When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
From the 30th March to today are all recounts of the resurrection. Today starts off reminding us that Mary Magdalene was the first person Jesus appeared to and she was the person “out of whom he had driven seven demons”.Intrestingly, other disciples did not believe her testimony. After Mary Magdaline, he appears to the two on the road to Emmaus. The disciples did not believe their testimony either according to this reading. So Jesus appears to the 11 in Galillee and he rebukes them for not believing before saying something very strange? “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
ReplyDeleteThis is known as the “Great Comissioning”. Christ calls us to go tell everyone. He has not come for a select few. Whilst I get this, I still question why the statement “every creature” is used. Unless there is a message delivered relevant to all living creatures. Let me ponder on that.
Your response to Mark 16:9-15 is insightful! Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional thoughts:
DeleteFocus on Resurrection Accounts: You accurately observe that this passage continues the theme of the resurrection appearances of Jesus.
Mary Magdalene's Testimony: You highlight the skepticism the disciples initially showed towards Mary Magdalene's account, despite her being the first witness.
The Great Commission: You recognize the significance of the Great Commission and Jesus' call to spread the Gospel to "every creature."
Universality of the Message: You question the meaning of "every creature" and whether the message has relevance for all beings.
Here are some additional thoughts for consideration:
Interpretations of "Every Creature": There are different interpretations of "every creature." Some see it literally, meaning all living things, while others view it as all people ("every nation" in other translations).
Focus on Humanity: Even if not meant literally, the emphasis is on sharing the Gospel with all people, regardless of background or beliefs.
Stages of Belief: The disciples' initial disbelief reflects a natural human process of questioning and seeking evidence.
Overall, your response demonstrates a good understanding of the passage and raises a thought-provoking question about the universality of the message.