Jesus is making his final appearances to his disciples. He appears to his brother, James. Then to seven of his disciples who are fishing in the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus is now revealing himself to others; ten of the original 12 are in a room, but Thomas is absent and does not believe the report. Then Jesus appears to Thomas and tells him to examine his hands and side. But what does the resurrection of Christ mean?

The empty tomb reports begin to circulate among Jesus' disciples as Mary Magdalene and the other women tell them they have seen the risen Christ. Then, Jesus appears to Peter and to two others walking to Emmaus.

Women arrive at the tomb to anoint the dead body of Jesus. But the stone is rolled away from the tomb and Jesus body is not there. Angels appear and tell them the glad news. Jesus has risen from the dead! The women run to tell the disciples. But one woman remains, Mary Magdalene and she is the first to see the resurrected Jesus.

Jesus is buried. A Roman guard seals the tomb and stands watch, but on Sunday strange sounds come from within the tomb. Resurrection life enters the body of Jesus. He breathes and lives! Angels approach the tomb. Roman soldiers quake with fear and run for their lives.

Jesus did not just face His death, but He faced the death of every person. Jesus did not just face the death of His body, but He faced the ultimate, eternal death that awaited all.

Many people have faced suffering and death with great courage, but when we see Jesus, we see him recoiling in great anguish and sorrow. Why this difference?

Why do some say Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus? Why do some say she was the apostle to the apostles? Why have some believed that a power play in the church by despotic men robbed her of her special role in the first centuries of the Christian Church?