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Tag: mary magdalene

Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – Mary Magdalene
John’s Gospel – Witnesses to Jesus’ Resurrection!
Understanding John’s Good News
John 20:
Mary Magdalene
Luke 7:
From Magdala to Jerusalem
Luke 8:1-3
John 20:
Jesus’ Resurrection Appearance
John’s Gospel – Witnesses to Jesus’ Resurrection!

Understanding John’s Good News

of Christ Crucified, Risen, Ascended & Returning

Without dwelling on detail, note that:
- Jesus was crucified around the year AD 30
- The last surviving Apostle John lives until about AD 90
- John writes his Gospel to the churches in about AD 85
Some who witnessed the risen Jesus fifty years earlier still lived! Many more had confirmed the truth of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection to their families and nearly everyone else they encountered (the beginning of the great commission – Mark 16:15).

Many of these persecuted saints insistently witnessed Christ Crucified and risen in Body and Spirit to all until their own deaths.

They too suffered and died, either by the hand of Roman rule or result of persecution by zealous leaders of Jerusalem (until Rome sacked it in AD 70), a major event which had already taken place when John wrote his Gospel, letters and the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Today we begin John’s accounts of the Resurrection not chronologically (for the events had already taken place a half-century before), but from the witness of individuals, beginning with Mary Magdalene.

“..we know not where they have laid him.”

John 20:

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already removed from the tomb.

Recall from before the day of preparation for the Sabbath that Joseph had sealed the tomb. Matthew tells us that as Joseph walked away:

‘And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher.’

Now, early on the first day of the week, John and Peter first hear Mary’s alarm.

²So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them,

They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
John 20:2b KJV

Mary the mother of James and John was likely with her once again hoping to finally complete their task of embalming Jesus’ corpse.

We will forego the likely familiar account of Simon Peter and John for the moment and focus on the witness of Mary Magdalene.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Mary Magdalene
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Μαρία Μαγδαληνὴ 
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Mary Magdalene is from the town of Magdala, a fishing town on the western shore of the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). She is known by several names and sometimes confused with many other Mary’s of the Bible. Here are her common names:

Mary of Magdala

Miryam from Magdala

Maria Magdalene (even Saint Mary, which is not proper)

Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ

also, the “apostle to the apostles,” which inappropriately elevates these important women who followed Christ to ‘Saints.’
Jesus first encountered her during His teaching in Galilee.

Luke 7:

1 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.

(We know it as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and Capernaum became Jesus home.)

And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. (A local Roman Centurion’s personal servant, perhaps a Jew.)

When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.

(Here is a Roman Centurion sending an envoy, a sort of ambassador sent from him to Jesus, comprising of Jewish officials of a local synagogue.) We’ll get to the local connection to Mary in a moment.

7:11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her…

And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying,

“A great prophet has arisen among us!” and,

“God has visited His people!”
Luke 7:16 NASB – reaction of the crowds in Nain after Jesus raised a young man from death

This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

(Reports on into Judea, even though Nain lies in Galilee, north of Samaria, some 144 km or about 90 miles by road from Jerusalem.)

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:21 NASB

From Magdala to Jerusalem

Luke 8:1-3

Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God.

The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses:

Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

.. she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” – Luke 7:49
- Did Jesus heal her of these demons as she worshiped Him?
- Was it Mary who had entered the house of a Pharisee in the city of the Synagogue where Jesus reclined at table with this Jewish official?
  - Mary was from Magdala, a major Jewish city on the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) where a archeological remains of a synagogue were unearthed just a decade ago.
John 20:

10 So the disciples went back again to their homes.
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This continuation in John 20 uses language from multiple versions or translations linked above. - RH
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Jesus’ Resurrection Appearance

11 but Miryam stood outside crying. As she cried, she bent down, peered into the tomb, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Yeshua had been, one at the head and one at the feet.

“Why are you crying?” they asked her.

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him.” As she said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing there, but she didn’t know it was he.

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

Turning, she cried out to him in Hebrew, “Rabbani!” (that is, “Teacher!”).

17 Jesus saith unto her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
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To be continued...
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December 6, 2020
Another Day of Silence at the Grave of a Loved One
It’s a familiar scene — loved ones mourning their loss in silence once the dead body can no longer be embraced by eyes or arms.

All that remains are our fleeting memories of a life which has passed into lifeless dust. I have been there. Likely you have as well.

It happens that the Beloved Body laid to rest previously is Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you missed these mourners outside the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea where the remains of Jesus were sealed. In our own grief we lament how such a public spectacle of Jesus’ Crucifixion on a Roman Cross could have been inflicted on the Son of God.

A Day of the silence of the Passover Lamb

“An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.
Matthew 16:4 CSB

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish…

(Certain death: Three days & three nights away.)

Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the stomach of the fish.
Jonah 1:17 – with commentaries

Perhaps the bereaving Apostles or distraught mourners had recalled this and other sayings of Jesus.

