Breaking the Word

When he 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. (Mk 16:9-15)

Mark gives a summary statement of the resurrection appearances. Even though he does not give a summary of all the appearances, yet he gives the important ones. The first witness is always a woman. It is interesting that the person who receives the revelation always goes to the other disciples to communicate. Similarly the two disciples who were on their way, they too rushed back and reported. Those who receive the revelation always reported to the others.

This communication is always received with disbelief. Reports are never accepted. The disciples began to believe only when they themselves have had the revelation. Disbelief seemed have been the trade mark of the disciples. Is this the way of writing to include another revelation? However there were many revelations and every revelation was preceded by a non-belief from the disciples. Jesus obliged them every time but rebuked them always.

The final commandment of Jesus was to go and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Since salvation is to every creature the proclamation of the gospel is also to every creature. What is the gospel that the disciples have to proclaim? In the context it has to be the resurrection of Jesus. The gospel is also the kingdom which is established in Jesus. The gospel is also the forgiveness for those who repent. The basis of all the gospels is the resurrection of Jesus.     

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none of the disciples dared to ask him, ^“Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.  This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. (Jn 21: 1-14)

In the beginning of this passage the author writes that the Lord revealed himself to the disciples. At the end of the passage again the author writes that he revealed himself for the third time. It is a revelation by the lord himself to his disciples. The disciples had lived with him while he was on the earth. They knew him very well. They knew his humanity well. It is a revelation because it is about his divinity. The risen lord revealed himself to them.

The disciples and in particular Peter wanted to go fishing. Did he want to take his old job? Was he disappointed? It could be anything. But he had the following of the disciples including the disciple whom Jesus loved. The situation is bad because they caught nothing that day. The situation was created in such a way for the lord to reveal himself.

The disciples realized that it was the lord. They did not dare to ask him who he was. They recognized him in his doings. He prepared breakfast for them, he could fish for them, and he waited on them. His care and concern for them was the same. He continued to be to them as he was to them while on earth. This was what he revealed to them and they recognized him to be the lord.