PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study Thirty Five Sept 22nd to 28th 2008.
Reading – John Chapter 20:10-18.

“The Witness of women to Jesus rising from the dead”

“The disciples went back to their homes, but 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 the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?””They have taken away my Lord” she said, “And I don’t know where they have put him.” At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not realise that it was Jesus.” “Woman “he said “Why are you crying?”Who is it you are looking for?”Thinking he was the gardener, she said, Sir if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”Jesus said to her, “Mary.”John Chapter 20: verses 10 to 16. (New International Version).

It is not uncommon for cheating to spoil the game of golf. At every level of golf I have been involved in from Professional right down to the junior level; accusations and punishment has been dealt out to those who want to win at any cost and break the rules. Many of us have the desire to win when we play golf, but when cheating becomes a part of that, we have lost the true reason for playing sport and that is to let our skills be the true test of our ability.

Once caught cheating, it is very hard for other players to trust you again. Your reputation goes before you.

While women were never thought of as cheats, their testimony did not have the same validity as a man in the first century. There is no doubt that the Patriarchal society of the Old Testament favoured men (Leviticus Ch 12 for example) and Jewish cultural laws developed further in putting women down.

We can see in various cultures how vastly different women are treated and the place they have in society. For the dawning of a new era in the bible; it is Mary who first sees Jesus alive again.

For Mary her visit to the tomb of Jesus was to pay her respects to Jesus and to anoint his body with spices. But Jesus’ body is missing and her grief was overwhelming. As she grieves she sees two angels next to the place where Jesus was laid and in turning around sees Jesus alive again. She falls at his feet holding him as an expression of love and adoration. As you read the passage above how much she loved Jesus is evident.

We see among those who followed Jesus a number of women who became associated with the 12 disciples who were men. These women which included Mary, loved and followed Jesus with the same devotion as Peter James and the other disciples.
It is amazing then that the first witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus in the gospels are women.

While this could be seen as a weakness in the witness to the resurrection, this is not a concern for the biblical writers.
Jesus gives a status to women of equal importance to men and while you can see in Paul’s writings in the New Testament some restrictions on women and their role in the church, it is balanced out with the development of women in all aspects of the churches life.

Prayer.  
Thank you Lord God for overcoming death and giving us hope of a new life. Give us courage to witness to your great works.  Amen

Upcoming Events

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Wyong Trainee Pro-Am.

Venue: Wyong Golf Cub
Date: Monday 17th November.
Cost: $50
Tee Time: 7:30am and
12 noon shotgun start.
Contact: Graham on 02 9740 9069
or email.

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