Title: Seen Anew
Author: Christopher B. Harbin
Text: John 20:19-31
It started with the women. They reported that Jesus' body was not in the tomb and they had been told he was alive. The story turned quickly, because the men would not give them the credit they were due. The women had gone to prepare Jesus' body for proper burial early that morning. They were doing what needed to be done, what there had been no time to accomplish on Friday afternoon, as the Sabbath encroached with sunset. At first light, they had gone to finish what had been left undone, but there was no body in the tomb, no task to complete.
God sent messengers to speak to them, and they struggled with what they were told. I would have been just as hard-pressed to accept what they were hearing, no matter who addressed me. They had run back to report to and collect the Eleven. Peter and John dashed out to the tomb, but Peter was not ready to accept what these women had told him, nor their interpretation of what he was seeing. John seems to have trusted, but Peter left the tomb confused and disconsolate.
Mary had then seen Jesus, though she did not immediately recognize him. She may well have covered her face full of tears and grief, unwilling or not daring to raise her eyes to an unknown man before her. It was only when Jesus called her by name that she recognized who was speaking to her. He did not allow her to cling to him, but sent her back to the disciples. She should tell them to return to Galilee, where Jesus would greet them again.
Apparently, they had not accepted her report of Jesus' message. He appeared to ten of them that same evening as they gathered behind closed doors. "Shalom! Peace!" It was a very typical greeting, though we want to make more out of the word than is likely appropriate. Sure, it seems extra-fitting in thiscontext of Jesus appearing unexpectedly before them. On the other hand, shalom is a standard Hebrew and Aramaic greeting, as it has been long before Jes ...
Author: Christopher B. Harbin
Text: John 20:19-31
It started with the women. They reported that Jesus' body was not in the tomb and they had been told he was alive. The story turned quickly, because the men would not give them the credit they were due. The women had gone to prepare Jesus' body for proper burial early that morning. They were doing what needed to be done, what there had been no time to accomplish on Friday afternoon, as the Sabbath encroached with sunset. At first light, they had gone to finish what had been left undone, but there was no body in the tomb, no task to complete.
God sent messengers to speak to them, and they struggled with what they were told. I would have been just as hard-pressed to accept what they were hearing, no matter who addressed me. They had run back to report to and collect the Eleven. Peter and John dashed out to the tomb, but Peter was not ready to accept what these women had told him, nor their interpretation of what he was seeing. John seems to have trusted, but Peter left the tomb confused and disconsolate.
Mary had then seen Jesus, though she did not immediately recognize him. She may well have covered her face full of tears and grief, unwilling or not daring to raise her eyes to an unknown man before her. It was only when Jesus called her by name that she recognized who was speaking to her. He did not allow her to cling to him, but sent her back to the disciples. She should tell them to return to Galilee, where Jesus would greet them again.
Apparently, they had not accepted her report of Jesus' message. He appeared to ten of them that same evening as they gathered behind closed doors. "Shalom! Peace!" It was a very typical greeting, though we want to make more out of the word than is likely appropriate. Sure, it seems extra-fitting in thiscontext of Jesus appearing unexpectedly before them. On the other hand, shalom is a standard Hebrew and Aramaic greeting, as it has been long before Jes ...
There are 10984 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
