Recently, an article appeared in the paper indicating that a professor had acquired a piece of papyrus at a market which contained the words in the title of this piece. Of course, it started some general discussion on the possibility of Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene, a story that appeals to the French, since it supports the story of the French kings and we had that book printed quite recently. Of course, the papyrus was not unearthed at a dig but bought at a market which brings it into question. An analysis is being done on the date of the ink and the papyrus so we will hear more later.

The churches have taken a stand, “I don't think so but it could be possible.” This is an insufferable response since it is quite contrary to the story the Bible tells. The Roman Catholic Church has taken a position but they left the door open to the story being true. It seems we are ALL politically careful.

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Editor’s Note While the Jewish Encyclopedia confirms that Esau was incorporated into Jewry, there are scholars who claim his descendants also migrated into other nations, primarily Turkey and from there into the Khazarian nation, which later converted to Judaism. Nevertheless, we must remember that a characteristic of Esau was that he was “cunning”. So, considering that Jacob used trickery by pretending to be Esau to gain God’s blessing through the blessing by Isaac, it is very likely that Esau can be found throughout Christianity and Islam as well. After all, if Jacob could pretend to be Esau, then Esau can pretend to be Jacob? Interestingly, considering the clarification by the Jewish Encyclopedia that Esau was absorbed into Judaism, are they not pretending to be the “people of the book”?

The struggle between Esau and Jacob began in the womb. Genesis 25: 22 - 23, "And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are within thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." Esau was born like a red hairy garment; the name Esau means "red". Then Jacob was born and his hand took hold of Esau's heel. It is obvious that these two were not identical twins, (they certainly did not behave like identical twins!) but two ova were fertilized at conception.

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Recently, during Holy Week, I attended a one hour Bible study (5 mornings) under my church pastor and a half dozen members of the church. Naturally, we were discussing things like the Resurrection and the Kingdom of Heaven. One member asked if the Old Testament said anything about the Resurrection!
I mentioned Ezekiel's valley of dried bones (I thought we all knew the song about the bones that are connected) and Job's statement of faith which I misquoted as, “I know my redeemer liveth and though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” It was set to music by Handel in his masterwork, “The Messiah.” There was some discussion about the Kingdom, but it was wishy washy and I must confess my views were so different that I was unable to summon the courage to confess them.

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