The Role of Scripture
As many of you know, I am a huge proponent of teaching the Scripture. To me, it is one of the best uses a person can have in life – as important as oil is to a motor, water is to a sea, and nutrition is to a body. But you also know that I utterly reject the Protestant claim of Sola Scriptura and instead believe that when it comes to the Spirit and its fruit, the Fruit of the Spirit ought to reign supreme. We have an interesting insight to show you tonight to help prove my point. The insight will go a long way to illustrate why and how I am different than some of the MDIV traditionalists out there.
In one of the greatest chapters of the entire Bible, 1st Corinthians 15, Paul is teaching on the resurrection – among other things. And He says beginning at verse 4:
1st Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
The Witness of Mary Magdalene
What do you see and think when you read this? I find it insightful but also lacking. And the Spirit fills in the gaps to help show you what I mean. See, in all probability due to trouble between the genders at that time, Paul does NOT include the first witness of the Resurrection – Mary Magdalene.
Now, I am not going to get into all the discussions about who when where what and why with you due to what appear to be Gospel inconsistencies – I think there is a reasonable chronology there – and I am just going to say that I think Mary Magdalene was alone on her first trip to the tomb and the other women joined her later. But what is really intriguing to me is that Peter is mentioned by Paul as the first to witness the risen Lord and not Mary Magdalene. So what is most important? To follow chapter and verse how Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles in that day, describes the resurrection or to let the spirit move and emphasize something he does not do?
Now, I am of the humble opinion (when I read scripture) that many things are not accidental and that God as the master artist, the master creator, the great teacher and that at times he buries some of his mysteries so those who seek can find. And I tend to think that is the case here.
Honor Restored to Women
So, while here in our text Paul does NOT mention Mary witnessing the risen Lord first, believers today, in an entirely different age, SHOULD. See, there is some really important stuff happening that I think scripture supports that is vital and it has to do with women. It unfolds with a quick reading of two parts of scripture – John 20 and Genesis 3. Here we discover honor restored to all women that was once lost by the same.
Let me explain. We read in John 20: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early . . . Now, who was Mary Magdalene? She was a woman who Jesus healed casting out seven devils, wasn’t she? Now ask yourself, how did Mary Magdalene get possessed of those devils in the first place? In other words, who made it possible that she could be possessed of Devils? Another woman, right? And her name was Eve, right?
Now men and their misogynistic traditions have long maintained that Mary Magdalene was a whore – that is just not supported by scripture – but we do know she was demon possessed. And we know that Jesus cast them out and set her free. So . . . On the first day of the Week came Mary Magdalene . . . when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
The Empty Tomb
In the grave, or so Mary thought was whom Paul called the Last Adam, in direct contradistinction from the first. But the tomb was empty!
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved (John), and saith unto them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
Mary Magdalene's Encounter
So now that the men have done all their running around and have gone home let’s get back to the connection to Mary Magdalene as John writes at verse 11. 11 ¶ But Mary!!!! BUT MARY!!! But Mary . . . stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 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.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 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.
Garden Symbolism
Of course, God told Adam in Genesis 2:15 to dress and keep the garden given him, and here we have Mary Magdalene mistaking the risen Lord for a gardener. This far in Genesis and John 20 accounts we discover two gardens, two men identified as gardeners and two women, all fulfilling unique roles of reciprocity. Adam and Eve are banished from the first garden (to die – along with everyone else), but here we have Mary Magdelene, the one once demon possessed, who is welcomed in to the Garden where the second Adam overcame death for all.
Verse 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Interestingly, in Genesis 3:16 and as a result of Eve partaking of the fruit, God said: “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” And here we have Mary Magdalene calling Jesus her, Master, showing that in Christ the curse of the Fall relative to first allegiances for women is to Him, the true Master and through this primary allegiance even the marital relationship changes.
Then at verse 17 we read: 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. In Genesis 3:23 we read Therefore the LORD God sent Adam forth from the garden.
The Role of Mary Magdalene
Of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. And here we read the first directives of the resurrected Lord – where he sent Mary Magdalene out from that Garden with a message to His brethren. To say unto them that I ascent to my Father and YOUR Father and to my GOD and YOUR God. Interestingly, the Greek term Apostolos means One sent, and here we have Jesus sending Mary to the other Apostles that He sent. In this we see that Mary is the first apostle of the Resurrection.
Mary Magdalene's Message
Verse 18: Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Isn’t it funny that we would take Paul’s directives to the Church in that day and age – because of history and culture – and demand that women not teach, and not even speak in church but the very first person Jesus met as the risen Lord was a woman, and He sent her . . . to speak a message to His Apostles!
So much to be seen in the context of scripture. So much to be lost when we don’t allow the Spirit to guide and move us to obvious themes but rather cling to Biblical Literalisms.
Redemption Through Christ
In conclusion, I would suggest that in these two narratives we see God’s great plan of redemption completed through Jesus, the Last Adam, and Mary Magdalene, the second Eve. And in harmony with this view, I see women, the world over, emancipated from the conditions of the fall in and through Christ. To me we discover women getting their voice back in and through Mary, who readily called Christ Her Master – and then she was told to go and tell the men. As the first person commissioned by Christ Himself to go and preach the Good News – that He had risen.
