After reading Bodie & Brock Thoene's book “Against the Wind” I was intrigued to find another of their titles pop out at me. “The First Stone, The Diary of Mary Magdalene” is an amazing story. The couple has received many accolades for their ability to weave both fact and fiction into their story-telling. Taking what we know of Mary Magdalene from the bible, they sought to fill in the spaces with a story of “what might have been.”

I enjoying reading stories such as these. The bible itself is a great story-teller, but often you are wanting more – what happened in between... the next day... what was in like to be there? I've read Walter Wangerin's stories of both Paul and Jesus that are fictional novels, telling a story based on biblical knowledge. This story of Mary has captured my heart.

The story is told through a husband and wife in 1948, who are separated during the capture of Jerusalem. As a gift for his wife, he translates a manuscript found beneath Jerusalem, which is the diary of Mary Magdalene.

We know from the bible that Mary was the sister to Martha and Lazarus. Possessed by demons, she was the harlot that was to be stoned, and the one that sat at Jesus' feet as his taught. She became one of his faithful followers, wept tears at his crucifixion, and was the one that Jesus first appeared to when He rose again. But what was Mary's life like before she met Jesus? What led her down the path of her near destruction?

Although we will never know this side of heaven what those answers are, The First Stone provides what could have been. The historical fiction story made my heart weep for Mary, and regardless of what her real story was, it is obvious that she suffered greatly before Jesus entered her life. The story came to life watching her struggle with the “human-ness” of her faults and doubts.

My only regret with the book was where it ended. As the stones were dropped to the ground, instead of cast upon her, her new forgiven life filled the emptiness she fought so hard against. I would have loved to follow in her footsteps as she walked along with Jesus, even through her heartbreak of losing Him at the cross and what it must have been like to see Him again outside that tomb. Mary will always be one of my favorites now. And I consider this a must read for anyone, especially those that struggle with sin in their life. She was a shinning example of Jesus' love, forgiveness and faithfulness.