The Jesus Gospel

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Jesus Gospel

Did Mary Magdalene Turn Around TWICE?

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The Jesus Gospel

Mary Magdalene at Jesus’ TombMary Magdalene at Jesus’ Tomb

Did Mary Magdalene Turn Around Twice?

This book brings up and resolves many issues that were uncovered when placing the records in chronological order.

Let’s take a close look at the positioning of why it appears Mary Magdalene turned around two (2) times.  By looking at this record, we can see:

Jesus & Mary Magdalene at the Tomb

  1. Mary Magdalene arrives at the sepulcher weeping (eyes wet and not clear).
  2. She stoops down (Could mean she bent-over or even bent her knees in almost a kneeling position).  She may not have had any knee touching the ground.
  3. After she stoops down, she sees two angels and they speak to her, “Woman, why weepest thou?”
  4. Mary responds, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
  5. Mary then she “turns herself.” Why would someone turn around when they are facing two angels? The KJV then says, “She turned herself back.” It is possible Mary heard something behind her, remember, she is stooping down here. The NIV says, “She turned around”. If you were stooping down, speaking to Angels, and then heard something behind you, most likely you would simple turn your head around to see what the noise was. It may have startled her. It may not make sense at this point to turn completely around and turn your back to two Angels (Remember, this is the first and only time Mary Magdalene sees an Angel). She may have simply looked over her shoulder.
  6. Mary sees Jesus, but she did not know it was him.
  7. Mary thinks Jesus is the gardener, and asks, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
  8. Jesus then repeats some of same words the Angels said to Mary “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
  9. Mary then asks, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
  10. Jesus calls her name, “Mary.”
  11. The KJV says, “She turned herself” while the NIV, says “She turned toward him.” Now it is clear someone more important than Angels is before Mary and it would make sense at this point for her to turn herself completely around and face Jesus.
  12. It appears that Mary did, indeed, turn herself around partially first from a stooping position, them completely around to a standing position.  It is clear she was standing since Jesus asks her not to touch Him.

Stooping at the Tomb

When Peter ran and arrived at the sepulchre, that he also “Stooped Down” in Luke 24:9. An indication the entrance to Jesus’ tomb was higher than what the inside, or that the entrance was too small to walk into.

This is the third time it is noted someone stooped down at the tomb. The first was the Disciple Jesus Loved (See JGV, Appendix 6, The Disciple Jesus Loved) in John 20:5; the Second was Mary Magdalene in John 20:11; and Peter in Luke 24:11.

Did Mary Magdalene Turn Around TWICE?

Excerpt from The Jesus Gospel Book

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

 
Jn 20:11-12
 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 
Jn 20:13-14
.Mk 16:9
 And they say unto her,[1] “Woman, why weepest thou?” She saith unto them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.[2] And [she] knew not that it was Jesus. 
Jn 20:15-16
 Jesus saith unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus saith unto her, “Mary.” She turned herself,[3] and saith unto him, “Rabboni;” Which is to say, Master.

[1]After telling Peter, Mary Magdalene went back to the tomb following him and the other disciple as they ran. It clearly says here that “they”, meaning the Angels spoke to Mary Magdalene

[2]Jesus selects an “unimportant” person, Mary Magdalene, from that culture to be the first to see Him resurrected. It was not a male, not a religious leader, not business or political leader, but a woman who was healed of evil spirits and infirmities and out of her was cast seven devils. This is God’s way of saying Jesus Christ came for all people, not just the men, not just the “important” people, not for the rich, but for all.

[3] Here Mary turns completely around and recognizes Jesus.

Sleeping in the Storm

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The Jesus Gospel Book

The Jesus Gospel© book blends all 4 Gospels into a continuous easy to read record of Jesus’ ministry.  Below are 5 combined verses from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, often referred to as the Synoptic Gospels. These verses are about a storm on the Sea of Galilee with Jesus and His apostles on board. By blending all 3 versions you get a complete and rich account of what happened.

I am not saying that this storm compares to a Hurricane, but when you are on a small boat in the middle of any event that could capsize you, it really would not matter.

Sleeping in the Storm

As we read this short record we see that there were a number of ships that sailed with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus then fell asleep on a pillow.  Afterwards, a GREAT storm of wind arrived, so serious that the ship they were on began taking on water and they were in jeopardy of sinking. It was serious.

Jesus was, however, still asleep during all of this. He was not worried, since He knew he was already prepared.

Do Your Best, Let God Do the Rest

Immediately prior to getting on the ship, Jesus had just completed a full day of teachings, doing the work of His Father. That may have been one reason He was tired. But after doing God’s work, we need to rest in peace and assurance that He will take care of us.

