P2033:1, 190:3.1
The fifth morontia manifestation of Jesus to the recognition of mortal eyes
occurred in the presence of some twenty-five women believers assembled at
the home of Joseph of Arimathea, at about fifteen minutes past four o'clock
on this same Sunday afternoon. Mary Magdalene had returned to Joseph's house
just a few minutes before this appearance. James, Jesus' brother, had requested
that nothing be said to the apostles concerning the Master's appearance at
Bethany. He had not asked Mary to refrain from reporting the occurrence to
her sister believers. Accordingly, after Mary had pledged all the women to
secrecy, she proceeded to relate what had so recently happened while she was
with Jesus' family at Bethany. And she was in the very midst of this thrilling
recital when a sudden and solemn hush fell over them; they beheld in their
very midst the fully visible form of the risen Jesus. He greeted them, saying:
"Peace be upon you. In the fellowship of the kingdom there shall be neither
Jew nor gentile, rich nor poor, free nor bond, man nor woman. You also are
called to publish the good news of the liberty of mankind through the gospel
of sonship with God in the kingdom of heaven. Go to all the world proclaiming
this gospel and confirming believers in the faith thereof. And while you do
this, forget not to minister to the sick and strengthen those who are fainthearted
and fear-ridden. And I will be with you always, even to the ends of the earth."
And when he had thus spoken, he vanished from their sight, while the women
fell on their faces and worshiped in silence.
P2033:2, 190:3.2
Of the five morontia appearances of Jesus occurring up to this time, Mary
Magdalene had witnessed four.
P2033:3, 190:3.3
As a result of sending out the messengers during the midforenoon and from
the unconscious leakage of intimations concerning this appearance of Jesus
at Joseph's house, word began to come to the rulers of the Jews during the
early evening that it was being reported about the city that Jesus had risen,
and that many persons were claiming to have seen him. The Sanhedrists were
thoroughly aroused by these rumors. After a hasty consultation with Annas,
Caiaphas called a meeting of the Sanhedrin to convene at eight o'clock that
evening. It was at this meeting that action was taken to throw out of the
synagogues any person who made mention of Jesus' resurrection. It was even
suggested that anyone claiming to have seen him should be put to death; this
proposal, however, did not come to a vote since the meeting broke up in confusion
bordering on actual panic. They had dared to think they were through with
Jesus. They were about to discover that their real trouble with the man of
Nazareth had just begun.