The Christ Commission Ch 12

### Mary Magdalene

• Mary Magdalene is a prominent figure in the Gospels, known for her devotion to Jesus and her experiences after his resurrection.
• She is described as a "sinner" or "reformed prostitute" in some sources.
• Mary Magdalene witnessed the events of Jesus's arrest and crucifixion.

### Mary Magdalene's Testimony

• Mary Magdalene's story of the empty tomb includes a detail that conflicts with other Gospel accounts.
• Unlike other accounts, she encountered a young man in the tomb.
• This contradicts accounts of angels being found in the tomb.
• She remembered that the young man had shouted after her and her companions.
• The shouts included these phrases: "Be not afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified...He is risen; he is not here."
• She described the young man as being frightened by their sudden appearance.

### John Mark

• John Mark is a young apostle, around twenty years old.
• He witnessed events surrounding Jesus's death and resurrection, including the arrest of Jesus and the women's visit to the empty tomb.
• His account of the empty tomb aligns with Mary Magdalene's description of a young man in the tomb.
• He was present on the night of the Last Supper and accompanied the disciples part of the way on their journey to the Temple.
• He witnessed Jesus's pronouncement that the disciples would be scattered after his death and his promise that he would rise.
• John Mark was also present when Roman soldiers stormed the house and searched for Jesus.
• He was told by his mother not to go to Gethsemane to warn Jesus because of the danger he was facing.
• He confirmed that his mother and other women were weeping in their room, while soldiers searched for Jesus.
• He confirmed that the soldiers, who had searched the house, were going to Gethsemane.

### John Mark's Discrepancies

• John Mark's account of the empty tomb differs from other accounts in several key details.
• He describes the young man in the tomb as being frightened, which is not mentioned in other accounts.
• He states that the young man was the one who shouted "He is risen, he is not here," while the other accounts credit the angel or angels with this statement.

### Mark's Account

• Mark's Gospel differs from Mathew, Luke, and John in its description of the individual at the tomb, stating that it was a young man, not angels.
• The author of Mark's Gospel refers to the young man in the tomb directly.
• Mark's Gospel contains the full statement made by the young man in the tomb.

### The Discrepancies

• The discrepancies in the Gospel accounts of the individuals at the tomb raise key questions.
• Did Mark witness an event that the other Gospels missed or omitted?
• Was he deliberately omitting details to protect himself, his identity, or his reputation?
• Was John Mark present at the tomb and did he actually encounter the young man?
• Or were his memories and stories altered, exaggerated, or influenced by other accounts, events, or personal interpretations?

Mark's Testimony

• Mark, a young boy at the time, was sleeping outside on the terrace when he saw torches moving towards the city from Golgotha.
• He heard guards shout "He has departed from his grave, he has departed from his grave!"
• He was filled with joy, remembering Jesus's words about rising again.
• Mark went to the tomb and confirmed that Jesus was gone, finding only the burial cloth.
• He encountered women at the tomb but couldn't recognize them in the dim light.
• Mark said he called after them to "be not afraid" and told them that Jesus was risen and going before them to Galilee.
• Mark returned to the house, pretending to be asleep.

John's Testimony

• John, along with Peter, returned to Bethany where they brought news of Jesus' resurrection.

• John was met with disbelief and ridicule.

• He returned to Jerusalem to find Mary (Jesus’s mother) had also told the disciples about Jesus’s resurrection.

• All the disciples gathered in the house but were skeptical.

• The house was locked to avoid being accused of removing Jesus’s body.

• The disciples were in despair, leaderless, and frightened.

• Thomas left the house to check the tomb for himself.

• Many disciples prepared to flee to Galilee.### The disciples' transformation

• The disciples, initially disheartened, were transformed into powerful figures, spreading the word of Jesus and eventually conquering the Roman empire.

• Jesus’s post-resurrection appearance convinced the disciples to spread his teachings.

• The disciples were initially afraid and doubtful of Jesus’s resurrection.

• Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, despite the door being locked.

• Jesus reassured the disciples, showing them the wounds from his crucifixion, and commanded them to spread his message.

• The disciples were initially skeptical about Jesus’s resurrection, but their doubt was dispelled through his appearance.

• Thomas was a disciple who initially doubted Jesus’s resurrection, but later believed after seeing Jesus’s wounds.

• Jesus told Thomas that those who have not seen him, but still believe, are blessed.

The investigation of Joseph of Arimathea

• Joseph of Arimathea, who helped prepare Jesus’s body for burial, is a suspect for the Christ Commission.
• The Christ Commission is still searching for the missing body of Jesus and investigating potential suspects.
• Only two suspects remain in the Christ Commission’s investigation, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
• Joseph suggests that if Matthias is not satisfied with his or Nicodemus’s answers, he should continue investigating and visit Nicodemus’s impressive garden.
• Matthias's investigation has led him to Joseph of Arimathea, who is a wealthy man.