Have you ever wondered what it must have been like for Mary to witness her son Jesus’ incredible life and death?
Find out in Emily Owen’s new devotional 40 Days to the Cross as you read Mary's 'diary' and discover a refreshing and insightful look at the gospel accounts, written from a very personal viewpoint.
Emily, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I like spending time with family and friends; I like spending time alone; I like reading; I like dogs (not such a fan of cats!); I have health challenges; I am deaf; my nephew recently sent me a list of books he’s recently read with author names, and tucked into the list was ‘My Diary: You’ which kind of made my day; a favourite chapter in the Bible for me is John 15; I like strawberries; I like the sea.
Why did you decide to write 40 Days to the Cross?
I almost stumbled into this one! I discovered a part-written manuscript on my computer and thought I’d turn it into blogs during Lent. I did, and those of us who journeyed through Lent with the blogs together were blessed. And people began to say, ‘where’s the book?’ So I think the answer to this question is that it was a joint decision. This book was encouraged into being by others.
Who have you written this book for?
Anyone who reads it. Perhaps especially people who want to be reminded of who Jesus is, and why he came.
At the start of the book, Mary hears the words from Simeon ‘a sword will pierce your soul’. Those words are a refrain throughout the book, as Mary – and us – grapple with what they mean.
You tell the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross through Mary’s eyes rather than through a traditional devotional format. Why did you choose to write this way, and what do you think this approach brings to the gospel stories?
I think sometimes we can forget that people in the Bible were exactly that – people. I wanted to make Mary’s journey relatable, to bring her perspective to the often-familiar Bible stories, and to encourage us to realise that in many ways she was not so different from us.
How do you go about balancing biblical accuracy with imaginative storytelling when creating Mary’s diary entries and personal reflections?
Each diary entry is centred on a scene from the Bible, sticking closely to the Biblical text. Looking at those scenes from Mary’s perspective as I wrote helped me enter her possible world. I say possible, because it’s important to remember that anything not found in the Bible is conjecture. Did Mary really join the crowd as Jesus was baptised? Maybe not. But maybe . . .
What do you hope readers feel emotionally as they journey with Mary through the final days before the cross?
That’s a hard one to answer. I hope readers feel whatever God leads them to feel. There is a powerful element to slowing down that journey to the cross, edging ever closer, knowing it’s coming, experiencing it with Mary. I hope readers feel able to take it slowly if they choose, sitting with different elements of the pathway, finding new joy in Jesus and his love for them.
Has anything really impacted you in the gospel stories as you were writing this book?
A few things! I was excited by things God showed me as I wrote. One that springs to mind is the passage where people want to throw Jesus off a cliff. In those days, people threw their rubbish off a cliff. And Jesus refused to be aligned with rubbish. He walked away. He doesn’t align us with rubbish, either.
What was the most challenging element of writing this book?
Maybe word count. When I wrote the blogs, I didn’t think about length, I just wrote. But a book has to be a bit more structured. I was challenged in a good way; the book blessed me as I worked on it. Occasionally, when editing, I get a bit fed up with the book (shhh!). That didn’t happen this time.
And what was the most rewarding element of writing this book?
Sharing the blogs-that-became-the-book with people. It was so special to have that connection and discussion in the blog comments, walking through Lent to Easter together. Shaping the blogs into a book was a privilege.
What do you hope readers will most get out of reading this book?
The presence of Jesus, a sense of awe in him.
In one sentence, how would you describe 40 Days to the Cross?
Sharing life’s journey with Jesus.
Is there anything we can pray for you?
I am currently having treatment for a (benign) brain tumour. I’d appreciate prayer for that. And please pray that my speaking and writing bring glory to God. Nothing without him.