THEOPHANIES THEME

IN SCRIPTURES THERE ARE MANY DIVINE APPEARANCES AND MANY INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE. ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT OVERSIMPLIFIED IN CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS, THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEA CONVEYED IS THAT GOD IS KNOWN BY MAN MERELY BECAUSE HE REVEALS HIMSELF, NOT BECAUSE MAN ENDEAVORS TO KNOW HIM. GOD IS SO DISTINCT FROM MAN THAT HE CANNOT NORMANLY SHOW HIMSELF WITHOUT CAUSING MAN'S DEATH. ONLY THE DIVINITIES OF NATURE ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO MAN. BUT THE GREAT AND AWESOME GOD WILL ONE DAY BECOME INCARNATE. THAT IS THE ONLY JUSTIFICATION OF HIS APPEARANCE TO MAN : THEY ARE THE PRELIMINARIES TO HIS FINAL APPEARANCE AT THE END OF TIME., WHEN HE WILL MANIFEST HIS GLORY TO MAN, WHO AT LAST WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE IN THAT GLORY, NO LONGER TO DIE, BUT TO LIVE. THE MOST ANCIENT TEXTS MAKE GOD APPEAR IN THE FORCES OF NATURE. NOTE THE PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUALISATION: THE "YAHWISTIC" DOCUMENT
 SPEAKS OF FIRE (EXODUS, 19;16-20; 20: 18-21; 34 :5;, THE ELOHISTIC OF THE CLOUD (PSALMS) 17:12;  JOB 37:5 MATT. 17:5-6. AND THE PRIESTLY DOCUMENT OF GLORY.
THE GREAT THEOPHANY. ON THE MOURTIN THERE WERE PEALS OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING AND A HEAVY CLOUD OVER THE MOUNTAIN, AND A VERY LOUD TRUMPET BLAST SO THAT ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE CAMP TREMBLED. BUT MOSES LED ALL THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE CAMP TO MEET GOD, AND THEY STATIONED THEMSELVES AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN. MOUNT SINAI WAS ALL WRAPPED IN SMOKE, FOR THE LORD CAME DOWN UPON IT IN FIRE. THE SMOKE ROSE FROM IT AS THOUGH FROM A FURNACE, AND THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN TREMBLED VIOLENTLY. THE TRUMPET BLAST GREW LOUDER AND LOUDER, WHILE MOSES WAS SPEAKING AND GOD ANSWERING HIM WITH THUNDER. WHEN THE LORD CAME DOWN TO THE TOP OF MOUNT SINAI, HE SUMMONED MOSES TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND MOSES WENT UP TO HIM. THEN THE LORD TOLD MOSES, "GO DOWN AND WARN THE PEOPLE NOT TO BREAK THROUGH TOWARD THE LORD IN ORDER TO SEE HIM; OTHERWISE THEY WILL BE STRUCK DOWN. THE PRIESTS, TOO WHO APPROACH THE LORD MUST SANCTIFY THEMSELVES; ELSE HE WILL VENT HIS ANGER UPON THEM.  MOSES SAID TO THE LORD. " THE PEOPLE CAN NOT GO UP TO MOUNT SINAI, FOR YOU YOURSELF WARNED US TO SET LIMITS AROUND THE MOUNTAIN TO MAKE IT SACRED. THE LORD REPEATED. " GO DOWN NOW!  THEN COME UP AGAIN WITH AaRON. BUT THE PRIESTS AND THE PEOPLE MUST NOT BREAK THROUGH TO COME UP TO THE LORD: ELSE HE WILL VENT HIS ANGER UPON THEM. SO MOSES WENT DOWN AND TOLD THEM THIS.THEN GOD DELIVERED ALL THESE COMMANDMENTS (1O). MOSES CAME DOWN FROM MOUNT SINAI WITH TWO TABLETS OF COMMANDMENTS IN HIS HANDS. HE DID NOT KNOW THAT THE SKIN OF HIS FACE HAD BECOME RADIANT WHILE HE CONVERSED WITH THE LORD. WHEN AaRON THEN AND OTHER ISRAELITES SAW MOSES AND NOTICE HOW RADIANT HIS FACE HAD BECOME, THEY WERE AFRAID TO COME NEAR HIM. APPEARANCES OF GOD WITH THE ANGEL OF YAHWEH ACTING AS A INTERMEDIARY HAVE MADE INTO A PERSON. GOD APPEARS IN HUMAN FORM OR AT LEAST IN A HUMAN 'LIKENESS."  THEOPHANIES WERE OFTEN ORIGIN OF SANCTUARIES. THE PURIFICATION OF THESE  TRADITIONS DEVELOPED ESPECIALLY AROUND THE SAYING ACCORDING TO WHICH MAN CANNOT SEE GOD WITHOUT DYING. THE TEXTS ARE CAREFUL TO SHOW THAT IT WAS NOT GOD HIMSELF WHO APPEARED BUT AN ANGEL. OR ELSE THEY SHOW THAT IF GOD DID APPEAR IT WAS IN THE NAME OF A PRIVILEGE OF THE COVENANT.
