magdala center, magdala, israel boat chapel dedicated to ... · including mary, called magdalene,...
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1 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
Apostle to the Apostles - The Life of Mary Magdalene
Magdala Center, Magdala, Israel
Boat Chapel
Dedicated to the memory of Jesus teaching from the boat1
NRSV Matthew 4: 12-17 Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“The Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Amen.
1 http://www.magdala.org/visit/duc-in-altum/boat-chapel/
2 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
The City of Magdala
Magdala ("Tower or Castle" in Hebrew)
resides on the south west corner of the Sea of
Galilee. This was the main location to salt and cure
fish for this area. This city also was a shipbuilding
center, a trading center and a wealthy town. The
population was mainly Gentile.2 This city was also
known for dye works and primitive textile
factories.
This city was also a well known seaside resort for the Romans and the Greeks. Its
reputation was " What happens in Magdala stays in Magdala". This town had a bad
reputation for many years from the Jewish perspective and this would be reflected onto
Mary Magdalene's mythology.
Mary was the third child of Nathan her father and Zebidah her mother. Her oldest
brother was Samuel and the middle child was called Levi. Samuel and Nathan worked in
the fish warehouse.
This fish warehouse handled the fish caught in the southern part of the Sea of
Galilee. The fish was either dried or smoked or salted. The poetic name for this lake was
Lake Kinneret translated from Hebrew as "Lake Harp".
The warehouse was also known for its
Garum, a fish based sauce. The fish and the Garum
products were sold all over Israel and even in Rome!
Mary's Family
Mary (Hebrew - "Handmaid of the Lord")3 or
in (Greek form for Miriam - "Strong".)4 grew up in a
Pharisee Jewish home, a faith strictly observed and
full of love. Women then were not taught how to
read, but Mary learned secretly along with her Greek
girl friend. As Samuel worked closely with Greek merchants, he picked up the language and
was good at reading it as well. Mary learned Greek from her brother Samuel as well. Mary
had an inquisitive mind and was struggling against the Jewish social female place in society.
Women were expected to have children and manage the home, education was not
2 George Butrick, The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, (Tenn, Abingdon,1981) Page 288 3 George Butrick, The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible K-Q,(Tenn, Abingdon,1981) Page 290 4 James Packer, Nelson's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts, (Tenn, Nelson Publishing,1995) Page 666
3 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
necessary or expected. In the synagogue, women were separated from their husbands and
banished to the back of the worship hall.
When Mary turned 17 she met Joel who was 23 and working in the fish warehouse.
By 18 they were married. By 25 Mary was worried that she would be a barren woman. This
shame would destroy her marriage and her parents family as well.
Nathan, her father, took the family to Jerusalem for at least one festival each year.
During one trip, as the families of Magdala setup their tents for the night, Mary found a
Canaanite idol buried under her bed roll.
Idol Worship
Mary liked the beautiful artwork of this clay idol and kept the image hidden from
her family. This Canaanite idol was devil worship, truly unacceptable to the Jewish faith
community.
Mary stopped praying to God for a child and began asking this Canaanite idol for a
child. Soon after Mary became pregnant. A great celebration followed the birth of their
daughter, named Elishiba. Elishiba in Hebrew means "God her oath".
Shortly after the child was born, the Canaanite idol took possession of Mary's mind
and started to demand her obedience. Before Mary could fight back, there were seven
devils living within her.
Mary could no longer handle the devils within her and she told Joel the whole story.
Joel took Mary to see the town's rabbi. After many long hours and rituals, the devils
remained with her.
Soon the whole village knew about Mary's devil possession and they wanted her to
leave and never come back. Joel would raise Elishiba with the help of the extended family.
Mary's Expulsion
Soon, Mary was given a cloak, a walking stick, a bag of water and food good for three
days and she left. The town's rabbi suggested she go to the wilderness and hopefully a
prophet or holy man could heal her. Many days later, Mary stumbled down a steep hill and
found the Jordan River. Her cloak was in tatters, the food and water long gone and the
sacks lost somewhere in the wilderness. Mary wanted to die. Yet the Jordan River revived
her, even in her weakened condition.
