Arulvakku

24.04.11 CLOTHS

Posted under Reflections on April 25th, 2011 by

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."  So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. (Jn 20:1-9)

 

 

Mary Magdala went to the tomb, probably as the custom was at the time of Jesus. People went to the tomb of the dear and near ones to spent time there; to pray for the diseased; to recollect the memories of the past and so on. The first information that is given to reader is that the person who went to the tomb was shocked. She could not believe her eyes. She found that the stone was removed which implied that something has happened to the tomb and what was within it.

 

The other disciple (John) ran faster than Peter but did not enter the tomb and found the burial cloths. The second information that is given is that the cloths were there but something has happened to the body of Jesus. All the material things associated with the dead person were intact. But something has happened to the body that is to the dead person.

 

Peter entered the tomb and found that not only the burial cloths were rolled up and kept somewhere but also the cloths that covered the head. This only goes to say that the dead person removed the head cloths by himself or someone assisted him to remove the cloths (those who wanted to steal the body would not have cared for these details). So the third stage of information is that he is alive or he is made to be alive. He is risen. The other disciple saw this and believed. 

23.04.11 YOU WILL SEE ME

Posted under Reflections on April 22nd, 2011 by

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you." Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples.  And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." (Mt 28:1-10)

 

 

The Angel of the Lord appeared. We see angel in the Gospel of Mathew at he time of his birth and now at his resurrection. At birth the Angel appeared to Joseph and cleared his doubts and revealed the identity of Jesus. The child that was to be born was by the Holy Spirit and Joseph was commissioned to take care of the child and also to protect him from Herod who wanted to kill the child.

 

Here also the Angel appeared but to the women who were seeking the body of Jesus. They were also looking at the human side of Jesus while the Angel revealed that he has been raised from the death and he was going to Galilee as he had said earlier. The Angel revealed who Jesus was (the women were only looking for the Jesus who was crucified) and the Angel said: Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.

 

The women were commissioned to tell the other disciples that Jesus was raised from the dead. They ran from the tomb with mixed feelings (fearful yet overjoyed). Jesus met them on their way and revealed himself to them. The message of the risen Lord is: “Do not be afraid. You will see me there”. 

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