Christian Art | Jesus Meets Mary And Mary
The Gospel Of Saint Matthew 28: 8-15 | King James Audio Bible | KJV
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 ¶ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
11 ¶ Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
In Matthew’s Gospel, the truth of Christ’s victory over death is told in an apocalyptic language, laden with symbolic meaning. There is a great earthquake, the angel descends from heaven to roll back the stone of Christ’s tomb, his appearance like lightning, his clothing white as snow. The guards are terrified, becoming like dead men, and the angel announces to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, mother of James, that Christ is risen, that they must go and share the good news with Jesus’ disciples.
The women respond to the angel’s news with fear and joy. They are amazed by what is happening, and they respond with faith. They run to share the good news of Christ’s resurrection. Through belief, they are eager to tell the disciples about Jesus.
It is now that Jesus appears to the women, showing himself to them first, their reward for their faith and constancy. They recognize Jesus instantly and fall on their knees to worship him, taking hold of his feet. Jesus’ now is a glorified body. He is not bound to a particular place or time. He is freed from such limitations. We may look to Jesus’ glorious body with keen anticipation of our life to come. Yet Jesus is also physically tangible to the women. His presence can be physically touched. Now their joy is complete. Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James, are chosen by Jesus to go to tell the disciples where they will meet him. They become the first messengers of the good news.
The reaction of the chief priests and the elders of Jerusalem is to propagate a lie in order to try to ensure that the truth of Christ’s resurrection may not be known by the Jewish people. They must know that this is a lie, and so the evil of their actions is compounded further, as it is also by the bribery they must use to secure the soldiers’ complicity. It is saddening to hear of how the Jewish people were kept from the truth of Jesus. The lie spreads, and it is with us to this day on the lips of those who deny Christ.
We are warned by the account of the chief priests’ actions to be alert to those forces in our time which seek to deny Christ. We are asked to respond to the good news of Jesus’ resurrection which such unbounded freedom of faith as Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James, show when they meet Jesus and then rush to tell the disciples what has truly happened. We are asked to share with the people we know the truth of Christ.
‘He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, but he was not a sheep; he was as a lamb without voice, but he was not a lamb. The figure has passed away, the reality has come: it is God who has come in place of the lamb, man in place of the sheep, and in the man is Christ, who contains all things.’ Melito of Sardis
Audio Bible KJV | King James Version | Endnotes
Resurrection In The Body Of Christ
Matthew 28:8-15 describes the visit of the women to the tomb, the encounter with the risen Jesus, and the bribing of the soldiers by the chief priests to lie about what had happened.
At the heart of this passage is the truth of the resurrection in the body of Christ. The fact that Jesus rose bodily from the dead is central to the Christian faith. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:17: ‘And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.’
Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar emphasized the importance of the bodily resurrection in his book Mysterium Paschale. He wrote: ‘If Christ did not rise again in the flesh, then the central event of salvation history would not have occurred, and Christianity would be a mere philosophy or myth.’ The resurrection in the body, then, is not just a metaphorical or spiritual event, but a historical fact that has real consequences for our salvation.
Protestant theologian N.T. Wright also stresses the bodily resurrection in his book The Resurrection Of The Son Of God. He argues that early Christians believed in a physical resurrection, and that this belief was not a later development, but was present from the beginning. Wright writes: ‘The resurrection of Jesus occupies a central place in the New Testament and in the faith and life of the early Christian communities precisely because it was the irruption of God’s new creation into the midst of the old.’
In contrast to the truth of the resurrection, we see in Matthew 28:11-15 the venality of those who pay and are paid to deceive. The chief priests and elders of the Temple and the Jewish community bribe the soldiers to lie about what had happened at the tomb, telling them to say that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus.
This theme of deception and corruption is also present in the wider context of the Gospel of Matthew. Throughout the Gospel, we see the religious leaders opposing Jesus and seeking to undermine his ministry. They accuse him of blasphemy, plot to kill him, and finally succeed in having him executed. This pattern of resistance to truth continues even after Jesus’ resurrection, as the chief priests attempt to cover up what had happened.
Catholic theologian Karl Rahner wrote about the human tendency to reject the truth in his book Theological Investigations. He argued that humans have a natural inclination to turn away from God and towards sin, and that this inclination can only be overcome by the grace of God. Rahner wrote: ‘Only through the grace of Christ, which comes to us through faith, can we overcome our inclination to reject the truth and to embrace falsehood.’
The passage highlights the role of the women in the events following Jesus’ resurrection. The women are the first to witness the empty tomb and to encounter the risen Jesus. The fact that the Gospel writers include the testimony of women is evidence that they were not trying to fabricate the story or make it more believable. They were simply reporting what had actually happened.
Pope Benedict XVI wrote about the importance of the women’s witness in his book Jesus Of Nazareth: Holy Week. He wrote: ‘The women are the ones who remain true, who do not flee, who are present at the cross, who bury Jesus’ body and who, first thing in the morning, come to the tomb.’ Pope Benedict XVI also notes that the women’s witness is an important sign of the resurrection’s truth, as they were not part of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples and would have had no reason to invent the story.