4 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
Resting by the side of the river, Mary heard voices in the distance. "Repent, for the
world is coming to an end". Mary raised herself and very weakly started walking towards
the voice, leaning on trees and rocks along the way.
The Gospel According to Luke, Chapter 3: 1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius
Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his
brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias
ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the
word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into
all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the
prophet Isaiah,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Amen.5
Around a bend in the river, she saw a man standing in the middle of the Jordan
River, baptizing men and women by full immersion. Mary fell to her knees, she was so tired
and weak. Two strong men came to her sides and lifted her back up. John and Simon
introduced themselves and offered to help her. Mary said she was living with seven
demons and no one could help her, she wanted to die.
Jesus and the Exorcism of Mary's Demons
John and Simon said they knew of a rabbi, a healer, who had performed amazing
healing. This rabbi came from Galilee. Did she want to meet this man? Mary weakly said
yes. Mary was half carried, half walked to a small clearing away from the river, to a small
campsite and a large tent.
5 NRSV The New Oxford Annotated Bible , (New York, Oxford University Press,2010) Page 1834
5 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
The Gospel According to Luke, Chapter 8: 2-3
The twelve were with him, as well as women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
including Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of
Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them from their resources.
Amen.6
John and Simon introduced Mary to Jesus. Mary was lowered to her knees, she was
so weak. Mary told Jesus her life's story and the demon possession. Jesus asked if she
wanted to be healed. Mary shook her head, yes. Jesus placed both hands on her head and
after praying to God, a large cry came out Mary's mouth. Each demon came out and Jesus
demanded they no longer live within anyone.
Mary collapsed to the ground, yet she felt freed of the demons, their voices and their
demands. Slowly John and Simon raised her back up and placed her besides the fire. After
feeding her, she fell sound asleep and slept through to the next morning.
Mary, an Apostle of Jesus
The next morning, Mary, who was now 27 years old, decided to stay with Jesus and
this group of fellow believers and devote her life to this wonderful teacher, this healer, this
amazing Rabbi.
For three years Mary followed Jesus and the Apostles as they traveled throughout
Israel. Jesus preached and healed the sick and lame. Jesus taught using Parables and often
the Apostles would ask for an explanation. No one could explain how Jesus fed once four
thousand Jews and again five thousand Jews.
Jesus sent the Apostles in pairs to local towns to teach and heal. Jesus paired Mary
with John. Together for forty days they visited several towns around Nazareth. Mary healed
Suzanna, a woman in the town of Korazin possessed by demons. Both John and Mary were
surprised and felt in awe of the power Jesus had given them. After all the Apostles had
returned and proclaimed their successes to the group, Jesus said they would be baptised by
fire.
During Jesus missionary journey, Mary visited Magdala to enquire about Joel and
Elishiba. Mary was ridiculed and forced to leave town without any knowledge of her
husband and daughter.
6 NRSV The New Oxford Annotated Bible , (New York, Oxford University Press,2010) Page 1844
6 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
None of the Apostles truly understood Jesus message, except for Mary. Her savior
had given her a gift of deep visionary insight, which scared her at time and exhilarated her
at other times. Mary was part of the inner circle, along with John and Peter. This close
relationship would haunt the story of Mary for centuries to come.
Riot in Jerusalem Temple
Pontius Pilate detests the Jews and so starts a
riot in the Temple and there are many Jews killed
and injured. One of those badly beaten is Joel. Joel's
extended family cares for him and slowly takes him
home to Magdala. Mary is found and told that Joel is
dying. Mary comes to Joel's bedside despite the
anger of the family. Joel dies in her arms. Mary is
thirty years old, and yet she has lived a lifetime of
grief, despair, saving grace and amazing apostleship.