 ANOTHER PURIFICATION: MAN PREPARED FOR A THEOPHANY BY PRAYER AND FASTING. EVEN AT A TIME WHEN THE IDEAS OF GOD HAD BEEN PURIFIED, CARE WAS TAKEN TO PRESENT HIS APPEARANCES IN AN AWE-INSPIRING SETTING IN ORDER BETTER TO EMPHASIZE THE SANCTITY OF YAHWEH AND TO MAINTAIN THE FEAR OF GOD. HOWEVER, THE PROPHETS,  WITNESSES TO THE ABSOLUTE TRANSCENDENCE OF GOD, REMAINED IN FAVOR OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE APPEARANCE OF GOD ON EARTH. THEY ANNOUNCED AN ERA THAT WOULD BE CHARACTERIZED BY A PERMANENT BUT SPIRITUAL APPEARANCE OF THE TRANSCENDENT GOD. ISA:5-6. IN FACT, THE  ERA OF THE INCARNATION IS THAT OF APPEARANCES: GOD IS PRESENT AMONG MEN WHO WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO DIE. LUKE 1-2; JOHN 1 14-18. IT WAS THE RESURRECTION ABOVE ALL WHICH INAUGURATED THE PERIOD OF THESE APPEARANCES. THE RISEN LORD BECAME THE SACRAMENT OF THE THEOPHANIES. NOTE HOW CAREFUL CHRIST WAS IN THE COURSE OF HIS APPEARANCES TO GRANT POWERS TO THE APOSTLES, IN ORDER TO PROLONG HIS THEOPHANY IN THOSE VERY SACRAMENTAL POWERS MARK. THIS PASSAGE, TERMED THE LONGER ENDING TO THE MARCAN GOSPEL BY COMPARISON WITH A MUCH BRIEFER CONCLUSION FOUND IN SOME LESS IMPORTANT MANUSCRIPTS , HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN ACCEPTED AS AN INSPIRED PART OF THE GOSPEL. EARLY CITATIONS OF IT BY THE FATHERS INDICATE THAT IT WAS COMPOSED IN THE FIRST CENTURY, ALTHOUGH VOCABULARY AND STYLE ARGUE STRONGLY THAT IT WAS WRITTEN BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN MARK. IT IS A GENERAL RESUME OF THE MATERIAL CONCERNING THE APPEARANCES OF THE RISEN JESUS, REFLECTING, IN PARTICULAR, TRADITIONS FOUND IN LUKE (24) AND JOHN (2O ). FOUND AFTER MARK 16:8 BEFORE LONGER ENDING  IN SOME LATER GREEK MANUSCRIPTS AS WELL AS SOME ANCIENT VERSIONS. FOUND AFTER MARKN16,14 IN A FOURTH-FIFTH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT PRESERVED IN THE FREER GALLERY OF ART. WASHINGTON D.C. THE ENDING WAS KNOWN TO St. JEROME.

THE SHADOW OF GOD. THEME [MUSTARD SEED].

IN AN ORIENTAL COUNTRY SCORCHED BY THE SUN, THE SHADE OF TREES IS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT. ONE RESTS UNDER IT, ONE RECOVERS ONE STRENGTH, ONE IS SHELTERED THERE. SUCH AN IMAGE, THEN, RIGHTLY EXPRESSED THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF GOD OVER HIS PEOPLE. THUS ALSO CERTAIN PHENOMENA WHICH REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF GOD WERE CONSIDERED TO GIVE A SACRED "SHADE": THE SHADOW OF GOD. IT IS THIS SENSE THAT THE SHADOW OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE  NEW TESTAMENT WAS SUFFICIENT TO HEAL THE SICK. THE RESTFUL SHADE OF TREES. THE PURPOSE OF JESUS TEACHING OF THIS PARABLE OF THE SEED.ON ANOTHER OCCASION BESIDE THE LAKE, A HUGE CROWD GATHERED AROUND HIM A CROWD INCLUDING MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY, THAT HE WENT AND SAT IN A BOAT ON THE WATER, WHILE THE CROWD REMAINED ON THE SHORE NEARBY. HE BEGAN TO INSTRUCT THEM AT GREAT LENGTH, BY THE USE OF PARABLES, AND IN THE COURSE OF HIS TEACHING SAID: " LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THIS. A FARMER WENT