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Reading through the Gospels #202

JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE AND TWO DISCIPLES

Mark 16:9-13; Matthew 28:9-10, Luke 24:9-10, John 20:11-18

(The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20)

As Mary Magdalene was leaving the tomb to go spread the Good News, Jesus first appeared to her (as said by Mark). Did she know how special she was to be the first? She went to tell those who had been with him (at the cross) and mourned and wept, but they did not believe what Mary Magdalene had said.

The gospels do not appear to agree completely on the timeline of these events, or it is just writing styles, but they do agree that Jesus appeared before the women and then also before the men, separately.  I cannot imagine knowing Jesus has died seeing his horrid death with my own eyes and then thereafter seeing Him alive. I might not believe my own eyes! So I can see why those who first heard it by word did not believe what they saw with their own eyes, and had to see Jesus for themselves to really believe. I think the same thing goes on today in that since we do not have an eyes-on witness of Jesus here on earth that it is hard for some people to believe. Yes, we can see Him in His creation and in the things that He does, but we cannot see and touch Him like these first women and men were able to do.

Matthew and Luke add that Jesus met them (several women) and said, “Greetings!” The ladies came up to him, hugged His feet, and worshipped Him. Jesus tells them similar to what the angel had said at the tomb, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” They have now been told twice the same thing, first by the angels and then by Jesus. "Greetings" sounds like a glad expression.  Now the ladies know that the disciples will soon get to see Jesus too and probably hopes that they will be present to see Him again too. I like that the ladies put their arms around His feet. They did not just reach out and touch Him to make sure He was real, they worshipped Him by getting on their knees or even laid down to hug His feet. I can imagine Jesus smiling while they did this. I like that Jesus calls the disciples "my brothers" even though the last time He saw them they had fled from Him. What a friend we have in Jesus! Family too!

Jesus appeared to two disciples "in another form" as they were working into the country. (Mark) These two disciples went back and told the other disciples who did not believe them. There sure is a whole lot of unbelief going on here! I wonder what "in another form" means and might take it as his form was a renewed body and not like the body as last seen on the cross.

The gospel of John indicates Mary Magdalene went to tell Simon Peter and John, returning with them, only for them to leave her and go home. Mary Magdalene was at the tomb weeping and she saw two angels, one sitting where Jesus feet should have been and one sitting where his head should have been. They angels questioned why she was weeping and she replied, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Without another word from the angels, Mary Magdalene turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him, thinking He was a gardener. It is possible that it was too dark in the tomb for her to see Him well enough to recognize Him. Jesus asked her why she was weeping and who she was seeking and Mary Magdalene responded asking to know where Jesus's body was if he (supposed gardener) had taken Him.

Jesus said her name at which she must have recognized His voice and realized it was Jesus and she said "Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said her name! This is the very moment  Mary Magdalene begins to understand. Then Mary speaks one of Jesus's names and chooses "teacher" as that has been a big role of Jesus to her during His ministry. Jesus told her not to cling to Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father, which would mean that after He ascends, we are to cling to Him. Jesus tells her to go to "my brothers" to tell them that He will be ascending to the Father, "to my God and your God." This would confirm why He called the disciples brother, because we all have the same God the Father. Mary Magdalene went to tell the disciples just as Jesus called her to do.

Copyright Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke
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