This theme of corrupt leadership is present in the wider context of the Bible. Throughout the Old Testament, we see examples of kings and rulers who abuse their power and fail to follow God’s commandments. The prophets speak out against this corruption and call for a return to righteousness.
Both Catholic and Protestant theologians emphasize the importance of living a life of faith and following the example of Christ. Saint Augustine wrote: ‘Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.’ Protestant theologian John Calvin wrote: ‘True faith is not merely knowledge of God’s benefits, but rather a heartfelt trust in the promises of God.’
The Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament, which means that it is an outward sign of an inward grace. In marriage, a man and a woman are united in a way that reflects the union between Christ and the Church [ … ]
Jesus’ disciples travel a long journey as they develop and grow in faith in Jesus. Their progress is halting rather than steady. The disciples make mistakes. It will not be until the events following Jesus’ death and resurrection that the disciples will gifted, especially with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, in order to found the Church. We may find we identify with the disciples as we think of any challenges we face in our own faith [ … ]
Christian Art | Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible KJV The Gospel Of Saint John 14: 1-7 | King James Audio Bible YouTube: Connection With The Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible The Gospels are not just a collection of stories or teachings, but a window into the life of Jesus. By reading and reflecting on the Gospels, we gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus was and what he came to do. As we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus was a man of great compassion and love. Jesus showed mercy to the outcasts and the marginalized, and he offered healing and hope to those who were in need. He also taught with authority, challenging the religious leaders of his day and offering a new way of living based on love and service. But the Gospels are not just a history lesson. They are also an invitation for us to enter into a relationship with Jesus. By reading and meditating on the Gospels, we can come to know Jesus more personally and deeply. We can learn from his example and seek to follow in his footsteps. So we may be encouraged to read the Gospels, perhaps starting with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John, as we read paying attention to how Jesus interacted with others and how he responded to different situations. We may ask ourselves what you can learn from his words and actions, and how we can apply them to our own lives. And as we read, we can allow ourselves to be drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus. There truly is an historical Jesus. May the Gospels be a source of guidance, inspiration, and transformation for us all. How Much In The Gospels Is Historical, And How Much Is Myth, Legend, Trope, Figurative Thinking? It is difficult to say with certainty how much of the Gospels is historical in the modern sense of the word and how much is myth, legend, trope, or figurative thinking. The Gospels were written some years after the events they describe, and they were written from the perspective of the early Christian community. This means that the Gospels may contain a mix of historical facts and interpretation, as well as elements of myth, legend, and figurative thinking. That being said, scholars believe that the Gospels contain a good deal of historical information. For example, the Gospels describe specific places and events, such as the places where Jesus preached and the events of his trial and Crucifixion. These details suggest that the writers of the Gospels had access to historical information and intended to provide an accurate account of what happened. On the other hand, the Gospels also contain elements that are not seen by all as historical, howsoever this goes to the root of the faith, such as the miracles performed by Jesus and the accounts of his resurrection. Some see these as legends or myths that were added to the Gospels to help convey the message of the early Christian community. The question of how much of the Gospels is historical and how much is myth, legend, or figurative thinking is complex. What is important is that we approach the Gospels with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the stories and teachings they contain. We are in the Gospels in conversation with God – and with the many people who have had such faith and conversations – as with the historical Jesus. Why Do The Gospels Say Were People Afraid Of Jesus? There are several reasons why people may have been afraid of Jesus, according to the Gospels. One reason is that Jesus was a powerful and charismatic figure who challenged the religious and political authorities of his time. He spoke out against corruption and injustice, and he called on people to repent and turn to God. This type of behaviour was seen as threatening by those in positions of power, and they may have been afraid of losing their influence or authority. Another reason is that Jesus performed many miracles, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. These miracles were seen as evidence of his divine power, and they may have made people afraid of him. Some people may have been afraid of being healed or possessed by Jesus, while others may have been afraid of what would happen if they did not believe in him. Finally, some people may have been afraid of Jesus because of the prophecies and expectations of the coming of a messiah. The Jews of Jesus’ time were looking for a saviour who would deliver them from oppression and establish a kingdom of God on earth. When Jesus arrived on the scene, he may have been seen as a threat to the status quo, and some people may have been afraid of what he might do. Might The Fear Be Related To The Fear Of God – The Injunction To Fear God? Yes, it is possible that the fear of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels may be related to the fear of God. In the Old Testament, the fear of God is often used to describe a deep reverence and awe for God, as well as a sense of humility and obedience in the face of his greatness. This fear of God is seen as a positive and necessary quality for a faithful believer, and it is often linked to the idea of fearing God’s punishment or judgement. In the New Testament, the fear of God is also mentioned, but it is often portrayed in a more positive light. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells his followers not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, but to fear God, who can destroy both body and soul (Luke 12:4-5). This suggests that the fear of God is not just about punishment, but about a deep respect for […]