OUT SOWING. SOME OF WHAT HE SOWED LANDED ON A  FOOTPATH, WHERE THE BIRDS CAME ALONG AND ATE IT. SOME OF THE SEED LANDED ON ROCKY GROUND WHERE IT HAD LITTLE SOIL: IT SPROUTED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE SOIL HAD NO DEPTH. THEN, WHEN THE SUN ROSE AND SCORCHED IT, IT BEGAN TO WITHER FOR LACK OF ROOTS. AGAIN SOME LANDED AMONG THORNS, WHICH GREW UP AND CHOKED IT OFF. SOME SEED , FINALLY, LANDED ON GOOD SOIL AND YIELDED GRAIN THAT SPRANG UP TO PRODUCE AT A RATE OF THIRTY- SIXTY- AND A HUNDRED FOLD." LET THEM HIM WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR ME,HEAR!" NOW WHEN HE WAS AWAY FROM THE CROWD, THOSE PRESENT  WITH THE TWELVE QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT THE PARABLES. HE TOLD THEM: " TO YOU THE MYSTERY OF THE REIGN OF GOD HAS BEEN CONFIDED. TO THE OTHERS OUTSIDE IT IS ALL PRESENTED IN PARABLES. SO THEY WILL LOOK INTENTLY AND NOT SEE, LISTEN CAREFULLY AND NOT UNDERSTAND, LEST PERHAPS THEY REPENT
 AND BE FORGIVEN. HE SAID TO THEM: YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS PARABLE?  HOW THEN ARE YOU GOING TO UNDERSTAND OTHER FIGURES LIKE IT?  WHAT THE SOWER IS SOWING IS THE WORD. THOSE ON THE PATH ARE THE ONES TO WHOM, AS SOON AS THEY HEAR THE WORD., SATAN COMES TO CARRY OFF WHAT WAS SOWN IN THEM. SIMILARLY, THOSE SOWN ON ROCKY GROUND ARE PEOPLE WHO ON LISTENING TO THE WORD ACCEPT IT JOYFULLY AT THE OUTSET BEING ROOTLESS, THEY LAST ONLY A WHILE. WHEN SOME PRESSURE OR PERSECUTION OVERTAKES THEM BECAUSE OF THE WORD, THEY FALTER. THOSE SOWN AMONG THORNS ARE ANOTHER CLASS.. THEY HAVE LISTENED TO THE WORD, BUT ANXIETIES OVER LIFE'S DEMANDS AND THE DESIRE OF WEALTH, AND CRAVINGS OF OTHER SORTS COME TO CHOKE IT OFF; IT BEARS NO YIELD. BUT THOSE SOWN ON GOOD SOIL ARE THE ONES WHO LISTEN TO THE WORD, TAKE IT TO HEART, AND YIELD AT THIRTY, SIXTY,- AND A HUNDREDFOLD. NOW THE REASON FOR THIS TEACHING( ARE PRESENTED AS COMMENTARIES ON THE REVELATION OF THE REIGN OF GOD). JESUS SAID TO THEM: " IS A LAMP ACQUIRED TO BE PUT UNDER A BUSHEL BASKET OR HIDDEN UNDER A BED? IS IT NOT MEANT TO BE PUT ON A STAND? THINGS ARE HIDDEN ONLY TO BE REVEALED AT A LATER TIME; THEY ARE COVERED SO AS TO BE BROUGHT OUT INTO THE OPEN. LET HIM WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR ME, HEAR!"  HE SAID TO THEM ANOTHER TIME: " LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT YOU HEAR. ( FOR IN THIS TIME OF TROUBLE IN THE WORLD) SATAN HAS FOUND WEAKNESS  IN OUR FAITH;  IF CHRIST GOES DOWN, WE ALL GO DOWN. STAND STRONG.  IN THE MEASURE YOU GIVE YOU SHALL RECEIVE AND MORE BESIDES. TO  THOSE WHO HAVE NOT, WHAT LITTLE THEY HAVE  WILL BE TAKEN AWAY. HE WENT ON TO SAY: " WHAT COMPARISON SHALL WE USE FOR THE REIGN OF GOD?  WHAT IMAGE WILL HELP TO PRESENT IT?  IT IS LIKE A MUSTARD SEED WHICH, WHEN PLANTED IN THE SOIL, IS THE SMALLEST OF ALL EARTH'S SEEDS, YET ONCE IT IS SOWN SPRINGS UP TO BECOME THE LARGEST OF SHRUBS, WITH BRANCHES BIG ENOUGH FOR THE BIRDS OF THE SKY TO BUILD NESTS
IN ITS SHADE. BY MEANS OF MANY SUCH PARABLES HE TAUGHT THEM THE MESSAGE IN THE WAY THEY COULD UNDERSTAND. TO THEM HE SPOKE ONLY BY WAY OF PARABLE.

