The Spirit That Moves Mountains

Mary Magdalene - Chapter 34

In the years following Jeshua's ascension, it wasn't very easy for his followers. We encountered people who either revered him or despised him.

Many of our friends hid in different communities for the first two years. We spent some of those times together and would reminisce and then wonder what we would do next. Our group was split on these topics.

Early on, there was much arguing about who would lead the group. Several thought I should, since I was Jeshua's wife. Clearly, I was his equal and preferred teacher. But most of the men would not have it. They still thought that the world was not ready for a woman to lead the way into a new age, and so our group naturally split in two.

Thomas, Isaah, Thaddaeus, Mariam, Rebecca, Stephen, Phillip, James, Peter, and I would spend much time together. Our other friends had already started to go their own ways. Some were trying to spread the word of Jeshua, like John and Matthew. Others had gone silent, like Simon, James Bartholomew, and Andrew.

I still met with small gatherings of people in homes that were open to hosting me. I continued to carry on the same message that Jeshua and I taught—love, connection with God, and true forgiveness. Most people asked questions about what Jeshua really was like. Did he really perform miracles? Was it true he rose from the dead?

His brother, James, was always watching out for me. The Sadducees and the Romans occasionally targeted the followers of Jeshua to make an example of us. The relationship between the Jews and the Romans was always unstable. There were several occasions when James had to rush me out of a home as Roman soldiers moved through towns, looking to arrest followers of Jeshua.

For me, every day since Jeshua left the world of bodies was the same. I spent every moment that my eyes were open trying to be connected to God as much as possible. If I was in a group of people, I was with them but with God at the same time. If James was escorting me out of the back of a home in fear the Romans were coming to arrest us, my feet were moving with him, but my mind was with God.

One day James, Thomas, Isaah, Thaddaeus, and I were sitting after a meditation. It was early in the morning, and we were outside, enjoying the nice cool breeze. All of our eyes were opened, and we were just looking around at each other, smiling. I looked at James and nodded to him that I was finally ready to tell the others.

"My friends, it is time for me to depart Judea for good."

Isaah, Thomas, and Thaddaeus looked at each other but also did not look very surprised.

Isaah started to cry but did not look terribly upset. "We felt this was coming for some time now. The three of us have also felt the urge to leave Judea, and we most likely will be going in the opposite direction from you."

"Indeed, my sister. You three are to go east. I will go west. There, we will spread the word of love to those with 'two good ears to hear.' Come to me." I opened my arms, and the four came in for a hug.

Many tears were shed. These were wonderful, enduring friends who also understood much of what Jeshua and I had taught over the years. Now they had decided to spend the rest of their lives engaging with whoever would listen.

I took a long last look at each of my good friends. Isaah had always been such a faithful friend from the moment we met. She had been through so much as an Arab woman in a Roman-ruled Jewish community. She still had many forgiveness lessons ahead, as the three of them would venture into unknown lands with new rulers who wanted nothing to do with the teachings of love and a single God. She was such a beautiful and strong woman and a fitting companion for Thomas and Thaddaeus.

Next I took Thomas in my hands and looked him in the face. I was nearly struck to my knees at how much he did resemble Jeshua. I had always taken for granted how we teased him and called him Didymus, meaning twin, but today it nearly took away all of my energy.