her protagonists out of the story one by one with three distinct bios, she considers them in context as they interact with each other, with Jesus, and with other major players within the narrative arc of Scripture.
With her characteristic humor, insight, and thorough research, Liz shares powerful wisdom from the lives of first-century women that (if we let it!) will impact the way we follow Christ in the 21st century, because, the truth is that you can spot a Woman of Easter by the way she lives:
Women of Easter are transformed by seeking what is “needful.”
Mary of Bethany understood that there is a time for bustling around and being productive — and there is a time for quietly listening. Big Sister Martha must have eventually absorbed some of that lesson along the way, because when their brother Lazarus died, “she who served the food also dished out the truth: “It is for Your coming, [Jesus,] that the world has waited.” God had chosen one of His faithful women to make the bold proclamation that Jesus’ decisive “I am” was a revelation of His identity. Martha’s response was a resounding, “Yes, I see that YOU ARE!”
Women of Easter recognize that Jesus endured the cross because we were “the joy set before Him.”
Mary of Bethany understood that when she anointed Jesus’ feet with valuable oil, she was performing an act of worship. John 12 informs us that “Martha served” that day, and so together, the sisters showed up and met a need in preparation for Jesus’ future act of redemption which, at the time, they could have only dimly understood.
All our worship and all our acts of righteousness flow from the cross. Just as Jesus took joy in the small gift of a widow, He sees our small gifts, and He rejoices, calling them “good.”
Women of Easter know when to stand back and watch Jesus at work.
Mary of Nazareth (Jesus’ mother) shows up in quiet maturity at the Wedding in Cana, and she set the stage for her Son to perform the first of many signs “through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” Scripture does not record Jesus saying, “Thanks, mum!” but actions speak louder than words, for while He was hanging on the cross in agony, He made provision for her future by asking John to take her into his home.
While four soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing, four women stood with Him in quiet support: Mary, Mary’s sister (possibly Salome?), Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. These women were standing on a risky piece of real estate, for the Romans were not above inflicting the same terrible punishment upon families of an enemy of the state who was being crucified. With Jesus’ feet only about a yard above the ground, these women were witnessing His suffering close by — and even so, Jesus was utterly alone in His anguish. It could not have been an easy vigil for these brave women, but they kept watch while Jesus shook hell’s gates.
Women of Easter stay close to Jesus even when hope seems gone.
While there is no Scriptural evidence that Mary Magdalene was actually a harlot, the Bible does inform us that Jesus cast seven demons out of her. Her background is . . . challenging, perhaps; nonetheless, she “is mentioned by name fourteen times across all four gospel accounts.” Loyal, fearless, and willing to do whatever she needed to do to support her beloved Teacher, Mary Magdalene showed up at the garden tomb, not really sure how she was going to achieve her goal of rolling away a huge stone in order to attend to Jesus’ body. My take-away from this is that when we show up for the impossible, we might be surprised at how God takes care of the details.
Women of Easter realize that it’s all about relationship.
Our first-century sisters didn’t realize that they were going to be eye-witnesses to the most important event in history. They came to the tomb to attend to the dead body of a much-loved friend/relative and found a living, breathing Savior! Then, having been commissioned by the risen Christ to share the good news, Mary Magdalene trumpeted the truth that changes everything: “I have seen the Lord!”
Liz shares the encouraging truth that even the very first Easter was not a picture perfect affair. No. It was “full of disbelief, fear, and confusion” as even Jesus’ closest disciples struggled to absorb the truth.
Likewise, with our Easter bonnets askew and our Resurrection Sunday dinner menus still up in the air, we are invited to come, by faith, to the empty tomb. We are invited to rejoice, and we have been charged with the privilege of sharing the good news. By faith, we, too, are The Women of Easter.
//
This book was provided by the publisher through Blogging for Books in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 17, 2017
I knew this would be good, its Liz Curtis Higgs and she paints pictures with words, but wow, this one really spoke to my heart. Through the eyes of the women around Jesus before, during and after the crucifixion, I gained a new perspective of this amazing story. I relate to the gift God gives to us better now, I understand better why He chose who He did to be where He wanted them when He did and I perceive the disciples differently, I'm more empathetic. I love this book, I'll read it again before Easter and probably again after that. It brings scripture to life and directs back to scripture which allows for introspection, time with the Holy Spirit and transformation. Along the journey, Liz brings her light, joy and humor! Highly Recommended!
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
November 29, 2016
Liz Curtis Higgs does it every time. I love her books! This book is fantastic. Verse by verse, Higgs breaks down the stories in the Bible starting with Mary of Bethany. My favorite part about how this book is set up is how detailed and thought provoking it is. I have read these passages in scripture numerous times. Then Liz starts breaking it down and talking about what life was really like and the culture and the dress etc. She doesn't add to the Bible and she doesn't take away. She simply states the verse and goes, okay now do you see what really just happened here?
