PrintToday's "Moment with Mark'" (129)
3 April, 2013
It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead, and the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and found the disciples, who were grieving and weeping. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn't believe her. (Mark 16:9-11 )
The first person who encountered the Resurrected Christ was not Peter nor John nor was it James. None of this 'inner circle" of three was given this privilege. It was Mary Magdalene. Really? Yes, really!! But she was a woman and the testimony of a woman was not given much credence in that society generally.
Add to the above the fact that Mary was not only a woman but she was a woman who was demonized when she first encountered Jesus.Seven demons, in fact, had been driven out by Jesus. Given all that, how credible might her report of the Risen Christ be regarded? Not very, apparently, because they simply didn't believe her.
I find it fascinating as I observe the aftermath of the death of Jesus that, despite His very clear teaching about a "third day resurrection ", there seems to be no one from among the followers of Jesus who really expected or was in any way prepared for such an amazing fulfilment. I can't think of any. None of the immediate discipleship group attended the funeral. The women went to the tomb not to observe the resurrection but to prepare the body for its final resting place.
In my wild and weird imagination I was expecting that, given the enormity of the event, at least the disciples would have organized the seating for the crowds. If he was still around, I think Judas would have put up his hand to look after the finances.
If this was a lie or hoax conceived and constructed by the disciples, then they did a brilliant job .....or a terrible job - it depends on one's own perspective. For my part, the account has a compelling ring of authenticity about it.
So, the small band of disciples was grieving and weeping, confused & disappointed. What they were not doing was awaiting the fulfilment of Jesus' teaching re the resurrection.
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