Jesus Mary

Jesus Mary

Jesus' Resurrection - Gospel Descriptions are Puzzle Patches

                

All the four books of Gospels in the Bible do write about the resurrection of Jesus, who died on the cross. But why there is a vast difference in their descriptions? Which writing is perfect/most accurate? Where are the errors?  These are the big and serious questions!

Bible is a Holy and perfect spiritual book. Even dots and comas in the Bible are believed to be accurate and unchangeable (Math.5:18, Rev.22:18 -19). Therefore, there are no errors or contradictions in the original books of The Bible. But during translations of the original scripts, rare possibilities of, small human errors might have occurred. Read the resurrection passages; given bellow; carefully and compare the variations.

(1) Math.28: 1-15, (2) Mark 16: 1-8, (3) Luke 24: 1-12 and (4) John 20: 1-18. Surely, there are some unmatchable differences in the writings! How and why they occurred? Let us search and find it out!  

    Bible is a spiritual book. History, stories and parables are included as examples to explain spiritual aspects of the Bible. Therefore, most of the Books in The Bible give brief histories and stories; details are given only where essential. That is why, in order to obtain more details of Jesus' life in the world and more point of views of Jesus' ministry in the world, above four Gospel books are included in the Bible. We need to study them and analyze them all together for our better understanding about the facts and for the spiritual growth and revelations. Sometimes, we even have to check their back ground; if any; while checking them.

        In the events of Jesus' resurrection, women are prominent persons. All four Gospel witness that; only women did not leave Jesus alone during his tortures, during his crucifying and at his burial. Due to witnesses of women, the descriptions of above events must have been written in the gospel books. Therefore, women were honored to see resurrected Jesus first, believe in Jesus' resurrection first and gave witness of Jesus' resurrection first, as well.

   There are two main groups of ladies. Group one followed Jesus right from Galilee up to Jerusalem. As per Jewish customs, every year, all Jews used to gather in Jerusalem to celebrate festival of Passover, followed by the festival of Pentecost. Thus in the group of people from Galilee; some ladies came to Jerusalem with Jesus (Mark 15: 40-41). In second group; many local women disciples of Jesus; were from Jerusalem city (Luke 23: 27-28). These verses prove that, in two groups of people above; Jesus was meant very precious

  to women disciples only, therefore these ladies are highlighted by Gospels and by Jesus as well.

Mary is a prominent name among ladies in the events. Mary was a mother of Jesus. Therefore, Jesus was most precious to Mary; she was in the first group of ladies from Galilee, accompanied Jesus up to the cross on Calvary (John 19:25). That was the last appearance of her name in the Gospels. Mary means bitterness.

Yet this name seemed to be popular, hence commonly given to girls. So, there were many "Mary" too!

They followed Jesus in his bitter end times; till his death on the cross, did not run away like Jesus' disciples.  

(A) In the New Testament list of ladies is found bearing name "Mary" they are:– (1) Mary, mother of Jesus – We all know about her, (2) Mary of Bethany – a sister of Lazarus and Martha, famous in the gospels (3) Mary of Magdalene - Well known for washing and anointing the feet of Jesus (4) Other Mary - also called - mother of James (the younger) and Joes, (Math. 27:61, 28:1, Mark 15:40 & 47),  (5) Mary - wife of  Clopas (John 19:25),  (6) Mary - mother of John (John was also called Mark) (Acts 12: 12), (7) Mary – Roman Disciple (Rom. 12:12). Out of seven, five "Mary" were present in the crucial time of Jesus. Four "Mary" saw resurrected Jesus first, with other ladies -Salome, Joanna, mother of Zebedee's sons and other ladies came from Galilee.   

     (B)  Among above ladies; name, Mary of Magdalene is found everywhere; in each event. Her name disturbs Bible study, in preparing proper serial order of actual events; with the help of descriptions available in the four gospels. Surprisingly her name also helps to understand the order of events better, only when we consider the facts that, in some descriptions in the Bible, there are time gaps in between two verses and even in between two words of the Bible. For example –

(i) (Gen. 1:1) a very small verse, only two important places in the verse but an extremely vast time gap separates the two words. "God created heaven/s and earth". How many heaven/s to accommodate four million galaxies? How much time was required for creation of each heaven and every galaxy to fit in it? How much actual time was taken in the creation of Earth?  Lastly, what was the total time gap? Not mentioned in the Bible; so no human knows! Above creation was done in God's secrete time.

(ii) Likewise in (Math. 27:44, Mark 15:32, Luke 23:39-43) whose writing is correct, Matthew's and Mark's or only Luke's? In the Bible, nobody has ever written anything wrongly. Every verse and every word in the original Bible is correctly written. For six hours Jesus was hanging on the cross, Matthew and Mark wrote the event which was noticed in the early hours but Luke wrote the incident occurred in the letter hours. Even if some where contradictories appear in few writings in the Bible, they are never, without solid reasons or backgrounds or conditions. In above case; main reason is; again the time gap in between verses.

