As a pastor’s wife and women’s ministry leader, I am always on the lookout for great materials to touch the hearts of women with the love of Christ. Rarely do I find one resource that includes the whole of the Gospel (i.e., the Good News of Christ’s coming) from start to finish and still shares a message of love, hope and redemption for women. I am very excited to have found such a resource from Campus Crusade for Christ. In a beautiful and touching form, taking the original Jesus Film and adding new footage for women by women, the Magdalena: Through Her Eyes DVD portrays the story of Christ from the eyes of Mary Magdalene.

About MAGDALENA: Through Her Eyes

THE LOVE SHE EXPERIENCED CHANGED HER LIFE.
THE MAN SHE FOLLOWED CHANGED THE WORLD.

MAGDALENA:  Through Her Eyes is the story of Jesus from a woman’s perspective.  As she followed Jesus, Mary Magdalene witnessed changed lives, miracles and His tenderness toward women.  Her own life was radically transformed when Jesus healed her and gave her a new purpose for living.

Deep in hopelessness, one woman found freedom as she was delivered from her past. Magdalena reveals what can happen when women refuse to live in defeat and choose to discover their real value. It is the true story of Jesus seen through the eyes of Mary Magdalene: a story of tenderness, freedom and purpose. Journey with women of our past to discover hope for your future.

My Review

First off, the DVD of Magdalena: Through Her Eyes seems to me to address many of the questions that women often have about themselves, and their worth in the eyes of the Lord. The woman with Mary Magdalen questions whether the God of the creation, the maker of the beautiful sunset they witness together, even sees her, much less knows her.  Mary Magdalen assures her friend that He does and that Mary’s own story is proof of it.

Mary Magdalen’s story starts in the right place – at the very beginning, with Creation – in order to lay the proper foundation for the story of Jesus, and the significance of his touch on her life, and the lives of all, including women.

Mary Magdalen shares with her friends (women and children) the story of Adam and Eve, and the fall. Then the story unfolds with Abraham, and the ram that the Lord provided to sacrifice in place of Isaac. Next Mary Magdalen shares about Isaiah, and the prophet’s description of the Messiah.  These details pave the way for Jesus’ entrance in the story, with his mother Mary’s encounter with the angel, and her visit to Elizabeth, and then Joseph’s dream, providing that Mary and her baby would be cared for.  Then the baby Jesus is born, sharing the familiar Christmas story right from Scripture, and a detail most woman can relate to is included in this telling – the baby Jesus actually cries!  A little detail, but an important one in light of wanting to honestly reach women’s hearts.

Mary Magdalen includes in her narrative the details of Mary & Joseph’s encounter with Simeon at the temple when they go to dedicate Jesus as an infant. Simeon’s words to Mary, of a sorrow piercing her heart, is especially noted.

The women to whom Mary Magdelen speaks are doubtful of the miracle of Christ’s conception and birth. Mary Magdalen says, “he was born of a woman, like you and I, but he was so much more.”

Mary then shares with the women about the testimony of John the Baptist (his depiction in the film is great, by the way, much how I think of John when I read scripture – a clear speaking man with wild eyes and wild hair).  John clearly pointed to Jesus as the Messiah.  Jesus teaching in the temple is more affirmation of his identity.

Mary Magdalen’s story intersects Jesus’ story when he meets her in a village.  She was a demon-possessed woman, a freak among the people.  Her demons recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High God, and he sends the demons out of her.  Her exorcism leaves her free, with the people around her proclaiming the miracle.  Having been restored, Mary Magdalen wants to do God’s will, and chooses to follow Jesus.  Jesus is leading a ministry of hope, and many people are leaving everything to follow him.

Jesus is shown to be teaching among the people, while walking, eating, sitting, etc., sprinkling teaching throughout every day life, with people following him all the time.  Jesus touches many people’s lives, and a few women in particular are focused on.  Keep in mind that the culture of Jesus’ day was very patriarchal – women had little or no value.  That Jesus interacted with them at all is very counter-cultural, and that any of their stories make it into the scriptures shows their true significance.

Jesus raises the dead son of a widow, her only son.  The son’s death would have certainly meant that she would be destitute with no one to take care of her.  Resurrecting her son saves them both.

Jesus called the woman who had been unclean with bleeding for 12 years “Daughter” – seeing her shame and redeeming her.  Jesus awakes the daughter of Jairus from an apparent coma.