“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”
John 16:16 NASB
Christ :: The Three Days and the Three Nights

Don't become too immersed in the discussions of 'days' or 'dates' of Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection, but for the curious here is an article discussing some of the Jewish calendar issues involved.

After a brief time of carrying His pierced body from the Cross, Joseph and the others must wait until the completion of the Passover feast and until the day after the Sabbath to return and dutifully complete their burial task.
We noted several witnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion previously in It is finished.. + Death’s witnesses. John does not list everyone nor does the Apostle include some additional events.

John has not mentioned Judas Iscariot since his betrayal of the Lord in Gethsemane. Yet Matthew’s Gospel reveals the death of Jesus’ betrayer, the 30 pieces of silver purchasing the field of blood and how it fulfills prophesy.

3 When Y’hudah, who had betrayed him, saw that Yeshua had been condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the head cohanim and elders..

“I sinned in betraying an innocent man to death.”
the confession of Judas Iscariot – Matthew 27:4 HNV

5 Hurling the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, he left; then he went off and hanged himself.

From Crucifixion until Christ’s Resurrection

Before we proceed to John’s witness of Christ’s Resurrection, let’s linger just one more day to note events and witnesses beyond the tomb where Jesus’ body lay.

Matthew 27:

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

What a sorrowful scene…

And Matthew records:

62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate..

64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day..

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the tomb secure with the guard, sealing the stone.

Luke 23:

And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.

(Note the brief amount of time these women John names had to see the tomb, return with spices and just begin the wrapping of Jesus’ slain body.)
- Luke tells us (Luke 23:56b) why they had to leave Jesus’ body until later.
And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
Luke 24:1 NASB
The Apostle Matthew tells how Joseph wrapped Jesus’ crucified body in a clean line cloth and laid the Lord in a place he had prepared for his own death.
Then Matthew tells us (27:60b NASB):

and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

Matthew, the Disciple of Jesus also records the sad scene of silent mourning, where Joseph must have recalled these two women who lingered there.
⁶¹And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Joseph rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.
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To be continued..
.. at dawn the first day of the week ...
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December 4, 2020
DEATH cries out! from many perspectives
A poem of death’s despair.
From cries of pain

Surrounded by suffering

Entombed in death

Men and women

Hung their heads

In death’s despair.

+

His pain I now know

His suffering I deserve

From this dark place of justice

My sorrow must pierce.

Roger Harned - TalkofJESUS.com
“ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?”
22:1 אֵלִי אֵלִי לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי רָחֹוק מִֽישׁוּעָתִי דִּבְרֵי שַׁאֲגָתִֽי׃
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“Eli, Eli, lama” are Hebrew words in the Hebrew Bible (Ps. 22:2)
David said “lama azavthani” (why have you forsaken me?) and 
Jesus said “lama sabachthani” (why have you sacrificed me?). 
-source [2016 site not secure]: http://messiah-study.net/sabachthani.htm
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Jesus from the Cross

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him. When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
John 19:32-34 CSB

Zechariah 12:10 וְשָׁפַכְתִּי עַל־בֵּית דָּוִיד וְעַל יֹושֵׁב יְרוּשָׁלִַם רוּחַ חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים וְהִבִּיטוּ אֵלַי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־דָּקָרוּ וְסָפְדוּ עָלָיו כְּמִסְפֵּד עַל־הַיָּחִיד וְהָמֵר עָלָיו כְּהָמֵר עַֽל־הַבְּכֹֽור׃

DEATH! surrounding a Cross

Is your own heart pierced by the cry of death — the death of a loved one, that of your own inevitable failing flesh?

Would your soul cry out even from the grave that the death of God’s own Son should have been your own?

What those imprisoned in the dark dungeons of death must have thought as Jesus cried out as Sacrifice of Blood and Flesh from the Cross!

Who is the Son of Man entering the Jerusalem of the Jews?

In the year of our Lord, 2020, of these last days of a new covenant, I have been sharing the Good News of John.

We cannot cover all of the nuances of reactions to the Messiah entering Jerusalem for the Passover some two thousand years ago, but look back to some of the thoughts of those encountering Jesus between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday which the church celebrates with great joy.

The context of their first century perspective also includes witnesses of many signs of the Messiah including healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, miraculously feeding crowds of followers and raising the dead who include recently Lazarus of Bethany.

The Apostle Philip & the crowds

John 12:

9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.

The Apostle Philip, of course, travels with Jesus when the Messiah returns to Bethany. Crowds follow them into Jerusalem and friends of the Apostle hear about Jesus the Rabbi of their friend Philip.

21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them, saying,

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…

Jesus has much more to say and then this witness before them:

“…and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
John 12:27b-28a NASB

Then a voice came out of heaven:

“I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.

Philip witnesses this truly awesome scene after Jesus had said,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit…
John 12:24 NASB

Thomas: ‘Lord, we know not..’

Don’t you have to love a guy who just has to ask the questions you want to ask the Lord?