                Ladies main groups are two, one from Galilee and the other from Jerusalem. But their actions are described in subgroups. All ladies together did not go to Jesus' tomb. They visited the tomb in subgroups, so number of 2 or 3 visits to tomb; made by these subgroups, are to be noticed. Every gospel writer described only one of the visits. It seems, almost in every gospel small time gaps are present; so there are differences in their descriptions. One the basis of gospel descriptions; the complete story of Jesus' resurrection has five parts. First part is written in (Matthew 28: 1-7 and Mark 16: 1-8), second part in (John 20: 1-18), the third part in (Luke 24: 1-8), fourth part in (Math. 28: 8-10, Luke 24: 9-11) and fifth part in (Mark 16: 12-20, Luke 24: 13-53, John 20: 19-31 and 21: 1-25, Math. 28: 16-20).    

 

Mary of Magdalene is a part and parcel of every subgroup and as per the description in the book of John; she herself seems to be a separate subgroup too!  Why she became so important; next to Mary; mother of Jesus, in the Gospels? Jesus had forgiven Mary of Magdalene's all the scarlet red big sins, than any other Mary's. Therefore she loved Jesus more than any other Mary. She was the only person found in the Gospel who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair and anointed his feet with most expensive perfume before Jesus' crucifixion. Even after Jesus' death, she took the leading part in visiting Jesus tomb on third day to apply spices and perfumes. Due to Mary Magdalene's passion for Jesus, she became so important and very prominent figure in the books of Gospel.

Jewish Day counts – Starts from evening to evening on the next day i.e. one complete day of 24 hours.

Jewish Hour counts - Starts at sunset, is Zero hour, then say from 6 PM to 6 AM are 12 hours of night and        

                                    Again at sunrise, is Zero hour, then say from 6 AM to 6 PM are 12 hours of day light 

Jewish day of preparation – (Friday).Starts on Thursday, from 6 PM, ends on Friday at 6 PM i.e. 24 hours.

                                               Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM day light time of preparation day (for the Sabbath).

The Sabbath – (Saturday).Starts on Friday, from 6 PM, ends on Saturday at 6 PM. A holy day for prayers

                     and complete rest. Work of any kind, even cooking, was not allowed on Sabbath (for24 hours).

First day of week – (Sunday).Starts on Saturday, from 6 PM, ends on 6 PM on Sunday. Likewise rest of the

                               week days are calculated in the Hebrew calendar (Gen. 1: 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31, 2: 2 & 3).

       After considering all above factors, let us try to form a complete story of Jesus' resurrection from the writings available in the four Gospels of the Bible:-

             Disciple Judas Iscariot betrayed and sold Jesus; to the enemies. After Jesus' arrest; his all disciples left Jesus alone and ran away. Peter denied Jesus thrice. But Disciple John and ladies, by forming subgroups, followed Jesus and remained with him, till Jesus' death (Math. 27:55-56, Mark 15: 40-41, Luke 23:27-28, John 19:25-27). After the death; Jesus' body was removed from cross. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus' body, with spices, in strips of linen, laid the body in nearby garden tomb (John 19: 38-42) and they closed tomb entrance with big rolling stone, in the presence of Ladies from Galilee (Luke 23:55).

That was Friday evening (Jewish day of preparation). Just after the sunset, Sabbath day was to begin, so just after the burial of Jesus, on Friday evening and before Sabbath, one subgroup of ladies prepared the spices and perfumes at home, to apply on Jesus' body, on first day of the week i.e. Sunday (Luke 23:56 - 24:1). Second subgroup of ladies bought spices after Sabbath i.e. after Saturday's sunset (Mark 16: 1).

   In Jerusalem, Just after the Sabbath i.e. after Saturday's sunset, the rolling stone on Jesus' tomb was sealed and few guards were deployed on the tomb (Math. 27: 62-66). Jesus' disciples or ladies never knew about the guard at the tomb. They were hiding in one place; in Jerusalem and were moaning together for Jesus.          