FIRST APPEARANCE OF MARY MAGDALENE. JOHN 20:11-18

THE WITNESS OF WOMEN  WAS WORTH LITTLE IN JUDAISM; THAT JESUS FIRST APPEARS TO WOMAN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FABRICATED AND SHOWS US HOW JESUS VALUES DIFFER FROM THOSE OF HIS CULTURE. EVEN THE LATER CHURCH DID NOT ALWAYS MAINTAIN JESUS' COUNTER CULTURE STANCE, AND THEY WOULD HARDLY HAVE CHOSEN SUCH INITIAL WITNESSES IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THIS ACCOUNT WOULD REINFORCE PAGAN PREJUDICES AGAINST CHRISTIANS. (EPH 5:22-33). JEWISH PEOPLE TOOK THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS OF MOURNING SO SERIOUSLY THAT MOURNERS COULD NOT WASH, WORK,  HAVE INTERCOURSE OR EVEN STUDY THE LAW. JEWISH CULTURE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT EXPRESSING RATHER THAN REPRESSING GRIEF. THAT THE BODY IS MISSING AND THUS PEOPLE ARE PREVENTED FROM BESTOWING FINAL ACTS OF LOVE WOULD BE TRAGIC; EVEN TOMB ROBBERS USUALLY LEFT THE BODY BEHIND. MEANWHILE MARY MAGDALENE STOOD WEEPING BESIDE THE TOMB. EVEN AS SHE WEPT SHE STOPPED TO PEER INSIDE AND THERE SHE SAW TWO ANGELS IN DAZZLING ROBES. ONE WAS SEATED AT THE HEAD AND THE OTHER AT THE FOOT OF THE PLACE WHERE JESUS BODY HAD LAIN. "WOMEN" THEY ASKED HER, "WHY ARE YOU WEEPING?"  SHE ANSWERED THEM, "BECAUSE THE  LORD HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY, AND I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE PUT HIM. SHE HAD NO SOONER SAID THIS THAN SHE TURNED AROUND AND CAUGHT SIGHT OF JESUS STANDING THERE, BUT SHE DID NOT KNOW HIM. "WOMAN" HE ASKED HER, WHY ARE YOU WEEPING? WHO IS IT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?" SHE SUPPOSED HE WAS THE GARDENER, SO SHE SAID, " SIR," IF YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CARRIED HIM OFF, TELL ME ME WHERE YOU HAVE LAID HIM AND I WILL TAKE HIM AWAY."  JESUS SAID TO HER "MARY!"  SHE TURNED TO HIM AND SAID [IN HEBREW]
"RABBOUNI!"  (MEANING "TEACHER").  JESUS THEN SAID: "DO NOT CLING TO ME, FOR I HAVE NOT YET ASCENDED TO MY FATHER. RATHER, GO TO MY BROTHERS AND TELL THEM, 'I AM ASCENDING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD! MARY MAGDALENE WENT TO THE DISCIPLES "I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!" SHE ANNOUNCED. THEN SHE REPORTED WHAT HE SAID TO HER. ON THE EVENING OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, EVEN THOUGH THE DISCIPLES HAD LOCKED THE DOORS OF THE PLACE WHERE THEY WERE FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS, JESUS CAME AND STOOD BEFORE THEM. "PEACE BE WITH YOU," HE SAID. WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE SHOWED THEM HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE. AT THE SIGHT OF THE LORD THE DISCIPLES REJOICED. "PEACE BE WITH YOU", HE SAID AGAIN. THEN HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID: " AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME,
                                           SO I SEND YOU"
                                           RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.
                                           IF YOU FORGIVE MEN'S SIN
                                           THEY ARE FORGIVEN THEM;
                                            IF YOU HOLD THEM BOUND,
                                            THEY ARE HELD BOUND"
THOMAS WHO WAS ONE OF THE DISCIPLES WHOSE NAME MEANS "(TWIN"). WAS ABSENT WHEN JESUS CAME. THE OTHER DISCIPLES KEPT TELLING HIM: "WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD!"  THOMAS ANSWER WAS, " I WILL NEVER BELIEVE IT WITHOUT PROBING THE NAIL PRINTS IN HIS HANDS AND MY HANDS INTO HIS SIDE. A WEEK LATER, THE DISCIPLES WE ONCE MORE IN THE ROOM AND THIS TIME THOMAS WAS WITH THEM. DESPITE THE LOCKED DOORS, JESUS CAME AND STOOD BE FORE THEM."PEACE BE WITH YOU," HE SAID THOMAS TAKE YOUR FINGER AND EXAMINE MY HANDS. PUT YOUR HAND IN MY SIDE. DO NOT PERSIST IN YOUR UNBELIEF, BUT BELIEVE. THOMAS SAID IN RESPONSE, " MY LORD AND MY GOD!"
 JESUS PERFORMED MANY OTHER SIGNS AS WELL. THESE HAVE BEEN RECORDED TO HELP US BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, SO THAT THROUGH THIS FAITH YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.

