MARY, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN JOURNALIST: investigating the tombs of life
The first Christian “journalist” in Scripture that we read of was Mary Magdalene (John 20:18). She went to investigate the tomb of Jesus and when she found it empty she went to the disciples WITH THE NEWS: “I have seen the Lord! ” There are some valuable lessons to learn from Mary’s approach.
This “field report” from Mary is found in John 20:1-12: Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So, Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally, the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
Can you imagine modern technology being available in those days? Facebook posts, YouTube videos, selfies, WhatsApp messages, Tweets, mobile phone pictures, short-term outreaches and different Christian groups arriving to “catch the fire”.
And maybe taking this Scripture as an example of expanding our mental capacity is a little far-fetched, but it does provide a wonderful setting of observing news, putting it into context and then creating a perspective; three elements of expanding our capacity in thinking new.
I love looking beyond the obvious when I read Scripture and look for the specifics in the Bible; verses that could have been omitted that would not have changed the story but were added for a specific reason.
In this Scripture there are three specifics that teach us the principles in expanding our mental capacity:
- The OBSERVATION
- The CONTEXT
- The PERSPECTIVE
OBSERVATION
THE FIRST SPECIFIC IS FOUND IN VERSE 1: Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
DEFINITION OF OBSERVATION
“The action or process of closely observing or monitoring something or someone. The ability to notice things, especially significant details.”
SCRIPTURE TO OBSERVE
Mark 13:28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.”
If the Scripture simply read: “On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance” we would still have had the essence of the story. But the author added “Early, when it was still dark.” There was an urgency, no time to be wasted, in the heart of Mary to investigate, and she OBSERVED that the stone had been removed. “Early” refers to an urgency and “while it was still dark” refers to intent. If we seek to expand our mental capacity we need to continually observe with urgency and intent, not curiosity and content. There was both urgency and intent as Mary went first thing, early morning, to inspect the grave. She would not be content to hear later on from others what happened. She wanted to see for herself.
It is significant to note the different objectives as Mary and the disciples approached and observed the same scene set before them.
Mary came with a sense of urgency, a heart of worship, seeking Christ in the tomb. Peter and John probably came out of curiosity, also with a real sense of urgency (they ran) but, sadly, they looked and went back to where they were staying. Their mental capacity could look at the empty grave and yet not comprehend the significance of what they saw.
It is true that you cannot see what you are not looking for and if you don’t get it, you simply don’t get it. Those who experience “Gods hand” in global news are those who seek Gods hand in global news. Those who seek God in the news of today are those who will find Him. What we don’t pay attention to, we won’t see.
When watching and observing global events it needs to be more than just the curiosity of obtaining information. It’s not just considering the cave and having a sensational view of what is presented to us. Truth does not come cheaply. If we truly seek to expand our mental capacity, we should have the clear objective of seeking God in every situation. It’s the sacrifice of having a miner mentality and delving deep into what is happening, looking through the redemptive lenses of Christ.
We need to seek Christ when hearing the news of bomb blasts, the updates of disasters, the anguish of wars; in the darkness, in the despair and in the caves of life. We need to separate the noise from the news and not just watch the news but observe the trends and understand the seasons. We need to get the bigger picture with an objective of finding Christ.
In John 12:26 the Lord gives His disciples a very strong indication of how followship should happen. “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.”
The challenge within the Christian faith is not only to be equipped to follow Christ according to Scripture but being able to follow Christ according to seasons. We need to watch the news and understand global trends. We need to know “where Christ is” in order to build our mental capacity. I often hear Christians saying to me that they don’t watch news anymore because they are overwhelmed by the hopelessness of war, corruption, tragedies and death. Well, have a look in the cave and discover a risen Christ.
When we watch the news without observing God’s hand in every event there will no doubt be a sense of hopelessness. When we watch the news with urgency and intent, we will no doubt be struck by an “empty grave” as proof of a risen Christ. But, this will only happen once we discover the context.
CONTEXT
THE SECOND SPECIFIC IS FOUND IN VERSE 7: The cloth was still lying in its place (wrapped, rolled up, folded), separate from the linen.
DEFINITION OF CONTEXT
“The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.”
SCRIPTURE TO CONTEXTUALISE
Mark 13:29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.
Once again, we find Mary’s approach is completely different from that of the disciples. Mary observes the empty cave with a mental attitude that understands there is something more to discover than just the emptiness. The emptiness excites her as she does not want to miss a thing, even in the unseen. She understands that something significant has taken place and responds by staying behind. Peter and John lack the understanding and fail to interpret the empty cave from a prophetic and Scriptural context. (John 20:9 They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) The emptiness of the cave disappoints them, and they react by going back home to business as usual.
But the significance of Mary’s interpretation of the empty grave probably lies in the cloth, still in its place, separate from the linen (verse 7).
There is a very “romantic” context often used by Western pastors when explaining why Jesus “folded” (not used in all translations) the napkin? But sadly, this theory could be as misleading as it is misinterpreted.