So good. Five stars.
"I received this book from Blogging for Books for free. All opinions are my own."
So good. Five stars.
"I received this book from Blogging for Books for free. All opinions are my own."
March 10, 2018
A beautiful retelling of the Biblical accounts of the women closest to Jesus during His death and resurrection. Reading this has really opened my eyes to how Jesus used these women to further His purposes.
April 26, 2017
Loved this book. I learned so much more about each of these women and their relationship with Jesus and their faith.
April 14, 2020
“Our sovereign God didn’t leave a single moment of His Son’s resurrection to chance. He knew from the beginning of time that these women would be the first to know, the first to see. God chose women to serve as His witnesses this day. “. This was an amazing book but not a book to just read through. It’s a book to ponder and savor as you read. I read this with my Bible and notebook making notes to mull over later. So many thoughts to consider. A great book to prep for the Easter season and an amazing reminder that God can use anyone who has a heart of faith.
March 24, 2021
You could read this book, orrr you could just read the New Testament because that’s basically what it is. Really there could have been a 20 page book expanding on the women Jesus was surrounded with and it would have been enjoyable. I wasn’t expecting it to just be a retelling of the NT with some extra opinions thrown in.
March 29, 2021
The Women of Easter has been a great book to increase my excitement that He has Risen!! Three women by the name of Mary with very different background was there when the Lord was crucified. They followed, adored, and treasured Him. Jesus also treasured them and the other woman in the area as well. He cherishes and adores woman as a whole. Liz Curtis Higgs made it so clear how important we woman are in Jesus’ eyes. After all, a woman was the first one to see him after rising and the first person he spoke to. As an extra bonus there are study questions in the back to encourage us to learn more about this Easter season.
April 6, 2025
Each year I try to pick up a different book to read over Lent to help prepare my heart for Easter. I enjoyed that this book shared Jesus’s ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection from a woman’s viewpoint - specifically the “three Marys”.
March 27, 2021
This book offers excellent preparation of one’s heart for Easter but it also provided opportunities for deep discussion inside a small group of women who have read the Word together for more than a decade. An excellent complement to The Women of Christmas. Highly recommend for women’s small group study during Lent!
February 5, 2017
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. To be honest, when I first picked it up I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't know what it would be about. I was pleasantly surprised. Higgs brings to life familiar stories I grew up hearing, in such detail I could imagine myself there. I could feel what they felt. They were so relatable. They became real people instead of just a story from so long ago. The Women of Easter is the story of Mary & Martha and their brother Lazarus, the story of the Week before Jesus was killed, the story of Easter. Jesus held fast to the purpose for his pain... our redemption. It subtly makes you think and ponder if you are living the way the people in Jesus time lived... giving of myself fully out of complete unselfish unassuming love for my savior. The writer illustrates that "beauty was revealed in brokenness". (p61)
I loved how the customs of the times were explained in such great detail. I often just skimmed over these details of the story not thinking much of them. I now have a much greater understanding of the ramifications and implications of the small (yet big) details. The incredible use of numerous different translation of the scripture was helpful. It's often recommended to study different versions when studying a passage to gain greater understanding. The author did a great job of this. She highlights Old Testament prophecies and shows how they came to pass in the New Testament. She ties all the gospels together to tell the amazing story of Jesus from the perspective of the women closest to Him. This quote sums it up nicely:
"Throughout these extraordinary scenes from scripture we've watched Jesus bridge the gap between his male disciples and his female followers." (Page 193)
The book ends with an extensive study guide for further study.
This is a great book. I now want to read more from this author. You won't be disappointed. I would give it 7 out of 5 stars if I could!
I loved how the customs of the times were explained in such great detail. I often just skimmed over these details of the story not thinking much of them. I now have a much greater understanding of the ramifications and implications of the small (yet big) details. The incredible use of numerous different translation of the scripture was helpful. It's often recommended to study different versions when studying a passage to gain greater understanding. The author did a great job of this. She highlights Old Testament prophecies and shows how they came to pass in the New Testament. She ties all the gospels together to tell the amazing story of Jesus from the perspective of the women closest to Him. This quote sums it up nicely:
"Throughout these extraordinary scenes from scripture we've watched Jesus bridge the gap between his male disciples and his female followers." (Page 193)
The book ends with an extensive study guide for further study.
This is a great book. I now want to read more from this author. You won't be disappointed. I would give it 7 out of 5 stars if I could!
March 23, 2017
I bought this thinking it was a 40-day Lent devotional; it wasn't. However, I'm still happy I bought it because the 8 chapters make for a great read. If I was buying an Easter present for everybody, this would be it. If I was reading it again, I'd probably start it the Thursday before Palm Sunday and read a chapter a day. Then I'd finish the Thursday before Easter and have those events fresh in my mind through the weekend.