JESUS BURIAL JOHN 19:38--42.

 CRUCIFIXION VICTIMS WERE USUALLY THROWN INTO A COMMON GRAVE FOR CRIMINALS AND WERE NOT TO BE MOURNED PUBLICLY AFTER THEIR DEATH; HAD THE ROMANS HAD THEIR WAY, THE CORPSES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BURIED AT ALL.  BUT EXCEPTIONS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN MADE AT TIMES IF FAMILY OR POWERFUL PATRONS INTERCEDED FOR THE BODY. BURYING THE DEAD WAS A CRUCIAL AND PIOUS DUTY IN JUDAISM, AND AN IMPORTANT ACT OF LOVE; BEING UNBURIED WAS TOO HORRIBLE TO BE PERMITTED EVEN FOR CRIMINALS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK BEFORE SUNDOWN AND THE ADVENT OF THE SABBATH, JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA HAS TO HURRY. IF THIS MEASURE OF NICODEMUS'S MIXTURE IS ONE OF WEIGHT, IT IS AS MUCH AS SEVENTY--FIVE OF OUR POUNDS (ROMAN POUNDS WERE LIGHTER);  IF IT IS A MEASURE OF VOLUME IDENTIFIED WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT LOG., IT MAY BE LESS THAN SEVENTY FLUID OUNCES. IN EITHER CASE IT IS A LAVISH EXPRESSION OF OF DEVOTION FOR BELOVED TEACHERS ARE OCCASIONALLY REPORTED ( A GENTILE CONVERT ALLEGEDLY BURNED EIGHTY POUNDS OF SPICES AT THE FUNERAL OF GAMALIEL I, PAUL'S TEACHER),  SO THE NUMBERS NEED NOT BE DOUBTED. MYRRH WAS USED FOR EMBALMING THE DEAD, AND ALOES FOR PERFUME. IN 19:40 JOHN MENTIONS THE JEWISH CUSTOM; JEWISH PEOPLE DID NOT BURN DEAD HEROES, AS GREEKS AND ROMANS DID, OR MUTILATE THEM FOR EMBALMING, AS EGYPTIANS DID. BODIES WERE WRAPPED IN SHROUDS, SOMETIMES EXPENSIVE ONES, ESPECIALLY PREPARED FOR BURIALS. JEWISH SOURCES ARE EMPHATIC THAT NONE OF THESE ACTIONS MAY BE UNDERTAKEN UNLESS THE PERSON IS CLEARLY DEAD;  THUS THOSE BURYING JESUS HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE IS DEAD. HERE STRIPS OF LINEN RATHER THAN A  FULL SHROUD ARE USED, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE IMMINENT APPROACH OF THE SABBATH AT SUNDOWN. WHITE LINEN GARMENTS WERE WORN BY JEWISH PRIESTS, BY SOME OTHER ANCIENTS  PRIESTS (DEVOTEES OF ISIS)) AND BY ANGELS IN JEWISH TRADITIONS (e.g., 2 MACC 11:8 );  THEY WERE ALSO WRAPPINGS FOR THE RIGHTEOUS DEAD. ON THE LOCALE,cf." NEAR THE CITY" VERSE 20: ACCORDING TO JEWISH CUSTOM, BURIALS HAD TO BE OUTSIDE THE CITY WALLS ( ONE MAY COMPARE THE OUT-RAGE OF PIOUS JEWS OVER ANTIPAS'S BUILDING TIBERIAS ON A GRAVEYARD). TO BE BURIED IN A TOMB WAS NOT YET USED AND WAS NO DOUBT A SPECIAL HONOR AND WOULD MAKE THE TOMB DIFFICULT TO CONFUSE WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.  THE SABBATH  (OR IN THIS CASE, THE COMING OF PASSOVER---18:28) INTERRUPTED ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES, JOSEPH AND NICODEMUS DID NOT NEED TO "LAY" JESUS THERE VERY CAREFULLY; THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY A PRELIMINARY BURIAL EVEN HAD THE SABBATH NOT APPROACHED, TO BE COMPLETED A YEAR LATER, AFTER THE FLESH HAD ROTTED OFF THE BONES. SOME HAVE DOUBTED THE EMPTY TOMB STORY SIMPLY BECAUSE PAUL DOES NOT MENTION IT (ALTHOUGH HE PRESUPPOSES IT ; 1 COR. (15:3-4), BUT THE DISCIPLES COULD NOT HAVE CREDIBLY PROCLAIMED THE RESURRECTION IN JERUSALEM IF JESUS' BODY WERE STILL IN THE TOMB. ALTHOUGH ANCIENT LAWS OF EVIDENCE DIFFERED FROM MODERN ONES (THEY DEPENDED HEAVILY ON PROBABILITY), ANCIENTS, LIKE MODERNS, WOULD HAVE AT LEAST CHECK THE TOMB AND WOULD NOT HAVE STAKED THEIR LIVES ON A REPORT WITHOUT INVESTIGATING THE TOMB! GIVEN HOW READILY HOLY SITES WERE VENERATED, BELIEVERS IN THE RESURRECTION THEMSELVES WOULD HAVE CHECKED THE TOMB. THE MODERN CRITICAL SCHOLARS WHO HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE ORIGINAL DISCIPLES MEANT ONLY THAT THAT THEY HAD A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. (MERE BELIEF IN GHOSTS), BUT DID NOT CLAIM THAT JESUS ROSE BODILY. READ THEIR OWN MODERN CULTURE INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT: "RESURRECTION"  AND NOTHING ELSE, AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE PERSECUTED THE DISCIPLES FOR CLAIMING THAT THEY HAD HAD MERELY A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. MERE BELIEF IN GHOSTS AND APPARITIONS WERE WIDESPREAD AND WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THEM INTO TROUBLE WITH ANYONE. THE NEAREST OF KIN WOULD REMAIN AT HOME MOURNING FOR SEVEN DAYS;  MARY MAGDALENE,  WHO WOULD HAVE GRIEVED AS MUCH AS THE FAMILY, MIGHT HAVE REMAINED INSIDE HAD IT NOT BEEN NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE WORK LEFT UNFINISHED DUE TO THE SABBATH (19:42). BUT JEWISH MOURNERS AS WELL AS PAGANS WERE OFTEN KNOWN TO VISIT TOMBS WITHIN THREE DAYS AFTER BURIAL. THE FIRST DAY  OF THE WEEK BEGAN AT SUNDOWN ON WHAT WE WOULD CALL SATURDAY NIGHT, SO THE SABBATH HAD ENDED HOURS BEFORE SHE APPROACHES  THE TOMB; THAT MARY WOULD APPROACH THE TOMB BEFORE DAYLIGHT DEMONSTRATES HER EAGER DEVOTION TO JESUS. DISK-- SHAPED STONES WERE OFTEN ROLLED IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE OF TOMBS AND WERE SO HEAVY THAT THEY FREQUENTLY REQUIRED SEVERAL MEN TO ROLL THEM AWAY. THAT THE AUTHORITIES WOULD HAVE MOVED EVEN THE BODY---PERHAPS TO A CRIMINAL'S GRAVE ---IS TROUBLESOME NEWS. ANCIENT JEWISH MEN DID NOT ACCEPT WOMEN AS RELIABLE WITNESSES FOR MOST LEGAL PURPOSES (THEIR WITNESS WAS LIMITED, BUT LESS SO, IN ROMAN COURTS), AND THIS CULTURAL TENDENCY MAY FURTHER MOVE JOHN AND PETER TO LOOK FOR THEMSELVES. COMPARISON OF CHARACTERS WAS IMPORTANT IN ANCIENT WRITING AND A STANDARD RHETORICAL TECHNIQUE. THAT THE BELOVED DISCIPLE ( ON THE TRADITIONAL VIEW TAKEN IN THIS COMMENTARY, JOHN, BUT PERHAPS ALSO MEANT TO REPRESENT DISCIPLES IN GENERAL THROUGH HIS ANONYMITY) IS FASTER THAN PETER FITS SOME OTHER COMPARISONS IN THE GOSPEL 13:23-24; 21:7). DEPICTIONS OF PHYSICAL PROWESS WERE PART OF NARRATIVES EXTOLLING CHARACTERS e.g.,  JOSEPHUS OUT SWIMS MOST OTHERS IN LIFE SO COMPARISON MAY BE IN VIEW HERE. SHOWING THAT A NORMAL DISCIPLE IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE FAMOUS PETER. HAD ROBBERS TOLEN THE BODY (A RARE PRACTICE) THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT IN ITS WRAPPINGS; HD THEY LEFT THE WRAPPINGS, THEY WOULD HAVE LEFT THEM IN DISARRAY. WHO EVER LEFT THEM, LEFT THEM THERE NEATLY. THE FACE CLOTH SEPARATE FROM THE LINEN IS NOT MERELY "FOLDED UP,"  COULD BE AN INDICATION OF NEATNESS, OR THAT IT WAS STILL ROLLED THE WAY IT HAD BEEN WHEN IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND JESUS HEAD--THAT HIS BODY HAD RISEN OUT OF THE WRAPPINGS AND CLOTH. THE SKEPTIC'S PROPOSAL THAT JESUS HAD ONLY SWOONED AND THEN RECOVERED WOULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW HE COULD HAVE LOSSED THE STRIPS TIED AROUND HIM OR ESCAPED A SEALED TOMB, BUT IT ALSO IGNORES THE NATURE OF CRUCIFIXION: JOSEPHUS HAD THREE OF HIS FRIENDS TAKEN DOWN ALIVE FROM A CROSS., BUT TWO OF THEM DIED DESPITE MEDICAL ATTENTION BECAUSE THEIR BODIES HAD BEEN SO WEAKENED FROM THE CRUCIFIXION. THIS DISCIPLES FAITH MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO PARALLELS  WITH JOHN 11 OR TO THE WAY THE CLOTHS WERE LAID (20:6-7); JOHN IMPLIES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ALREADY BELIEVED IT FROM SCRIPTURE HAD THEY UNDERSTOOD.                                       

MATTHEW 20:28

"THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO, BUT TO MINISTER."  WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MAINSPRING OF PAUL'S SERVICE IS NOT LOVE FOR MEN, BUT LOVE FOR JESUS CHRIST.  PAUL'S IDEA OF SERVICE IS THE SAME AS OUR LORD 'I AM AMONG YOU AS HE THAT SERVETH;" "OURSELVES YOUR SERVANTS FOR JESUS SAKE."   WE HAVE THE IDEAS THAT A MAN CALLED TO THE MINISTRY IS CALLED TO BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF BEING FROM OTHER MEN,. ACCORDING TO JESUS CHRIST.   HE IS CALLED TO BE THE "DOORMAT." OF OTHER MEN; THEIR SPIRITUAL LEADER, BUT NEVER THEIR SUPERIOR. "I KNOW HOW TO BE ABASED," SAYS PAUL. THIS IS PAUL'S  IDEA OF SERVICE.  " I WILL SPEND MYSELF TO THE LAST EBB FOR YOU; YOU  MAY GIVE ME PRAISE OR GIVE ME BLAME, BUT IT WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE." SO LONG AS THERE IS A HUMAN BEING WHO DOES NOT KNOW JESUS CHRIST, I AM HIS DEBTOR TO SERVE HIM UNTIL HE DOES. THE MAINSPRING OF PAUL'S SERVICE IS NOT LOVE FOR MEN, BUT LOVE FOR JESUS CHRIST. IF WE ARE DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY, WE SHALL SOON BE CRUSHED AND BROKEN---HEARTED, FOR WE SHALL OFTEN MEET WITH MORE INGRATITUDE FROM MEN THAN WE WOULD FROM A DOG.; BUT IF OUR MOTIVE IS LOVE TO GOD, NO INGRATITUDE PAUL SAYS CAN HINDER US FROM SERVING OUR FELLOW MAN. PAUL'S REALIZATION OF HOW JESUS CHRIST HAD DEALT WITH HIM IS THE SECRET OF HIS DETERMINATION TO SERVE OTHERS. "I WAS  BEFORE A PERJURER, A BLASPHEMER,--AN INJURIOUS PERSON" NO MATTER HOW MEN MAY TREAT ME, THY WILL NEVER TREAT ME WITH THE SPITE AND HATRED WITH WHICH I TREATED JESUS CHRIST. WHEN WE REALIZE THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS SERVED US TO THE END OF OUR MEANNESS, OUR SELFISHNESS, AND SIN, NOTHING THAT WE MEET WITH FROM OTHERS CAN EXHAUST OUR DETERMINATION TO SERVE MAN FOR HIS SAKE. WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS SHED ABROAD THE LOVE OF GOD IN OUR HEARTS, WE BEGIN DELIBERATELY  TO IDENTIFY OURSELVES WITH JESUS CHRIST'S INTERESTS IN OTHER PEOPLE, AND JESUS CHRIST IS INTERESTED IN EVERY KIND OF MAN THERE IS. WE HAVE NO RIGHT IN CHRISTIAN WORK TO BE GUIDED BY OUR AFFINITIES; THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST TESTS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS CHRIST. THE DELIGHT OF SACRIFICE IS THAT I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR FOR MY FRIEND NOT FLING IT AWAY. 'IF WE ARE ABANDONED TO JESUS, WE HAVE NO ENDS OF OUR OWN TO SERVE." PAUL SPENT HIMSELF FOR ONE PURPOSE ONLY------THAT HE MIGHT WIN MEN TO JESUS CHRIST. PAUL ATTRACTED TO JESUS ALL THE TIME, NEVER HIMSELF TO HIS LIFE. "I AM MADE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN,, THAT I MIGHT BY ALL MEANS SAVE SOME." WHEN A MAN SAYS HE MUST DEVELOP A HOLY LIFE ALONE WITH GOD, HE IS OF NO MORE USE TO HIS FELLOW MEN:  HE PUTS HIMSELF ON A "PEDESTAL", AWAY FROM THE COMMON RUN OF MEN, THAT I MIGHT BY ALL MEANS SAVE SOME. PAUL HAD BECOME A SACRAMENTAL PERSONALITY; WHEREVER HE WENT, JESUS CHRIST HELPED HIMSELF TO HIS LIFE.. MANY OF US ARE AFTER OUR OWN ENDS, AND JESUS CHRIST CAN NOT HELP HIMSELF TO OUR LIVES " REMEMBER IF WE ARE ABANDONED TO JESUS, WE HAVE NO ENDS OF OUR OWN TO SERVE. PAUL SAID HE KNEW HOW TO BE A "DOORMAT" WITHOUT RESENTING IT , BECAUSE THE MAINSPRING OF HIS LIFE WAS DEVOTION TO JESUS. WE ARE APT TO BE DEVOTED, NOT TO JESUS CHRIST, BUT TO THE THINGS WHICH EMANCIPATE US SPIRITUALLY. THAT WAS NOT PAUL'S MOTIVE. " I COULD WISH MYSELF WERE ACCURSED FROM CHRIST FOR MY BRETHREN"--- WILD, EXTRAVAGANT TO TALK IN THAT WAY, AND PAUL IS IN LOVE WITH JESUS CHRIST.

SPIRITUAL TENACITY: " BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD." PSALM 46:10

"TENACITY IS THE SUPREME EFFORT OF A MAN REFUSING TO BELIEVE THAT HIS HERO IS GOING TO BE CONQUERED." TENACITY IS MORE THAN ENDURANCE COMBINED WITH THE ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS GOING TO TRANSPIRE. TENACITY IS MORE THAN HANGING ON, WHICH MAY BE BUT THE WEAKNESS OF BEING TO AFRAID TO FALL OFF. TENACITY IS THE SUPREME EFFORT OF A MAN REFUSING TO BELIEVE THAT HIS HERO IS GOING TO BE CONQUERED. THE GREATEST FEAR A MAN HAS IS NOT THAT HE WOULD BE DAMNED, BUT THAT JESUS CHRIST WILL BE WORSTED, THAT THE THINGS HE STOOD FOR----LOVE AND JUSTICE AND FORGIVENESS AND KINDNESS AMONG MEN----- WILL NOT WIN OUT IN THE END; THE THINGS HE STANDS FOR LOOK LIKE WILL--OF-THE WISPS. THEN COMES THE CALL TO "SPIRITUAL TENACITY", "WHERE WE ARE ABANDONED TO GOD, HE WORKS THROUGH US ALL THE TIME"  THE GREATEST FEAR MAN HAS TO HANG ON AND DO NOTHING, BUT TO WORK, DELIBERATELY ON THE CERTAINTY THAT GOD IS NOT GOING TO BE WORSTED. IF OUR HOPES ARE BEING DISAPPOINTED JUST NOW, IT MEANS THAT HEY ARE PURIFIED. THERE IS NOTHING NOBLE ABOUT THE HUMAN MIND HAS EVER HOPED FOR OR DREAMED OF THAT WILL NOT BE FULFILLED. ONE OF THE GREATEST STRAINS IN LIFE IS THE STRAIN OF WAITING FOR GOD. " BECAUSE THOU HAS KEPT THE WORD OF MY PATIENCE." REMAIN SPIRITUALLY TENACIOUS." REMEMBER TENACITY IS THE SUPREME EFFORT OF A MAN REFUSING TO BELIEVE THAT HIS "HERO" WILL BE CONQUERED BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. I WILL EXALTED AMONG THE HEATHEN, I WILL BE EXALTED IN THE EARTH. THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR REFUGE. SALAH..