Jesus sits among prostitutes and tax collectors, teaching them and eating with him.  When asked why he spends time with those kind of people, Jesus says that he has come to help the needy, not those who have no need.

Jesus points out the woman who gives her last coins at the temple.  And he engages the Samaritan woman at the well.  All of these interactions with women are very counter-cultural, and very life-changing for each of the women involved.

The story, of course, includes Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection.  The trial, beating, crucifixion and death of Jesus are all graphic enough to make a strong point, but not so graphic that we get lost in the grief of it. On the road to the hill of the crucifixion, Jesus again interacts with women along the way. And the first person that Jesus reveals himself to after his resurrection is Mary Magdalen.

Magdalena: Through Her Eyes does a great job of highlighting the interactions Jesus had with women when he walked the Earth, and shows clearly that he placed a very high value on all people, including women.  This would have been no small message to women in Jesus’ time, and should be no small message to women today.

Mary Magdalen begins to wrap things up for the women that she’s talking to by saying, “When God created the world, he made Man and Woman to live in His presence and feel His joy – that was His plan,… but we didn’t believe him and disobeyed his command.  We have marred the relationship between a woman and a man… Jesus’ life, death and resurrection restored the relationship between God and his people…” re-establishing the value of all people, including women.

One woman asks a question many women have asked: “Can he accept me?”

Mary Magdalen affirms, “He accepted me [and others…]”

The woman asks another question: “How can I know?” This is a query most woman can appreciate.

The response is simple: “Trust in Him.”

The DVD finishes with the women praying to the Lord, in what seems to me a more modern way than I expected, but very fitting for the moment – praying the Sinner’s Prayer, acknowledging their sins, asking for forgiveness, and asking Jesus to be their Lord and Saviour.  The whole thing ends with the Great Commission being shared, completing the story perfectly, having started with Creation and leading to the present.

More Than Just a DVD

Magdalena: Through Her Eyes has a great message for women.  The DVD alone is potentially very impacting, but as with most good Campus Crusade for Christ resources, it doesn’t stop there. Included in the DVD Package I received was:

• Magdalena: Through Her Eyes DVD
• Reflections of Hope Bible Study
• “Women’s Ministry Leader” event letter
• Special event marketing materials

The DVD is a possible starting point for more women’s ministry opportunities, including one-time special event nights with movie showings, and Bible studies based on information in the movie.

The “Reflections of Hope” Bible Study focuses on one section of the DVD at a time, and includes discussion questions and challenges for  participants. The promotional materials for both the special events and the Bible study are top-notch, with high-quality printing and appealing formats.  There is everything you might need to be able to promote and host a movie night, or to start a more in-depth Bible study and discipleship program.  Campus Crusade for Christ has really put together an excellent resource for Women’s Ministry leaders. With such an awesome package, hosting a special event centered around the Magdalena: Through Her Eyes DVD is an fantastic option to include in your upcoming ministry schedule.

Please visit the following websites for more info, a movie preview, and for details on hosting a showing of this DVD in your area:
Website:  http://www.magdalenatoday.com
Movie Preview: http://www.magdalenatoday.com/video/trailer.html
Special Event: http://www.magdalenatoday.com/movie-night.php

Giveaway: One lucky It’s OK to be WEIRD! reader will win their DVD Package of Magdalena: Through Her Eyes, including “Reflections of Hope” Bible Study and promotional materials.

• Follow @OKtobeWEIRD on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway using this Magdalena DVD Giveaway Tweet (you can tweet this once a day for extra entries, and leave a link to each tweet in a separate comment.)
• Like It’s OK to be WEIRD on Facebook. {1 entry} [ Please feel free to share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook, but we can not require this as an entry into the giveaway as per Facebook Promotions Guidelines and sharing it will not count as an extra entry – but we will still love you very much for sharing! 🙂 ]
• Follow Its OK to be WEIRD on Networked Blogs {1 entry}
• Subscribe to It’s OK to be WEIRD! by RSS Feed or email {1 entry}.
• Blog about this giveaway, with a link to this giveaway post, and my blog title linked back to me {for 3 extra entries}
• Leave a comment telling me if you are hoping to win this because you yourself are a Women’s Ministry Leader or if you’ll be sharing this with your pastor {1 entry}.
• For my own curiosity (i.e., not implying any obligation), leave me a comment if you are interested in this kind of special event movie night for yourself or your church, or in this kind of Bible study centered around a movie {1 entry}.