The Cloud of Witnesses

Former title Lessons From the People of the Bible

Set 1

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Abraham (5) — David (5) — Esther (4) — Gideon (5) — Isaac (6) — Jacob (7) — Job (6) — John the Baptist (6) — Jonah (4) — Jonathan (6) — Joseph (10) — Joseph of Nazareth (6) — Mary (4) — Mary Magdalene (4) — Mary of Bethany (3) — Moses (5) — Nehemiah (8) — Nicodemus (4) — Noah (6) — Paul the Apostle (5) — Peter (5) — Philip (4) — Ruth (7) — King Saul (6) — Stephen (6) — Thomas (4)

Download the complete set 1 as PDFs (2.46 MB).

The lessons of set 1 are also available as individual online lessons below.

Set 2

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PDF These lessons are available as PDFs (with the number of lessons in brackets). These PDFs have not yet been updated to the new name.

Andrew (7) — Caleb (7) — Daniel (7) — Elijah (6) — Elisha (5) — Isaiah (21) — John (22) — Joshua (16) — Leah (2) — Luke (22) — Mary Magdalene (3) — Matthew (9) — Miriam (4) — Nahum (2) — Rachel (6) — Rebekah (5) — Samson (5)

Download the complete set 2 as PDFs (1.85 MB).

Mary Magdalene

Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Back to The Cloud of Witnesses menu

Lesson 1: Mary Magdalene – Healed From Despair

Reading

Mark 1:21-39.

Healed From Despair

Mary Magdalene came from a village which was predominantly pagan. Situated at the top end of the western shores of the Sea of Galilee, Lake Tiberius, not far from Capernaum.

She had a past. She was not only demon-possessed, but the inference (7 demons) is that she was ‘totally’ dominated by them. Someone on the verge of insanity and not that dissimilar in condition to that of ‘legion’. Her friends and family would have been despairing of her future and wanting her to leave them as quickly as possible - forever and never to come back.

No one on earth had been able to help her. Respite was nowhere to be found. Into this state of hopelessness and despondency walked Jesus, the Son of God. We don’t have a record of what He said or how He commanded the demons to flee – all we know is she was healed; she, the captive, was set free, and she was made whole – and like legion returned to her right mind.

We are told what happened to legion; we are told what happened to others who were delivered of their demon possession, but not Mary. All we are told is that she was delivered of 7 demons. Maybe the deliverance was embarrassing, maybe it was humiliating – that makes no difference to the facts. Mary was delivered of demons – set free and made whole.

The one who was helpless and hopeless received healing, freedom, self-respect and a future of hope and fulfilment. No wonder she became an avid follower of Jesus. No wonder she never forgot her past and never forgot her deliverance.

Yes, she was totally changed through meeting Jesus. Whenever anyone has a dynamic encounter with Jesus Christ they are never the same again. Have you had one? If you haven’t, why not ask Him for one now? If you have, never forget it and never cease to be thankful.

Mary Magdalene would say to us today...

Please don’t ‘write off’ those who are demon-possessed. They are living in despair and need to be set free. Will you help someone like that?

Prayer

Father, I thank You that You are still able to set demon-possessed people free today. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to us so that we can demonstrate that Power on earth. Help us to find those hurting and despairing people and set them free through the power of Your Holy Spirit, I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Additional readings

Isaiah 61:1-7; Psalm 146; 1 John 4:1-10.

Questions

Does God still drive out demons today?

Can a Christian be demon-possessed?

How do we differentiate between demon possession and physical or mental sickness?