The Anointing at Bethany
Some Bible scholars say that Mary Magdalene was the woman who anointed Jesus as a
prelude to his death.7
The Gospel According to Mark 14: 3-9
While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with
an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment
on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in
this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money
given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has
performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to
them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has
anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in
the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” Amen.
7 Readers Digest, Mysteries of the Bible, (Pleasantville, NY, 1988) Page 323
7 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
Passion Week
The Gospel According to Matthew 16:21-28
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great
suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be
raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never
happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to
me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take
up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their
life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their
life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay
everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste
death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Amen.8
On Palm Sunday, last Sunday the Jews welcomed Jesus as the King of the Jews at the
Eastern Gate. Waiving palm branches, laying down their cloaks, Jesus rode into Jerusalem
on a donkey. The people were yelling "Hosanna, to the Son of David". Hosanna means -
"Saviour come and rescue me, Son of David!". Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven. "Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David."
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." 9
All week Jesus and the Apostles were in the Temple, teaching, healing and no one
laid a hand on any of them.
Late Thursday, Jesus lead the Apostles in the Passover Meal. He said such strange
things to us, we did not understand. This bread is a symbol of my body broken for you. This
wine is a symbol of my blood which is shed for you. What does all this mean, we were
afraid to ask!
Judas disappeared down the stairs and out into the night. Now the faithful were
alone in the upper room. "I have wished so ardently to celebrate this Passover with you,"
Jesus said. "You are my chosen ones. My children, I will be with you only a little while
longer. I give you a new command, love one another. As I have loved you, so you should
8 NRSV The New Oxford Annotated Bible , (New York, Oxford University Press,2010) Page 1771 9 Margaret George, Mary called Magdalene, Viking,2002, Page 454
8 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
love one another. This is now all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
each other. 10
Then on Thursday night, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was arrested as a rebel!
Crucifixion and Burial
Friday morning Jesus was crucified and died. Joseph of Arimathea received
permission from Pontius Pilate and Jesus body was taken down from the cross.
Jesus body was buried in Joseph of Arimathea's cave hurriedly as it was Friday
night. A large stone was rolled in front of the tomb to keep the animals away.
(This sculpture was created by Michelangelo
and is called "The Florentine Pieta"). Pieta is
translated "The Pity". This magnificent sculpture
was created in 1498-1499. The sculpture, in Carrara
marble, was made for the cardinal's funeral
monument, but was moved to its current location,
the first chapel on the right as one enters the
basilica, the Vatican in Rome, in the 18th century.
Michelangelo's interpretation of the Pietà is
unprecedented in Italian sculpture. It is an
important work as it balances the Renaissance
ideals of classical beauty with naturalism. It is the
only piece Michelangelo ever signed.11 (The World's Fair
in New York City,1964, had a Vatican Exhibition Hall and this was their main display. This piece is breathtaking and I
visited it every time I went to this fair, rw)
Apostle to the Apostles, the Story of the Resurrection
Now it is Sunday morning and Mary said that she must get up and find my way back
to the sellers of Oils and Spices. I have a few coins still left in my robe. I will take what I
have and purchase what is needed and anoint my Rabbis body as my parting gift to Him.
The spices Ethiopian myrrh, galbanum (a waxy sweet gum from Syria), Spikenard Oil from
India. 12
Walking quietly, Mary leaves the Upper Room. It was in this room that after the
crucifixion was fact, that all the Apostles had returned. Everyone was so afraid that the 10 Margaret George, Mary called Magdalene, Viking,2002, Page 500 11 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet%C3%A0_(Michelangelo) 12 Margaret George, Mary called Magdalene, Viking,2002, Page 549
9 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
Jewish authorities or the Roman centurions would knock the door down and drag them all
away to either be whipped or sold into slavery. Yet nothing had happened. Early Sunday
morning, as the sun was now creeping up the horizon, Mary was entering the garden and
the tomb where Jesus was buried.
The Gospel According to Matthew 28: 1-7
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see
the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came
and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For
fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I
know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell the disciples, "He has been raised from the dead, and
indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." Amen.13
Mary was stunned and backed out of the grave site. Mary found a place to sit and
began to weep. She was so tired and so emotionally drained.
