Set Free: The Story of Mary Magdalene’s Deliverance (Her “Exorcism” Explained)
Jesus casting seven demons out of Mary Magdalene. From the Book, Mary Magdalene by Arabella Penrose. Copyright 2025.
There’s one part of the story of Mary Magdalene that readers ask about more than any other.
And that scene is her deliverance (or exorcism, as some call it).
People wonder, “How did you do that scene for a children’s book?” It’s a powerful moment—one that is raw, emotional, and deeply spiritual. We knew from the beginning that we had to handle it with care. Some readers wonder what really happened to her. Others are drawn to the way we portrayed it: a woman in anguish, met by the authority and love of Jesus.
Today, I want to take you behind the scene, explaining what Scripture says, why we portrayed it the way we did, and what it means for us now.
What the Bible Actually Says
Luke 8:2 says it simply:
“…Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…”
No dramatized scene. No step-by-step details. Just this one clear truth: Mary had been afflicted and Jesus delivered her.
Contrary to common belief, the Bible does not say Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, nor does it identify her with the woman caught in adultery in John 8. Instead, it tells us she had been tormented spiritually and set free.
That one verse became the foundation of everything we wrote.
How We Portrayed It in the Book
Mary Magdalene in Magdala from the book Mary Magdalene by Arabella Penrose. Copyright 2025.
We began with what her life may have looked like on the outside: peaceful, comfortable, even loved. But internally, Mary was breaking.
In Magdala, Israel, so peaceful, serene,
Lived Mary, a woman they called Magdalene.
Her family loved her, she had all that she needed.
Yet inside she felt overwhelmed and defeated.For there was a dark side to Mary Magdalene,
She was troubled and tortured by evil unseen.
She was filled with much sadness and sorrow within;
For none in the village wanted her as a friend.
This poetic glimpse lets us imagine her unseen torment and what spiritual bondage and isolation might have felt like. For kids reading this, we wanted to reflect something they might understand: feeling left out, not having close friends, or carrying sadness no one else sees.
But then Jesus enters the scene:
But now unto Magdala Jesus arrives;
He stands over Mary, looking into her eyes.
“Come out of her, now!” He commands with a shout.
And at once Mary’s healed, all the evil cast out.
We paired this verse with an illustration that reflects both the tension and the transformation. If you look closely, you’ll notice a few onlookers in the background. They are present, but not the focus. This mirrors the Gospels: public miracles, personal encounters.
Mary's healing isn't a spectacle. It's a rescue.
Why We Told It This Way
We stayed biblical. Rather than invent details, we grounded the moment in Luke 8:2 and mirrored the tone of Jesus’ real-life commands in Scripture. His words are short, authoritative, and compassionate.
We made it personal. We didn’t want to create a distant or clinical healing. We wanted readers to feel Mary’s pain, and then feel the power of her freedom. This wasn’t about a doctrine. It was about a woman being made whole.
We didn’t glorify darkness. There’s no focus on demons. No elaborate backstory for evil. The moment is quick, because evil has no power in the presence of Christ. We gave the enemy one line. Jesus takes the rest.
We made it child-appropriate. This book is for families, but we didn’t strip away the depth. Children know what fear feels like. They know what it’s like to feel sad or alone. Our goal was to show them what Mary saw: Jesus is greater than the darkness.
Jesus Is the Hero of the Story
The point of this scene isn’t what Mary was delivered from.
It’s who she was delivered by.
He stands over Mary, looking into her eyes.
“Come out of her, now!” He commands with a shout.
That line was written to reflect how Jesus always operated in the Gospels. He drew near, acted with compassion, and spoke with authority. Whether healing the sick or casting out demons, Jesus never hesitated. And He didn’t shame.
He restored.
What We Hope Readers Take Away
We didn’t write this scene just to show that no one is too far gone, though that’s true. We wrote it to reveal the heart of Jesus.
Whether you’re a child who feels overwhelmed or an adult who’s been carrying shame for years, Mary’s story is for you. Because Jesus didn’t walk past her; He stopped, He saw her, He spoke. And she was never the same again.
Behind the Artwork
Mary Magdalene alone in anguish – hand on her face, distant from others. From the book, Mary Magdalene by Arabella Penrose. Copyright 2025.
The illustrations we chose walks through three phases:
Mary alone in anguish – hand on her face, distant from others.
Jesus standing over her – commanding freedom, offering mercy and healing.
Mary embracing Jesus – grateful, overjoyed, surrendered.
These visuals are not meant to dramatize the demonic. They’re designed to magnify the grace and power of Jesus.
In this final image, we paired it with this stanza:
And Mary cries, “Lord, all to you now I owe!
I’ll follow you always, wherever you go!
Whatever you need, Lord, I’ll always supply,
For You are my Savior, Your servant am I!”
A woman once tormented now lives with purpose.
A woman once alone now walks closely with Christ.
Mary hugging Jesus after being set free and healed from the book Mary Magdalene by Arabella Penrose. Copyright 2025.
Her Story Is Our Story
Mary Magdalene’s life didn’t end with her healing, it began there. She became one of Jesus’ most devoted followers, she was there during His crucifixion, and she was the first to see the empty tomb and witness the resurrected Christ.
But it all started in that one moment of mercy.
That one word of power.
That one decision to believe the voice of the Savior.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or too far gone, remember:
Jesus still sees.
He still speaks.
And He still sets people free.
Want to share Mary Magdalene's story with the children in your life? My beautifully illustrated book, "Mary Magdalene: A Bible Rhyming Story of Healing, Devotion, and Witnessing," brings her journey to life in a way that speaks to young hearts, inspiring them to follow Jesus, just like Mary did.
A young girl holding the Mary Magdalene book by Arabella Penrose.