Peter was one of these sometimes clueless Disciples who asked Jesus the obvious. We have heard much preaching on Peter, this anointed Apostle of the early church, about his denials and restorations in this Holy Week.

Like Peter, a man of bold faith, Thomas, a man of bold questions often gets a bad wrap for questions and doubt exactly like ours.

Observe the Lord’s Supper from this perspective of Thomas.

The Lord got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself, after which Jesus washes his feet along with the other eleven.

[Later] He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”

22 The disciples began looking at one another…

33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come…’

36 Simon Peter said to Him,

“Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered,

“Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”

37 Peter said to Him,

“Lord, why can I not follow You right now?

[Thomas must have also have wondered what Peter so typically blurts out.

Why? We all wonder.]

John 14:

Perhaps Thomas’ perspective was something like this:

‘Jesus was troubled in spirit then Judas left {on an errand for the festival, I guess.’}

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2 CSB – Jesus comforting Disciples about death and resurrection

… And you know where I am going, and you know the way

5 Thomas said to Him,

“Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

Be honest, fellow saint:

Don’t you have days of doubting the resurrection as well?

Yet though you may quote the assurance which follows of Jesus to Thomas, your faith frequently falters .

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 14:6 NASB

Again, fellow believer, consider the gravity of Jesus’ exclusive claim.

For the Lord draws a line in the dust we often omit, when witnessing to win others to Christ through our own blurred vision of this life.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life;

no one comes to the Father

but through Me. –

John 14:6

Jesus’ exclusive ____line____ in the dust between death and eternal life

7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

8 Philip said to Him,

“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?

Let’s pause a moment there, fellow saint of Christ:

Has Jesus been so part of your routine that you have failed to know your Lord?

Jesus continues instructing Thomas:

He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say,

‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?
John 14:10a NASB

The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Between Gethsemane & Doubt

We know that Thomas and the Disciples fail to keep alert in the late hours after Jesus shares the New Covenant Cup of communion and broken bread symbolizing and making memorial of what is about to happen to His broken Body and shed Blood of Sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus prays, is betrayed by Judas as the eleven stand near, then bound and taken away to appear in secret before those who will judge their Messiah. They will then sentence their Redeemer to death on a Cross — ALL in fulfillment of Scripture.

We may self-righteously go on about Peter denying Jesus as he also attempts to run away from death for a time.

In fact, all of us may only escape death — for a time.

CHRIST DIED!

The Apostle John relates more details of these events worth your perspective on DEATH from the darkness of these days.

DEATH then Resurrection

From the depth of isolation and despair

of darkness and fear

of the judgment of your dust

in the grave —

beyond the — line — of hope

found only in Jesus

we peer dimly from the depths

of our soul seeking the Light

of the Resurrection —

the Way of Truth

to eternal life

born anew

in a raised body and soul

to the glory of the LORD

our Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

John 20:

Perspectives of these first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection

Mary of Magdala (a small village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee) discovers Jesus’ tomb EMPTY!

“They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Mary tells Peter and John

They all return to the tomb with the sealed stone rolled away.

“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

“Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” [My great teacher, master.]

Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Later Appearance to the Disciples

When it was evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews.

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them,

“Peace to you.“

20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again,

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit…

Did you miss the RESURRECTION OF JESUS?

Don’t some of the most important things in life often happen when you least expect?

Returning later to the scene of the Disciples (but not all of them) in the locked room), Thomas returns.

He missed it! (and perhaps was somewhat sceptical when he heard the witness of his fellow Disciples).

“We’ve seen the Lord!”

“Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

Eight more days pass

What disappointment. To have followed Jesus the Messiah as He walked the earth for three years of His ministry prior to His fulfillment of Scripture. AND you missed HIS return!

His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst…

“Peace to you.“

And the Lord, turning to Thomas,

“Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

“My Lord and my God!”

And yet again…

John tells us:

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book…

John 21:

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias…

12 Jesus said to them,

“Come and have breakfast.”

None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

CHRIST IS RISEN!

— a traditional opening to a sunrise service on Resurrection Sunday or other Easter Sunday worship.

And the joyous response of the congregation of worshipers:

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

ALLELUIA – ἁλληλουϊά

praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!

יָהּ הָלַל

Yet without DEATH! resurrection remains irrelevant

— that is, until the inevitable inescapable day.

CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!

You will die — your body returning to dust…

And your soul — the spirit that is you in this ever-so-brief mortal life…

What will the judgment and resurrection be like for your fallen flesh and soul forgotten?

Jesus reveals even more to John long after the deaths of all the other Apostles.

apokalypsis Iēsous Christos

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.

And He placed His right hand on me, saying,

“Do not be afraid;

I am the first and the last, and the living One;

and I was dead, and behold,

I am alive forevermore,

and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Revelation 21:

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying,

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

אָמֵן אָמֵן

amen, amen.
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Even so, Come Lord Jesus.
AMEN.
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April 11, 2020