The Days of Passover

They stood watching, witnessing the torment. The One they loved, now amid the vilest treatment. Accosted, the severity of their Rabbi’s crime was nowhere to be found. The depravation of hell fully downloaded into Purity’s flesh; before their tear-blurred eyes, He fell to the stony path. Sorrow engulfed these citizens of the land as each shifted her body’s weight in reaction to every sound demanding entry into her hearing. They silently wept, their courage that of a lioness—eyes of their heart upon He whom they loved. Aversions would not win today.

Every echo invaded their flesh, soul, spirit, and memory. They watched in wonder as He was hurled into the worst, unimaginable treatment a friend should ever face. Who is this Redeemer-unrecognizable? With all of heaven’s authority within Him, He chose not to protest nor default to the expected, but to allow lucifer to be used as the rod of judgment. 

Branding Christ’s body as the Slain Lamb; fists and spitting upon the face of the Son of God, the Roman flagellum of leather bound with metal and bones used to scourge the King of kings, ripping His skin and muscle away from His bones, nails and thorns pierced through His head, hands, and feet, the sword of the centurion used to declare the birth of salvation as water and blood spewed out of His side. The women He healed and empowered stood courageously; maybe, somehow, their presence would nurture Yeshuah while in the greatest act of love, experiencing the most significant separation.

Who caused nature to respond to His ill-treatment and His finishing offering?! Can you see Him? He said, “satan has nothing in Me.” Yet, now, there is the pain of every human within Him; every moment to ever be experienced by man and earth now within Him — He was determined to finish the path — His eyes set on the mark. The systems of death would now and forever release the family of Father back to Him. 

Vibrating through their numbness were the gyrations of mockery thrown at their Teacher. The straws falling to the earth—gambling for His priestly robe. He whom they had just ministered to one day earlier, now nailed to earth’s tree (He, His Father, and their Holy Spirit had created that tree). Stifled screams came from those separated in terror. His women, though, stood unmoved by the darkness. His love, steadfast and mightier than hell’s hate, kept them in sound mind. They would not turn from Him. 

Their minds raced 

grappling for memories of the mysteries spoken to them earlier that week,

 while their soul now fought terror. 

Their spirits stood in wonder and brokenness 

as their emotions fought abandonment. 

Their hearts warred to recall the light of love given to them, 

and what this was that had transfixed the atmosphere over Jerusalem. 

They unknowingly were witnesses to the changing of epochs. 

Humanity, the earth, and the “religion” of the day would no longer hold the same power as they once did. Freedom’s cost was spilling out before their very eyes. 

Traversing through their being was the sound of the rocks breaking into pieces as the earth shook and the skies grew black. Heaven left Him not alone. Neither would these women who called Him Rabbi. Thunder pealed through the darkness, announcing the voice of God, while arrows of lightning hit the ground, devastating the realms of death once and for all. 

These women had given the last three years of their lives to the One who had delivered them from demons and brought them into His Kingdom of Love. The familiarity of the demonic foes sent shivers through their nerves. They held on to the Word made flesh.

They reminisced in silence. Yeshua, the Messiah, was worthy of all they had. He was The Christ who possessed the authority to help them uncover their eternal identity. With nothing left to lose, with everything to gain, women of many villages responded to Love and followed Him wherever He traveled. He was worthy of these sojourners who would wear the “sandals of the path.” The soles of these sandals gave access to witnessing the price of His journey. His sandals and their sandals moved in unison, pioneering the ground of the covenant of His Kingdom. Throughout northern Galilee, they walked. From the North to Nazareth, and from the Galilee to Jerusalem. From the City of David to Bethany. The stony dirt-filled pathways experienced the vibrations of His heart, the persecutions, the tensions—the life that Jesus was meant to face. Here, mercy, love, and grace flooded their lives, transforming their stature forever. 

More than 2,000 years ago, this was not a “drama-filled” bible story; this was His sisters’ reality. Their flesh and blood stood on the same ground as Christ while He encountered all of hell’s demonic population. It was a long moment in history where all iniquity, infirmities, and keys of every evil door were given access to ravish His flesh and soul. However, nails attempting to enter His spirit-man were to no avail. For this place was immunity; none would dare enter. This was His place with His Father alone. This was the place of His strength—Holiness. 

What these women encountered was not something small, something momentary, or philosophical. These women were the ones known as; 

“There were also some women looking on from a distance, 

among whom were Mary Magdalene, 

and Mary, the mother of James the Less and Joses, 

and Salome.

When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; 

and there were many other women 

who came up with Him to Jerusalem.” 

Mark 15:40–41

“Soon afterward, He began going from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God.

The twelve were with Him,

and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: 

Mary, who was called Magdalene, 

from whom seven demons had gone out,

and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, 

and Susanna, 

and many others 

who were contributing to their support 

out of their private means.”

