And Jesus said, “My Wife…”

Recently, an article appeared in the paper indicating that a professor had acquired a piece of papyrus at a market which contained the words in the title of this piece. Of course, it started some general discussion on the possibility of Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene, a story that appeals to the French, since it supports the story of the French kings and we had that book printed quite recently. Of course, the papyrus was not unearthed at a dig but bought at a market which brings it into question. An analysis is being done on the date of the ink and the papyrus so we will hear more later.

The churches have taken a stand, “I don’t think so but it could be possible.” This is an insufferable response since it is quite contrary to the story the Bible tells. The Roman Catholic Church has taken a position but they left the door open to the story being true. It seems we are ALL politically careful.

So what does the Bible say about Jesus wife? It does say a great deal which the church ignores in its teaching. I suppose it begins with the selection and testing of Abraham with the dedication of Isaac on the altar. When Abraham had proved his loyalty to God, he was given the covenant for the future. Readers know this covenant (which was renewed with Isaac and Jacob) so I will not produce it here.

After the turmoil in Egypt, Moses led the people out of Egypt and took them to Mount Sinai, where God became their king, formed them into a nation, and gave them his constitution (His laws, statutes and judgments) And there, the wedding took place. These important Scriptures are very casual in their presentation but here it is. Exodus 24:9-11, “Then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; AND THEY SAW THE GOD OF ISRAEL: and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in its clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel He laid not His hand; ALSO THEY SAW GOD, AND DID EAT AND DRINK.” The wedding ceremony where Jesus married His people!

Penitent Mary Magdalene by Nicolas Régnier

Although they had taken a vow before the Lord, “All that the Lord said we will do” they failed to live up to the vow and after many years God raised up the Assyrians to come and take them away. God refers to this as His divorce. It is covered in the prophets, the historians and the Psalms. God also mentioned that He did not divorce Judah, although she had acted as badly as her sister.

The Lord, in writing His Gospel, sometimes used His prophets in a visual way so that His words were demonstrated by the actions of the prophet. In this case, He used Hosea and I suggest that you read the first two chapters of Hosea where this is set out. Also, it is where those famous words are written, In chapter one, we find those famous words, “In the place where it was said unto them, Ye are NOT my people , there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.”

So what does this mean? God’s love is such that He wants to remarry His people but His own laws forbid it since it would be adultery. The solution is that Jesus must die so that the remarriage can occur. Jesus lives up to His undertaking BEFORE THE WORLD WAS to be that person. Psalm 40: 6-8, ”Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast Thou opened; BURNT OFFERING AND SIN OFFERING THOU HAST NOT REQUIRED. And then I said, Lo, I come; (in the volume of the book it is written of Me.) I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.” So Jesus consented to His sacrifice to enable the marriage to occur and when is that?

The midnight oil for the lamps

When Jesus returns to take His rightful place on the Lord’s throne, presently occupied by Queen Elizabeth II ! In the parables we are told to be ready because He will come as a thief and we will not know the exact time but we are urged to be ready!

And how should we be ready? For me, it means two things: First, do good works as we are urged to do in the Bible; second, preach the word of the kingdom to everyone on earth because the Lord stated that He would not return until that was done!

God’s great love for His people demonstrates the love of which Paul was writing in 2 Corinthians chapter 13 where he says, “Love suffereth long and is kind.” Yes, in spite of our sins, God still loves us and has given us the means to escape those nasty things that will happen when this Babylonian age comes to a close. How do we do it? By repenting, being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. There is no cost, simply a confession of sin and a request for forgiveness.

We are guided in this by the parable of the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom with their oil lamps. Some were short of oil when the call came to say the bridegroom cometh and while fetching oil, the door of the wedding feast was closed and they were left out. This must not happen to us! Do we love the Lord ? (If ye love Me, follow My commandments.) There is no doubt that we are living in the last days of this age. The time for action is NOW!!