Looking up she saw a gardener and went
over to him. Sir she said, can you tell me where they
have taken my Rabbi. The gardener raised his hat
and said "Mary, do you not recognize me."
Mary was stunned. Could this be Jesus? He
was dead three days ago, I saw him die on the cross
and lowered into his mother's arms!
Jesus said " Go and tell the others I am going
to ascend to my God and your God!".
Suddenly, now fully refreshed, no longer
tired, no longer emotionally drained, Mary runs back
to the Upper Room. Bursting into the main door and
running up the stairs, she shouts" He is risen. He is
risen. I have seen him."
Mary is the Apostle ( Messenger sent by God to witness) to the Apostles, that Jesus is
risen!! Apostle to the Apostles.
Peter and John call everyone together and question Mary. Peter believes Mary is like
the rest of them, emotionally drained and very fearful of what can happen next. Mary
remains adamant that Jesus is the garden standing outside the tomb.
13 NRSV The New Oxford Annotated Bible , (New York, Oxford University Press,2010) Page 1790
10 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
Peter and John look at each other and both run down the stairs and run across
Jerusalem to the site of the tomb. There Peter looks in and finds two angels ready to answer
their questions. The angels tell the Apostles that Jesus is risen as he has foretold them so
many times before.
Jesus left the grave site and travelled to Emmaus along with two other travelers and
explained the role of Messiah to them. Jesus appears often the fifty days after his
resurrection, bringing comfort, love and grace to them. At the fiftieth day, Jesus sends the
Paraclete, the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit to them all. Wisdom is poured into their
hearts and now they truly understand Jesus ministry and their role to spread the Good
News to all.
Elishiba
Mary's daughter grows into a beautiful woman and marries a merchant from
Capernaum. Mary often writes letters to her and they are all returned unopened. Elishiba
rejected her mother in keeping with the Jewish faith. There would be repercussions later in
life for Elishiba.
Jerusalem in the 50's and 60's AD
As the years pass, the Apostles take a leading role in supporting the Jewish
community in Jerusalem with life saving support. All the Apostles remain in Jerusalem and
James takes the leadership. Saul begins to persecute the Jews in Jerusalem and wants to go
to Damascus to expand his capture of these rebellious and misguided Jews.
Tensions begin to mount again between the Romans and the Jews. The Romans see
these Christians and Jewish off shoot and persecute everyone. By the 60's AD most of the
Apostles have left and moved to Pella, in Jordan. In 67 AD the tensions boil over into a war,
which starts in Jerusalem. The Romans call "The Legio X Fretensis" (Symbol is the bull, the
symbol of the goddess Venus) 14out of Damascus to destroy these Jews once and for all
time. This legion kills, burns the towns and crucifies everyone along their path, starting in
Galilee. Magdala is decimated. By 70 AD Jerusalem has fallen and the Temple has been
destroyed. The last stronghold of Masada falls in 73AD. The Jewish culture is finished, the
Diaspora (dispersion) of the Jewish faith begins.
14 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_X_Fretensis
11 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
Ephesus
Mary and John leave Para, Jordan in 70 AD
and travel to Ephesus. Here, they support the
church started by Paul. Both are considered
celebrities, as they were with Jesus! Mary would
spend the rest of her life in this large coastal city in
modern day Turkey.
The main goddess in Ephesus was Artemis and was beloved by the citizens of this
wealthy town. Artemis was the daughter of Leto and Zeus, and the twin of Apollo. She is
the goddess of the wilderness, the hunt and wild animals, and fertility. She is the helpers of
midwives as a goddess of birth.
This was the beginning of her role as guardian of young children and patron of
women in childbirth. Being a goddess of contradictions, she was the protectors of women
in labor, but it was said that the arrows of Artemis brought them sudden death while giving
birth. Artemis was a divinity of healing, but also brought and spread diseases such as
leprosy, rabies and even gout.