Luke 8:1–3

And their conversion process was unlike ours. In person, they were there as the world transitioned—transformed into the womb of His resurrection power. What was the world like without the cross? What did it look like at the moment resurrection was “crowned,” bursting on the scene of the “now,” no longer the same? 

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No person in the presence of The Word who once heard His voice remains the way they were before His voice spoke. The very essence of who He is is the words and thoughts of His Father. In His presence and through His voice, we are changed.

Mary Magdalene, the woman who touched the hem of Messiah’s garment; Joanna, the wife of Chuza (Herod’s steward), Susanna, Messiah’s mother, the Samaritan woman; Elizabeth, Anna, the woman who washed Messiah’s feet with her tears and costly ointment, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and so many others were forever transformed through Jesus’ ministry. His love delivered them and set them each on the course of life enveloped with love; only a few understood. His words became flesh within them and lived.

These Daughters were chosen to be born in time to travel alongside the disciples; these men were selected, mentored, and disciplined by the very One. These women were chosen to minister to Jesus throughout His years in earthly ministry. Women who dared not reveal the inner chamber (priceless moments) moments of hosting Him, washing His feet, knowing that the power of God was exuding from the One they served. They mirrored the mother side of God towards the One who knew Him well. They write no book. No autobiography, but their hearts carried the inked scroll of their destiny fulfilled. They were not created for the value of commercialized commodities but for love purchased, not with the monies of the earth. They would not prostitute their moments with God for one moment of popularity or self-affirmation. Their heart-place with Him is hidden.

These women who walked with Jesus. Smelled the same dirt, wore the dust of the path on their sandaled feet, cooked His meals for Him and them…

What was engraved in their hearts, on their minds, burned in their spirit through this adventure? Being released into the fullness of who they were, “called” by Christ Himself, who was it that they became? What became their lifestyle, once “chosen” by God, His Father, through the embrace of His Light? Doesn’t it say, “Many are called, but few are chosen?” Their spirit embraced the Call, resulting in each one being chosen to minister to Jesus Christ in life, death, and resurrection.

Wow, Jesus. What does their home look like in the heavens? You have such a family surrounding You in the realms of Your throne. Women chosen to be born for such a time as when You were on the earth.

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Who was Jesus on Earth? Wasn’t He the sacrifice, the Son of the Vinedresser, the Builder of the Kingdom of His Father, hope, love, mercy, truth, the path, the Last Adam, light in darkness, freedom to the enslaved, the Scape Goat, the Ram provided… to name a few? Each attribute He exuded would then become embedded within the soul and spirit of these faithful women. They would mirror His work within their lives. Even as He was sent, they would become builders of the Kingdom of God. My friend said of Mary of Magdala that she would be the first woman apostle (in the New Testament). Even so, the first Mary chosen to be Mother to the King of kings was the cultivator and facilitator of the ‘Word made flesh.’ We could speak of Anna, but what a beautiful priest in heart she was, bringing the presence of the Word into the Temple despite all evil taking place in that era of time; cultivating the earth with prayers, songs, and travails in preparation for the One.

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Three nights had passed since Yeshuah was sealed in the tomb; when all others were afraid, Mary of Magdala returned, searching for her Teacher.

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her. So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Jn 20:11–18

She saw, touched, heard, smelled, and spoke to the resurrected Christ. This moment in time would forever transform her. What she saw was her Teacher in His sacrificial process; having volunteered Himself as the Lamb, all the consequences of hell would be infused within His body. And now, as this had taken place, He was on His way into the highest heavens to present Himself as the sacrifice. Heaven’s Temple was waiting for the Fullness of the Sacrifice to arrive. She heard the voice of her beloved making Himself known to her and giving her directions — He was “sending” her to His brothers with revelation. She clung onto her “Rabbi” and needed to be told to “wait, it wasn’t time.” What did she encounter with that touch? What was the atmosphere around them like? What was vibrating through Messiah’s being? She followed His instructions, running to her brothers, His brothers; she was the witness to the testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus was about to travel to the highest heavens while she traversed the stony dirt paths, this time alone; she was the sole trumpeter.

My friend Hermana brought to my attention the reality that the message Mary was instructed to give was Apostolic in nature. “One of the church fathers called Mary Magdalene an apostle, a sent one. Indeed, when Jesus instructed her to go tell His disciples that he had risen, she became an apostle to the apostles” (“Magdala”; God really loves women; pg. 145). Jesus established that the disciples were His brothers and that God was their Father and God, as Yahweh was His.