April 29, 2020
Great study
I started this study as a push from God. I am so glad I listened. This study helped me understand how God could use each of us to bring others into a relationship with Him. It also helped me truly understand that no matter who I was in the past Jesus loved me, and I was not only forgiven but I was set free from my past. I also learned to not judge myself by others but to look at the positive side and strive to be the best me I can be.
I started this study as a push from God. I am so glad I listened. This study helped me understand how God could use each of us to bring others into a relationship with Him. It also helped me truly understand that no matter who I was in the past Jesus loved me, and I was not only forgiven but I was set free from my past. I also learned to not judge myself by others but to look at the positive side and strive to be the best me I can be.
May 16, 2019
Liz Curtis Higgs give a fresh perspective on the relationship between Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene and Jesus. I began reading this book during Lent to help prepare my heart for Easter and it was a great choice, and I highly recommend it for any woman who is searching to know her identity in Christ.
March 8, 2019
Desiring to live as Easter women every day...because He lives! Excellent read during Lent/approaching the season of Easter.
March 28, 2021
We have loved every minute of The Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs. It has really driven home how much the Lord cherishes women, how purposeful He was in including them in the greatest moments of all mankind.
My ten year old daughter, loves how the author retells the gospels in her own approachable words, "I LOVE this book! I've always known the story, but this book really makes it come alive. I can FEEL it." She enjoys being in her feelings so her eyes really lit up.
I personally love how Higgs hugs the scripture so closely while writing, she doesn't give herself room to stray into her own understanding. Instead she quotes scripture every few lines and uses multiple translations to help you see it all from all four gospel writer angles... With some cute Liz quips thrown in. The book is very personable.
I know she has other books. (Bad Girls of the Bible comes to mind.) But to be honest I've always avoided them because they looked gimicky. I'm a snob and I tend to like my theology to look old and boring and like maybe a 100 year old man wrote it from his deathbed (Walvoord, Wiersbe...) or like a formerly atheist homey Brit sharing his scholarly thoughts (Chesterton, Lewis...).
Now, we're making plans to read more work by Higgs.
My ten year old daughter, loves how the author retells the gospels in her own approachable words, "I LOVE this book! I've always known the story, but this book really makes it come alive. I can FEEL it." She enjoys being in her feelings so her eyes really lit up.
I personally love how Higgs hugs the scripture so closely while writing, she doesn't give herself room to stray into her own understanding. Instead she quotes scripture every few lines and uses multiple translations to help you see it all from all four gospel writer angles... With some cute Liz quips thrown in. The book is very personable.
I know she has other books. (Bad Girls of the Bible comes to mind.) But to be honest I've always avoided them because they looked gimicky. I'm a snob and I tend to like my theology to look old and boring and like maybe a 100 year old man wrote it from his deathbed (Walvoord, Wiersbe...) or like a formerly atheist homey Brit sharing his scholarly thoughts (Chesterton, Lewis...).
Now, we're making plans to read more work by Higgs.
April 11, 2020
I enjoyed reading this the 40 days leading up to Easter! I love how she shared the Scripture throughout every chapter to go with her sharing the accounts written. I loved the perspective of the women and looking at them more in depth. I truly found it a blessing!
May 20, 2022
This book was so, so good. Here's my favorite excerpt:
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Luke 23:55
Really, have you ever seen such perseverance? They stayed and they stayed and they stayed. This is one of the most important lessons these women teach us. Wherever He leads, follow Jesus. Whatever pain you are enduring, keep your eyes on Jesus. Even when hope seems gone, stay close to Jesus."
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Luke 23:55
Really, have you ever seen such perseverance? They stayed and they stayed and they stayed. This is one of the most important lessons these women teach us. Wherever He leads, follow Jesus. Whatever pain you are enduring, keep your eyes on Jesus. Even when hope seems gone, stay close to Jesus."
April 19, 2025
A MUST read! It opened my eyes to the Easter story in a way that hasn’t happened before! The connections of Mary of Bethany at the feet of Christ, I pray I never forget! So many wonderful applications in this book! I definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone!
March 22, 2020
Beautifully written. I loved the fact that the authorised multiple Bible translations to help the reader gain more insight.
April 10, 2022
I have read other books by this author and love her style. I read this during Lent which was perfect timing. Such a touching inspirational story told through three women who loved Jesus.
September 25, 2024
I didn't find this one as good as the Christmas book but I still learned from it and found it helpful
March 31, 2017
I did this as a Bible Study during Lent at the church here on Hilton. It was very enjoyable.
It is available on Hoopla free and Liz reads it and I understand it is very well done. I plan to listen to it.
It is available on Hoopla free and Liz reads it and I understand it is very well done. I plan to listen to it.
May 14, 2017
Could. Not. Finish.
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