Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Topic: The empty tomb 26
Reading: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15
Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)
Note: One of the critical questions that the critics who doubt the historicity of the empty tomb of Jesus should be asking themselves is this: The improbable news of Jesus’ resurrection would inure to the advantage of the disciples, yet the disciples weren’t prepared to accept the happy news hook, line and sinker until it was verified to be true. “Why would the disciples worry themselves in going the extra mile to verify the evidence of the women when they stood to be the prime beneficiaries of such an unexpected happy ending?”
It’s evident that the rigid, ritualistic background of the disciples did not witness significant cultural change during their more than three years walk with Christ. It might seem as if they were just watching an unfolding drama after another by Christ while they silently judged him with their critical Jewish lenses, completely detached from the action.
In the encounter with the woman at the well of Jacob, the disciples had left Christ at the well to go and buy food when Jesus entered into a conversation with a Samaritan woman carrying a lot of life baggage, who had come to fetch water at that odd time when the sun was shining hot. This interaction between Jesus and the woman, knowingly forbidden by Jewish standards and etiquette, incidentally turned into a life transforming encounter that was to change a whole nation through the woman.
Having met Jesus and the woman in conversation on their return, the disciples marvelled secretly at what they saw for two reasons. Firstly, the Jews had no dealings whatsoever with the Samaritans. Secondly, Jewish etiquette and the Talmud forbade Rabbis to converse with women in public, or instruct them in the law. No Rabbi could even converse with his wife, sister, or daughter in public and in the street.
Food for thought: The life transforming interaction Jesus had with the woman, breaking restrictive cultural barriers during his earthly ministry, did little to change the cultural perspectives of his disciples, even after his death. Two thousand years after his death, the Church is still battling restrictive cultural barriers regarding women.
Declaration: And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, “What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?” (John 4:27)
© Author: Rev Fred Aboe