Precious meditation on this topic continues for me …. Salvation had been purchased, and THE WAY had been made for His earthly family to come into the house of Father as sons and daughters of the Living God. Redemption flooded the earth with reconciliation. Mary of Magdala was the announcer of, “It is finished!” She a ‘sent one’ trumpeted the turning of the Key into the Kingdom of God. The Key of Life had invaded death, shutting its ancient gateway forever.

My life is forever changed and refined by this further meditation on the reality of the lives of the women who followed Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

God chose a woman delivered of seven demons to be His mouthpiece at the most pivotal time in history. Who God has joined together, no man can tear asunder. She was forever bound to her beloved, her deliverer, the one to whom she served—to her resurrected “Rabboni.” 

No, she is not Messiah’s wife, for He is God. He was her Rabboni, and today, He is willing to disciple any woman who will surrender to His Lordship and Kingdom way.

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Was it seven years ago already? The question was raised, “What do we do now?” The attending women wanted to stay. 

Holy Spirit told me, “Tell them I’m looking for those who will wear the sandals of the journey like the women who walked with me during My time on earth.” While He was speaking, I could see the stony dirt-filled paths (with grown grass and brush along the road) on which Jesus and His sisters walked throughout the regions of Israel. Their feet were filled with dirt as they journeyed. Their robes move with the movement of their steps together in unison. Jesus was looking for the sisters alive on the earth now, who would do the same. We have been given a beautiful picture of what that looks like through the lives of those mentioned in the gospels. His fire is ready to engulf our very steps with life and authority. He has given us shoes shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which He is working out in our hearts. Even as Jesus completed His mission through the refiner’s fire, He will empower us to do the same, giving us the strength, authority, and power to deliver the ‘Word made flesh’ wherever we are called to travel. 

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In the first garden, Eve rejected the Tree of Life and, while deceived, ate of the fruit of good and evil. In the second garden, the Greatest of Intercessors warred the mind and flesh as He approached the moment of fulfilling the scapegoat’s responsibility for all sin and disease. In the third garden, the resurrected Christ glowed with the glory of resurrection. Mary embraced the “Tree of Life”-the cherished Rabbi in this garden. 

The Lord came and designed such a magnificent finish. 

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Salted Waters: 

Is there any location in the world where tears are unknown? If so, it would take most people by surprise. For even in the scriptures, God emphasized the reality and treasure of tears. Every tear spilled from one’s ‘room of tears’, which He noticed and responded to. Is there such a room in heaven named “the room of tears?” Was the salt added to preserve the tears?

This tear represents the salty tears of women worldwide who have added to the treasured vessels cherished in the heavens. Growth, pain, grief, trauma, travail, rejoicings, His presence, love released towards another… tears have been spent in so many ways and within so many different locations upon this earth. 

This tear-filled wave is particularly for those who have walked with Jesus and shed tears on His behalf and on behalf of the breaking they encountered as a result of their submission to His love. A breakthrough has come through these tears, and the golden harvest has been watered. 

I believe with all of my heart that women and men worldwide, who have aligned themselves to the Lord, have been part of the womb, birthing the plans of heaven on the earth. Their tears are an essential part of the watering of the soil, for the crowning of the purposes of heaven. The golden harvest is upon us. His ways will be known.

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It was in the very moment of the earthquake that the veil rent in two, that the effects of sin no longer carried the verdict of death, no longer would the longing of women be for man alone, but now the desire of their hearts would turn to their Savior and King. 

Eve’s repentance would now be responded to, and God would release both males and females back into the Garden of Life in preparation to embrace the Tree of Life. They were now given the bread of life and the wine of His blood as a life-giving force. 

Interestingly, the disciple who would betray the Messiah dipped his bread simultaneously with Christ. Jesus led the way by tearing the bread and offering it to Judas. Judas chose to bring the Roman Cohort, the Commander, and the Officers of the Jews into Yeshuah’s presence to begin His persecution. Judas dipped the bread representing Christ’s body, which Christ served him simultaneously in the oil, one the betrayer, the other the Sacrifice.

The Cup was not permitted to be given to Judas, for in the Blood of Jesus was found the New Covenant about to be released upon the earth. No one in the flesh could endure or walk through the travail Jesus was about to engage. Jesus said, “Satan would find no room in Him.” There was nothing in Jesus’ life that made room for Satan; hence, He could declare that. Judas was different. Judas had already embraced Satan, and judgment was released once the torn bread was consumed; Satan took the room already given to him. The Blood of the Lamb was off limits.

May we all be found with the Sandals of the Journey intact and pulsating with the substance of faith, advancing us further into the Kingdom of the Son of God. 

Pondering possibilities, briskilla emil zananiri

April and May, 2017

Watercolor: by briskilla zananiri

Sandal photos: taken by B. Zananiri in Magdala

Oil Paintings displayed in Magdala in the Galilee Region