common knowledge

December 3, 2018

Mary Magdalene told everyone (Mk 16:10-16:10)

“Mary Magdalene

Went out.

She told those

Who had been

With him,

About what happened.

They were mourning

And weeping.”

 

ἐκείνη πορευθεῖσα ἀπήγγειλεν τοῖς μετ’ αὐτοῦ γενομένοις πενθοῦσι καὶ κλαίουσιν

 

This text is similar to Matthew, chapter 28:8, but it was all the women, not Mary Magdalene alone who told them about the resurrection of Jesus there.  Luke, chapter 24:10, also had all the women tell the apostles about the resurrection.  In John, chapter 20:2, only Mary Magdalene told Peter and the other beloved disciple about Jesus’ resurrection.  Here Mark said that Mary Magdalene went (ἐκείνη) and told the people who had been with Jesus (πορευθεῖσα ἀπήγγειλεν τοῖς μετ’ αὐτοῦ) what had happened to him.  However, this is the only place where it was mentioned that these disciples of Jesus were mourning and weeping (γενομένοις πενθοῦσι καὶ κλαίουσιν).  Mary Magdalene told these disciples who had been upset and maybe discouraged about the death of Jesus.  Thus, the resurrection of Jesus became common knowledge to the male disciples of Jesus via these women, in particular Mary Magdalene.

August 9, 2018

The women depart from the tomb (Mt 28:8-28:8)

“Thus,

They left the tomb

Quickly

With fear

And great joy.

They ran

To tell

His disciples.”

 

καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι ταχὺ ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου μετὰ φόβου καὶ χαρᾶς μεγάλης ἔδραμον ἀπαγγεῖλαι τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ.

 

This text is similar to Mark, chapter 16:8-10, but there the whole question of the short and long ending of Mark comes up.  In verse 8, the scared women do not tell anyone, then in verse 9, they told Peter and his friends, and then in verse 10, Mary Magdalene told those who had been mourning his death.  Luke, chapter 24:10, had Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women tell the apostles about the resurrection.  John, chapter 20:2, had only Mary Magdalene tell Peter and the other beloved disciple about Jesus’ resurrection.  Clearly Mary Magdalene was involved in these incidents at the tomb.  Here Matthew said that these women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, left the tomb quickly (καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι ταχὺ ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου) with both fear and grace or great joy (μετὰ φόβου καὶ χαρᾶς μεγάλης).  They ran to tell the disciples of Jesus what had happened to him (ἔδραμον ἀπαγγεῖλαι τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ).  Thus, the resurrection of Jesus became common knowledge to the male disciples of Jesus via these women, Mary Magdalene in particular.