JOHN 14:31 "ARISE, LET US GO HENCE."

'LEAVE HIM TO BE THE SOURCE OF ALL YOUR DREAMS AND JOYS AND DELIGHTS, AND GO OUT AND OBEY WHAT HE HAS SAID." DREAMING ABOUT A THING IN ORDER TO DO IT PROPERLY IS RIGHT; BUT DREAMING ABOUT IT  WHEN WE SHOULD BE DOING IT IT IS WRONG. AFTER OUR LORD HAD SAID THESE WONDERFUL THINGS, HE ADDED IF HUMAN LOVE DOES NOT CARRY A MAN BEYOND HIMSELF IT IS NOT LOVE. IF LOVE IS ALWAYS DISCREET, ALWAYS WISE, ALWAYS SENSIBLE AND CALCULATING, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP AS THOUGH THERE WERE NO GOD. IT IS NO USE TO WAIT FOR GOD TO HELP US, HE WILL NOT. BUT IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE ARISE WE FIND HE IS THERE. WHENEVER GOD INSPIRES, THE INITIATIVE IS A MORAL ONE. WE MUST DO THE THING AND NOT LIE LIKE A LOG. IF WE WILL "ARISE" AND SHINE, DRUDGERY BECOMES DIVINELY TRANSFIGURED. DRUDGERY IS ONE OF THE FINEST TOUCHSTONES OF CHARACTER THERE IS. DRUDGERY IS WORK THAT IS VERY FAR REMOVED FROM ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE IDEAL---- THE UTTERLY MEAN GRUBBY THINGS; WHEN WE COME IN CONTACT WITH THEM WE KNOW INSTANTLY WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE SPIRITUALLY REAL. READ JOHN 13. WE SEE THERE THE INCARNATE GOD DOING THE MOST DESPERATE PIECE OF DRUDGERY, WASHING FISHERMEN'S FEET AND HE SAYS----"IF I THEN, YOUR LORD AND MASTER, HAVE WASHED YOUR FEET, YE ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET." IT REQUIRES THE INSPIRATION OF GOD TO GO THROUGH THE DRUDGERY WITH THE LIGHT. SOME PEOPLE DO A CERTAIN THING AND THE WAY IN WHICH THEY DO IT HALLOWS THAT THING FOREVER AFTERWARDS. IT MAY BE THE MOST COMMON PLACE THING, BUT AFTER WE SEE THEM DO IT, IT BECOMES DIFFERENT. WHEN THE LORD DOES A THING THROUGH US, HE ALWAYS TRANSFIGURES IT. OUR LORD TOOK ON HIM OUR HUMAN FLESH AND TRANSFIGURED IT, AND IT HAS BECOME FOR EVERY SAINT THE " TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT I LOVE THE FATHER; AND AS THE FATHER;  GAVE ME COMMANDMENT, EVEN SO I DO "ARISE, LET US GO HENCE."JOHN 14:31.DREAMING ABOUT A THING IN ORDER TO DO IT PROPERLY IS RIGHT; BUT DREAMING ABOUT IT WHEN WE SHOULD BE DOING IT IS WRONG. AFTER OUR LORD HAD SAID THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS TO HIS DISCIPLES, WE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED THAT HE WOULD TELL THEM TO GO AWAY AND MEDITATE OVER THEM ALL; BUT OUR LORD NEVER ALLOWED "MOONING." WHEN WE ARE GETTING INTO CONTACT WITH GOD IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT HE WANTS, DREAMING IS RIGHT; BUT WHEN WE ARE INCLINED TO SPEND OUR TIME IN DREAMING OVER WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DO, IT IS A BAD THING AND GOD'S BLESSING IS NEVER ON IT. GOD'S INITIATIVE IS ALWAYS IN THE NATURE OF A STAB AGAINST THIS KIND OF DREAMING, THE STAB THAT BIDS US "NEITHER SIT NOR STAND BUT GO." ARISE!  IF WE ARE QUIETLY WAITING BEFORE GOD AND HE HAS SAID----"COME YE YOURSELVES APART," THEN THAT IS MEDITATION BEFORE GOD
IN ORDER TO GET AT THE LINE HE WANTS;  BUT ALWAYS BEWARE OF GIVING OVER TO MERE DREAMING WHEN ONCE GOD HAS SPOKEN. LEAVES HIM TO BE THE SOURCE OF ALL YOUR DREAMS AND JOYS AND DELIGHTS, AND GO OUT AND OBEY WHAT HE HAS SAID. IF YOU ARE IN LOVE, YOU DO NOT SIT DOWN AND DREAM ABOUT THE ONE YOU LOVE ALL THE TIME,  YOU GO AND DO SOMETHING FOR HIM; AND THAT IS WHAT JESUS CHRIST EXPECTS US TO DO. DREAMING AFTER GOD HAS SPOKEN IS AN INDICATION THAT WE DO NOT TRUST HIM.