© 11 Colin Melbourne
Salvation is of the Jews
Q: You said on your Gospel tract page for Asian Christian Women that, “The first person to proclaim the risen Christ was an Asian woman”, but surely that can’t be right. Where in the Bible does it say that?
A: Blimey Missus, next you’ll be asking me for proof that Jesus Christ is Jewish!
Therefore, please read His genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 to confirm His Jewish lineage.
Keep in mind why they are different.
Matthew gives Christ’s genealogy through Joseph, whilst Luke gives it through Mary’s line.
Both the legal, royal, (Mtt.) and human biological (Lk.) lineages prove His credentials as, not only a Jew, but the Son of David, and King of the Jews.
[Aside: Luke also includes several examples of adopted sons, or sons-in-law, in his genealogy; for example Cainan was adopted by Arphaxad, and Cainan adopted Sala, the biological son of his father-in-law Arphaxad. See Lk. 3:36 and compare with Genesis 11 KJV.]
Christ’s genealogy was on public record throughout His life on Earth, and the first Century.
The unbelieving Jewish leaders knew it showed He was a legal Son of David.
They did not appeal to His genealogical record to refute His claim to be the Messiah, because His public genealogy, which they recorded, and protected, confirmed Jesus’ claims to Messiahship.
Israel is in Asia
The LORD Jesus Christ was born of the Flesh in Bethlehem, Israel, Asia; and so was, of course Himself an Asian Man: Christ was, and will remain, an Asian Jew, because Israel has always been a part of the Asian continent.
<< Here’s a map of the extent of Asia:
Notice; Asia includes Israel, all the Middle East, Cyprus and Turkey. Those regions were called Asia Minor, but are now called, Western Asia.
Adam & Eve were Dark-skinned
It’s odd that realization of this Bible fact shocks many Western Christians. The same ones who reject out of hand the likelihood that Adam and Eve were black or brown-skinned.
It is highly unlikely that Adam and Eve were white-skinned, and they certainly were not blonde haired! (As the blind poet, John Milton, portrayed Eve in Paradise Lost.) Their genes contained all the phenotypic variation of humanity, so they would look like the median human (brown-skinned with black hair), not a Caucasian minority phenotype.
Jesus Chose a Demonized Woman
The quote you cite refers to Mary Magdalene, from whom the LORD Jesus Christ cast seven demons (Mk. 16:9).
We can only speculate what they were, and how they corrupted her life.
Many assume she was a prostitute. Perhaps she was the same sinful woman at Simon the Pharisee’s meal in Luke Ch. 7. The weeping woman who anointed Christ’s feet with expensive ointment, and kissed them. The one who loved much, because she’d been forgiven much, like you and me.
Christ delivered Mary; set her free from demonic bondage, forgave her sin, and restored her dignity.
Jesus made her clean, inside and out, with new purpose: His Plan for her life.
I want Him: Dead or Alive!
That final Passover weekend, heartbroken Mary Magdalene witnessed her sinless Saviour publicly humiliated, and butchered as a vile criminal.
She saw Him stripped naked, watched the Roman whip shred His back, and was sickened by the sight of His deformed body hanging on a crude cross.
She was there when a pagan spear lanced His side, she saw them take down His lifeless corpse.
My guess is she helped them to carry His dead body to the tomb. Mary didn’t care about Jewish taboos, or what people thought, she wanted to follow Jesus, dead or alive.
And she did.
Sleep?
Nobody sleeps after such experiences.
She wept and prayed through Friday and Saturday night, distraught, perplexed, and oh so lonely.
Perhaps you can identify with her?
She ached for Christ, and, before first light on Sunday morning, made her way to the dark, chilly, graveyard, determined to be with the only Man who ever loved her.
Mary had followed Him for months, she could recite His parables by heart, she hung on His Words as He spoke them. They lived in her heart: But He was dead.
She saw Him die.
A bruised reed shall he not break
You have suffered from a broken heart, you know how it feels. Is there anything that can heal a crushed spirit?
Ask Mary when you meet her in the Glory; she will smile radiantly, and point you to Jesus on His Throne.
Let’s remind ourselves of their blissful reunion, and precious tears, Jn. 20:11-18 KJV;
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
The greatest moment of Mary’s life
You’ve shared that joy of meeting the risen Christ haven’t you?
But, I’ve not answered your question, Where in the Bible does it say that the first evangelist was an Asian woman?
Here in Jn. 20:17-18 KJV;
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
We won’t embarrass The Apostles by reminding you that those mighty male believers, didn’t believe the lady evangelist. (Mk. 16:11)
Instead, let’s notice she is the first evangelist to be appointed by Christ to proclaim the Good News of His resurrection: A woman, a woman who had seven devils driven out of her by the Living Word of God.
Mary was born a Jew in the nation of Israel.
Israel is part of the Western end of Asia, called Asia Minor, which also includes Turkey, Cyprus, and the whole Middle East.
Therefore Mary was an Asian woman
The first evangelist appointed by Christ to bear the Good News of His resurrection was an Asian woman.
The Tide is Rising and Coming From the East
Good news flash for Asians: There are more evangelists on Earth now than ever, and most of them are Asian women.
God’s labour force in the revival sweeping westwards through China consists mostly of female Spirit-filled, tongues-talking, Asian women.
They will not rest until every creature in the whole world has heard the Gospel.
And Almighty God is on their side.
Will you join them?
Books for Jesus Women & Jesus Girls: “Jesus and Women: Answers to 3 Big Questions” is by Dr. LaDonna Osborn. Dr. LaDonna is the perfect blend of her parents, Drs. Daisy and TL. Osborn, and following in their footsteps, conducting miracle evangelism crusades around the world.
© 11 Colin Melbourne