        Just after few hours, at early dawn, on the first day of the week (Sunday) God resurrected Jesus from the death.  There was a violent earth quack, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightening and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men i.e. fainted for a long time. In the same night, I think, Mary Magdalene did not sleep, therefore may be due to earth quake, at dawn, she with other Mary went to look at the tomb (Math.28: 1) on their way they must have taken their subgroup member Salome too! Therefore, after sunrise three ladies reached the tomb (Mark 16: 1-2). Can ladies dare to visit tombs in the darkness? They saw the stone rolled back, they must have seen fainted guards, body of Jesus missing, there was a stranger with unbelievable massage (angel must have changed his early heavenly form) due to fear ladies kept mum (Mark 16: 7-8).When the fear was over, Mary of   Magdalene went running to Peter and John and opened her mouth first (John.20: 1-2). So peter and John ran to tomb, therefore without taking any spices, immediately Mary of Magdalene alone followed them, this was

her second visit to tomb (as a second subgroup). By that time, guards had gone after gaining consciousness.

Peter and John saw only linen strips, which were wrapped around Jesus' body, in the empty tomb. So they went home. Mary Magdalene was crying outside; again peeped in the tomb. Now instead of one, she saw two men (angels in human form) in the tomb. At this stage she became the first person to see resurrected Jesus, standing behind her (John.20: 3-18). While Mary of Magdalene remained in tomb garden in deep joy, back at home, the other subgroup of ladies, who had prepared spices for Jesus' body reached the empty tomb and met those two men (angels) ( Luke.24: 1-8). After meeting Mary of Magdalene in the tomb garden; all ladies together surprised with joy and believing, from the tomb, hurried away home. Suddenly resurrected Jesus met them (Math.27: 8-10). By that time, tomb guards too; reported the resurrection (Math.27: 11-15). But at home Jesus' disciples did not believe ladies and the massages ladies brought from angels and even from resurrected Jesus Christ (Math.28: 5-7, 8-10, Mark.16:6-7, Luke.24: 4-11), from these verses, after his resurrection; Jesus wished to appear his disciples only at Galilee. Due to lack of their faith; in the resurrection, Jesus had to visit them on the same day, in the evening; in Jerusalem and in few other places, for several times. In their presence only; Jesus had to ascend to heaven (Mark.16: 14, John.20: 19-29, Luke.24: 36-47, Math.28: 16-17, Luke.24: 50-53).

     Jesus' ladies disciples exhibited better passions for Jesus in the midst of dangerous circumstance after Jesus' arrest till his death on the cross, his burial in tomb and even after Sabbath, on the first day of the week, at the tomb, than Jesus' male disciples. The way Jesus was tortured, suffered and died on the cross was actually seen by the ladies and disciple John. Other disciples had only heard their descriptions. But   impact was so strong that, every male and female disciple of Jesus had forgotten the scriptures and Jesus' prophecy about his resurrection, rather they lost their faith on resurrection, even though they had seen Jesus raising dead ones. After resurrection, Jesus passed through the closed door and appeared to disciples twice, so the rolling stone and the seal on the tomb was no bar for Jesus. Angels came down just, to drive away the guards and to display empty tomb for visiting groups of ladies and convey massage of Jesus' resurrection to male disciples. Jesus' ladies disciples out casted his male disciples, on following spiritual aspects.

(1)   After one and two angel's witnesses, ladies believed. But Male disciples did not believe ladies' witnesses. Ladies passions for Jesus was invincible, therefore angels appeared in human forms and talked with only ladies. On Mary of Magdalene's intimation, except Peter and John, no male disciple bothered to visit Jesus' tomb on the day of resurrection. Angels did not appear even to John and Peter. John, who was present near crucified Jesus, entered in the tomb, after Peter, saw the scene and believed in Jesus' resurrection. Same John was chosen to write the book of Revelation in The Bible.   

(2)    After hearing from one and two angels, ladies believed in angels' massages of Jesus' resurrection.

Due to ladies' faith on angels and scriptures, on his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to only ladies.

To his male disciples, due to lack of their faith, Jesus had to appear. To bring them back in faith. To witness the power of God's love and forgiveness, with resurrection and salvation, to the whole world

How much important is a PASSION for crucified Christ?

How much important is a FAITH in resurrected Christ?       

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About the Author

Name : Mr. Anil Pacharne.

Religion : Christian

Interests : Bible study, Bible investigation

Seeing Mary remained a virgin what sort of union did Joseph have with Mary after Jesus was born ?

Foot fetish ?
Matthew 1:25
25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus
If you believe Mary remained a virgin what does until mean ?

Some here indicate that the word "until" means "up to the point". Still, the alternative "up to the point" does not prove that she REMAINED a Virgin. In other words, she remained virgin "up to the point" she bore a son.

If she did not have normal sexual intercourse with her husband Joseph after Jesus was born, then her marriage was never consummated.

Further, why does Luke 2:7 states "and she gave birth to her firstborn,"?

Why is Jesus identified as the "Firstborn" instead of an only begotten if Mary did not have other children?

There is no place whatsoever in The Scriptures that teach, nor remotely implies, in leading us to believe that Mary remained always a virgin.

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