MARY MAGDALENE
Peter,
We have not always seen eye to eye, you and me. You are the leader amongst Jesus followers, I respect that, and all I ask is that you offer me the same. Do not dismiss me or my testimony, or roll your eyes, making out that I speak nonsense when others speak mysteries, yes, I have seen you do that. The things I write to you now and will describe more fully later, when I see you, are true. That they are revealed to me, a woman, before they have been shown to you, a man, may be another challenge to you humility, but I urge you to accept them and do as I ask. Today, not even an hour ago, I have witnessed most miraculous and strange events. Events which have stirred me with joy yet shaken me with fear.
The tomb is empty. I have just visited with my sisters, and the stone was rolled back. When we entered, the grave clothes lay folded where His body had been. We questioned amongst ourselves what could have happened. Joanna became distressed, crying out that they could not leave his body in peace after all He had been through. Mary from Bethany wrapped her in an embrace to comfort her, when a man came forth from the back of the cave.
Believe me when I say I have never seen a man before who looked this way, so full of beauty and yet with something terrifying in his aspect, and when he spoke, although it was but a whisper, it filled the cavern with an awesome sound. Truly he was an angel and he said to us, “Why do you look for the living amongst the dead? He is not here, he has risen!” We look at each other in wonder.
Do you remember how Jesus told us that he must be delivered to the hands of sinners. That he would be crucified and on the third day he would rise again?” Do you remember that? Remember how mad we all thought him. I had forgotten it, even as he bled on the cross. That part was not the part of the prophesy that was difficult to believe, I always feared it was inevitable that it would happen one day, but that the final part of what he said should be true! My faith has not been strong enough to believe it but looking into that stranger’s eyes I understood what God has done, and now I have seen it with my own eyes.
I know it is not wise for us to be seen together, but we must meet. Gather the disciples together in a place you know is safe, then meet me at the Essene Gate at noon and lead me to them. I will tell you more about what I have seen and been told.
Excuse my writing to you in haste. The woman who brings you this note is known to me, you can trust her.
Your friend,
Mary Magdalene
PETER
Father,
I feel I must write to you urgently, as news of events here in Jerusalem has no doubt reached you. And if it has, then know what you much of what you have heard is true: Jesus was crucified and put to death. I can only imagine what you must have thought when you heard. You thought I was a fool for following him, and I expect you’re waiting for me to return home, shame faced and broken. But I want to let you know that I will not be coming home, for much has happened here that you will not have heard, not yet anyway, but one day it will be told around the world.
I live in hope these things will make you see truly who he was and is, father. You see I knew. I swear, I always knew, and when he asked me who I thought he was, I told him. I said you are the Christ. You are the messiah. The son of the living God! And you know what he said? He said, “Blessed are you, Peter son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood but by my father in Heaven.” So, I was right, and he went on to say, “And I tell you that you are my rock, on which I shall build my church and the gates of Hell shall not overcome it.” Can you imagine it father! But then he said something that I didn’t understand. He said must die at the hands of the elders and the chief priest. I cried out, “Never Lord! I will never let this happen to you!” And he rebuked me, “Get behind me Satan. You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God but merely those of humans.”
I did not know what to say, but I knew that in knowing who he was, that I must just continue to follow him wherever he led me, and now it has happened just as he said. And that was not the only thing he said that came true. He said I would deny him. Again, I said that I would never deny him. I was his Rock! He had told me so, but then when he was arrested, I did it. I’m not ashamed to admit it because in my fault his powers are revealed. You know me father, I am sure you would be the first to say I am a hot head, that I act without thinking, that passions rise up and take hold of me. Well, I was scared, really scared. I had seen the guards take him off, and I knew what they wanted to do with him. She was just a little girl who asked me first, she said, “This man was with him.” I felt terror grip me as all eyes turned, and I said I didn’t know him. I did it twice more. Men kept passing and accusing me as I tried to slip into the crowd, and then I realised. I wept then. How could I be his rock when I am so weak. But he has said I am, so I must be, and there were yet greater things to come.
His risen, father. Risen from the grave! Yes, it is true, as he had foretold and showed all our ancient texts had foretold before him. No doubt they will spread lies about it, and say it is not so, but they will have to kill me before I will deny it. He sits here with us now, in flesh and blood. I have shared meals with him. Father if this letter will not make you believe, then come to us and see for yourself. It is my most fervent prayer that you would come to understand, that God, in his great mercy on mankind has given us knew birth! A living hope through the resurrection of his son, this Jesus, this Jesus Christ. It is a new hope to be freed from shame and guilt and death. Yes, even death, for he has invited us to return with him to his heavenly home one day; when peace shall rule the earth, when perfect justice will be done, and where we shall see our true father face to face. He will look upon us with his divine love, because through son’s sacrifice upon the cross, he has forgiven us of all our sin and error. What freedom this is.
Come to me, and believe, my own dear father, come to me and place your faith in the King of Heaven and Earth. Come and feel the peace of God live in you and know the promise that He will never leave your side.
Your son,
Simon-Peter
The Bugle 