In Ephesus, a principal city of Asia Minor, a great
temple was built in her honor, which became one of the "Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World".
The cult statues of the Ephesian Artemis differ greatly
from those of mainland Greece, whereas she is depicted as a
huntress with her bow and arrows. Those found at Ephesus
show her in the eastern style, standing erect with numerous
nodes on her chest.
The Book of the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 19 23-29
About that time no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way.
A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of
Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans. These he gathered
together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, “Men, you
know that we get our wealth from this business. You also see and hear
that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has
persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by
saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours
may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she
will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.”
12 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
When they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The city
was filled with the confusion; and people rushed together to the theater, dragging with them Gaius
and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s travel companions. Amen.15
Many riots over the years occurred between the Artemis citizens and the Jews and
Christians. John in his 80's is sent to Patmos, a Roman prison, as he continued to stir up the
populace of Ephesus. Many biblical scholars believe this is the John who received
epiphanies and wrote the Book of the Revelations.
The Death of Mary Magdalene
Mary is now in her 90's and dies in one of
these riots. Mary is buried with a great
outpouring of grief by the entire city. Hearing
about the death of Mary, Elishiba, now a mature
woman, saw her mother in a new light. Elishiba
came to the grave site with the final unopened
letter from her mother.
Elishiba opens the letter,
To my most honored lady, Elishiba of Capernaum, and
leader of the synagogue in Tiberius - Greetings and blessings
from Mary, called Magdalene, apostle and servant of Jesus in
the church of Ephesus.
As your mother, I beg you to read this letter. In all the
reports I have heard from you, it is evident you are a
respected and powerful leader in the synagogue in Tiberius.
You are well versed in scripture and charity, please extend
some of this charity to your mother. I cannot wait much
longer to see you face to face. So much has happened over
the sixty years we have been apart. I know that you
persecute the Jews who have found The Way. Why must we
15 NRSV The New Oxford Annotated Bible, (New York, Oxford University Press,2010) Page 1956
13 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
be enemies ? I have spent much time writing down my life
with Jesus, so that humbly, others may read this and find
Jesus in their lives. And so, read this as well and know your
mother.
Only John and I are left. Peter died in Rome. James, the
son of Zebedee was beheaded nine years after Jesus left us.
The rest are scattered and dead by now. We, who are left, are
old and frail locust-bodies, live on. Your loving mother, Mary.
Come and see me soon. 16
Elishiba now understands her mother and mourns her loss. She pays for the
carvings around her tomb as an eternal memorial to her mother.
Questions for consideration:
1) Jesus and Mary Magdalene both are rejected by their families. What does this say about
the nature of families? Is it possible to find one's true family outside of blood lines?
2) Mary Magdalene in the novel, suffers from the loss of her relationship with her daughter.
How hard was this for her?
3) Throughout the novel, there is a resistance to accept Mary Magdalene as a spiritual
leader. Why would men not want women in positions of spiritual leadership?
Bibliography:
Margaret George, Mary called Magdalene, (New York: Viking Press,2002)
Wikipedia- Book Summary - As a woman in the Bible, Mary Magdalene's story is not
recounted as fully as that of some of the males associated with Jesus. The novel presents a
new view of Mary Magdalene – a female apostle who was the first of Jesus' followers. She
noted that they "provide me with something unique to build on. With what you might call
the 'celebrities' like Mary Magdalene, you just have this outline of her life and the drama in
it, even if it is shadowy, tantalizingly brief and potentially misleading."
16 Margaret George, Mary called Magdalene, Viking,2002, Page 559-560
14 The First Exploration Journey - Apostle to the Apostles, The Life of Mary Magdalene
Mary, called Magdalene was released in 2002 by Viking Press. Some journalists have
observed the increasing interest in Mary Magdalene, and have cited the popularity of
Margaret George's novel as evidence of this trend. Mary, called Magdalene became a best-
seller in 2002, followed by The Da Vinci Code in 2003.