I am not saying we should not be prepared for a storm. No, we need to do everything we need to do to get ready for the worst, but don’t forget to pray and seek God’s guidance.

When we have done all we can, including prayer, then we can rest in the assurance that God is with us.  If more action is needed, know that God is with you and He will let you know.

While on the sea, it took some time for the disciples to wake up Jesus as evidenced by their persistence. We can see the progression (see below)  in the disciples’ concern for their lives reflected in the language they used to address Christ. At first, the Greek word for “Master” “Epistates” in Luke 8:24 is used, which can be translated “an appointee over” It then progresses to “Didaskalos” which can be translated as “doctor, master, teacher” Finally, in Matthew 8:25 “kurios” which means supremacy; supremein authority. It is also probable that a number of those on board spoke at the same time and that each of the Gospels recorded each of the different sayings.

As Jesus continued to sleep, they increased in concern.  If Jesus is sleeping, all if well. We need to know that we are taken care of AFTER we have done everything we can. That means taking the advice of others, INCLUDING Government and local authorities.  Remember, it was a non-Jewish person who had to finally inform Moses how he needed to change to handle God’s people. We need to listen to all, test all, and pray for our guidance.

The Jesus Gospel
Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:36-41; Luke 8:22-25

Mt 8:23
Mk 4:36
.Lk 8:22		 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And there were also with him other little ships. And they launched forth.
Mt 8:24
Mk 4:37
Lk 8:23		 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and, behold, there came down a great storm of wind on the lake; and arose a great tempest in the sea and the waves beat into the ship, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: so that they were now filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
Mt 8:25-26.
Mk 4:38
Lk 8:24.		 But he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, master, we perish…” “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” “Lord, save us: we perish.” And he saith unto them, “Why are ye fearful, “O ye of little faith?”
Mk 4:39-40
.Mt 8:26
.Lk 8:24-25.		 And then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water and: said unto the sea, “Peace, be still.” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, “Where is your faith?” “Why are ye so fearful? “How is it that ye have no faith?
Mt 8:27
.Lk 8:25
Mk 4:41		 But the men marvelled and they feared exceedingly saying one to another, “What manner of man is this? For he commandeth that even the winds and the sea and water, and they obey him?”

The Jesus Gospel Featured at this Years’ BEA

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The Jesus Gospel is Featured at this Years’ BEA

The Jesus Gospel© will be Featured and Displayed at this year’s Book Expo of AmericaBEA (Book Expo of America).
The Jesus Gospel to be Featured at the Book Expo of America from May 30th – June 1st at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC.
The BEA is the largest Publishing Trade Show in North America, with over 20,000 of the  “Who’s Who” in publishing in attendance!

The Jesus Gospel at 2018 BEA at the Jacob Javits CenterThe Jesus Gospel Featured at this Years’ BEA

Nearly all significant book publishers in the United States and many from other countries have booths and exhibits at BEA  to showcase upcoming titles, sell current books, socialize with colleagues from other publishing houses, and sell & buy subsidiary rights and international rights. Authors, librarians, and buyers for book retailers also attend the event.

The Last Supper

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The Last SupperHow can someone easily lean on another’s chest during a meal?

During Jesus’ time, people ate not at a high table like we do today, but reclining at a much lower table (inches off the ground). In this way, it would be easy for someone next to you to lean (back) on your chest (see Jn 13:23-26).

In addition, a woman could be standing behind Jesus (since people had their feet placed behind them as they faced the table on their sides at an angle), but still be at His feet before she leaned down wiping them with her hair. This as the first of three times a woman anoints Jesus with oil, see Lk 7:38-39 and below.

The Jesus Gospel© References:

Jn 13:23-24 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Jn 13:25-26 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.” And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

 See Q&A Topic 59-62. See also Ch 5, Pg. 51, Lk 7:38-39, Fn. 126.

Lk 7:38-39 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.[1] Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”

[1]Three times a woman anointed Jesus with oil. 1) Ch 5, Pg. 51, Lk 7:38-39, in a Pharisees home during a meal, a crying woman only identified as a sinner, kisses and washes Jesus feet with her tears and hair. She also anoints his feet with an alabaster box of ointment. 2) In h 17, Pg. 138, Jn 12:1, in Lazarus, Martha, and Mary’s home. While Martha prepared served the meal, Mary “took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly” and anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the smell of the ointment. This is also referenced as a future event the KJV places in parenthesis in Ch 15, Pg. 124, Jn 11:2-4). 3) In JGV Ch 19, Pg. 162, Mt 26:6-13, Mk 14:3-9, Jesus is in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper eating a meal. Another unidentified woman with an “alabaster box of very precious ointment” pours in on Jesus’ head.

(JGV = The Jesus Gospel Version, the blended text of the Gospels)