This theory is based on the Hebrew tradition of that day and is as follows:
The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and would not dare touch that table, until then. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m done”. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because…. the folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”
For some Western preachers the napkin, or headcloth, being folded separate from the linen is contextually interpreted that Jesus sent this message to His disciples: I am coming back!
But, as nice as this sounds, it remains a nice, romantic, western, misinterpretation of the events. Here is why.
Firstly, they didn’t sit at tables, they sat on the ground. But that is not the main reason
Here is the main reason: The word “napkin”, used in the King James Bible, certainly gives some readers a wrong picture of what was put around the head of Jesus Christ. The Greek word is “soudarion”, from a Latin word “sudarium”. The cloth is akin to our modern-day handkerchief, though larger in size, like a bandana or a “mitpachat” (head scarves) worn by Jewish women. The word “folded” found in John 20:7 in many Bible translations also gives readers the impression that the “soudarion” was folded like one would fold his handkerchief or a towel.
But the context of the wrapped clothes stretches far deeper than just a sign of Christ’s return. The evidence of the intact and not unwrapped grave clothes, both the shroud and the “sudarium” proves that Jesus Christ rose up, from His sleeping position, right though the wrappings, and then passed through the wall of the sepulchre in His resurrected glorified body! This was unlike Lazarus who needed to be loosed from his wrappings after He raised him from the dead (John 11:44[1]).
Here is why the context is important and why this helps us to expand our mental capacity. If we interpret the empty grave and wrapped headscarf as the Lord conveying a message of “I am coming back”, then our interpretation will be PROPHETIC and focus only on His return. But, if we interpret the empty grave and wrapped headscarf as the Lord conveying a message of “I am resurrected”, then our interpretation will be REDEMPTIVE and our focus will be on His salvation.
This might seem insignificant at first but will eventually determine how we watch the news, how we interpret disasters, how we view tragedies, how we observe wars and how we contextualize global events. It will prevent us from always seeking the fatalistic PROPHETIC approach, and prompt us instead to seek active REDEMPTIVE purposes.
To expand our mental capacity will therefore require that we look at world events within a redemptive context that fully comprehends that:
- God’s POWER is sovereign, He is not a spectator.
Dan 2:21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
- God’s PURPOSE is for everybody to be saved.
1Ti 2:3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
- God’s PRIORITY is His Kingdom, not our comfort.
Psalm 145:10-13 All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
PERSPECTIVE
THE THIRD SPECIFIC IS FOUND IN VERSE 10: Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
DEFINITION OF PERSPECTIVE
“The appearance of viewed objects with regard to their relative position.” Or “A particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view.”
SCRIPTURE TO PLACE EVENTS IN PERSPECTIVE
Mark 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
The Bible gives a very honest and detailed account of how the various followers of Christ responded to the news of the empty grave. Not all were excited and not all believed. This rings true today when Christians respond to global events. Some have the mental ability to OBSERVE Christ in the CONTEXT of His sovereignty and therefore have the PERSPECTIVE that He is building His Kingdom in a glorious way. Others fail to see Christ but ascribe news to the anti-Christ, the devil or simply to the evil plans of man. The old saying is true: Some people want things to happen. Some people make things happen. And most people wonder what in the world is happening.
In Mark 16:9-11 we read how the apostles reacted in disbelief to the news of the empty grave: “When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.” How painfully sad, but it doesn’t stop there. Even more witnesses appeared later[2] but could still not persuade the followers of Christ that He was who He said He was. The unbelief of His followers eventually evoked an uncharacteristic rebuke from the Lord, disappointed at their disbelief and stubborn refusal to listen to the words of those who saw Him[3].
Luke confirms the stories in Mark and in John but with a more telling referral. Luke mentions that the disciples did not believe the report of the women because they thought it sounded foolish. Peter, however sprinted over to the grave to see for himself, seeing the linens set aside, he went off in a quandary, pondering what had happened. Others beside the apostles had different reactions to the empty graves. Luke also states that Jesus rebuked their foolish and slow hearts for not believing (Luke 24:25-26).
Mary’s perspectives however were formed by what she knew, not by what she saw. For her it was a matter of “Know Christ, know resurrection.” Peter and John’s perspectives were formed by what they didn’t see. For them it was a matter of: “No Christ, no resurrection.” They still did not have the ability to build their mental capacity. After three years of following the Master they still did not understand the Biblical interpretation from a redemptive perspective. It once again confirms that we can only see what we are giving attention to.
Expanding our mental capacity will therefore be determined by the glasses we have on. Only by looking through God’s lenses will we be able to get the CHRIST perspective and not the WORLD perspective. Only by Expanding our mental capacity will we be able to seek the REDEMPTIVE and not get side-tracked by the PROPHETIC, as important as that might be.
Once you see it, you cannot not see it.
[1] John 11:44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
[2] Mark 16:12-13 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
[3] Mark 16:14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.