Just Imagine!: The Resurrection & Resurrection Appearances of Jesus

Copyright © 2012 Diane Plançon Wyckoff

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-6524-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-6525-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012948501

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/28/2012

With humble gratitude to

God the Father,

Lord Jesus Christ,

The Holy Spirit and

Blessed Saints and God’s Angels

Method of Research

To research these stories I studied the books listed in the Bibliography and also by asking questions of several clergy men and women of the Lutheran and Episcopal churches over the ten year period of producing this work.

Also, as I am an audio sentient spiritualist, reverent ‘research’ happened through constant prayer to see the visions and hear how the scenarios would appear not only as they appeared in my minds’ eye but also devotedly, as they are written in the Gospels and from all my reference materials.

Acknowledgements:

Trudy Griswold, Author of Angelspeake, mentored me into a study of God’s beautiful messengers and educated me through her Angel seminars and one on one meetings to communicate with ‘my’ Angels. With her insistence that I had better listen to what I was receiving and through a series of remarkable events the Angels led me into a study of the life and times of Jesus. Without her encouragement of my Angel renderings I would not have known the depth of my own spirituality.

Because of my love for my twins, Sara and Peter, that in and of itself, was always inspiration to do my best with this endeavor to be proud of their Mom, as I am of them.

Flo Dohanos, my wonderful artist friend to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude for all her kind and positive critiques and instructional help with my art.

Reverend Arthur Weiss, Pastor, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, CT., who industriously encouraged me to use my exhibits and lectures toward raising money for world hunger.

Reverend Blake Wamester, Pastor, Salem Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Ct., for all of the very long talks he allowed during his busy days to inform, correct and encourage my work not only as an artist but also for my work through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America World Hunger Appeal.

Reverend Mark Christofferson, Pastor, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Fairfield, Ct. who opened his church to my offering of teaching art classes to young people and later asked me if I would sketch the Stations of the Cross for his Sunday school children’s education. This began my 10 year study, writing, and drawing of the Trials of Jesus, The Stations of the Cross, the Resurrection and the Resurrection Appearances resulting in several exhibits at Our Saviour’s. His commission began the work of what is now the book, Just Imagine!I am enormously grateful to him for his encouragement, help and direction.

T.W. Hunt, author of The Mind of Christ, Broadman & Holman Publishers. Hunt’s book has been one of my primary sources of information and a magnificent guide in the writing of Just Imagine! I have often integrated his vast knowledge as in the medical ramifications of crucifixion and therein to make very clear the incredible suffering Jesus underwent. Hunt infused my writing with his clarity about facts from Biblical sources upon which he expounded; this in turn gave vent to my factual and imagined writing of what may have happened next.

The Reverend, Dr. Geoffrey Hahneman, Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Bridgeport, Ct. for his heartening patronage of my work during the Lenten season exhibiting in the Nave the Stations of the Cross and ultimately each of the drawings as I finished them over a period of years. He also gave his full support to the debut of Just Imagine! the stage version in the Church. He has critiqued the writings of the book and given me many valuable insights which served to heighten and clarify many of the episodes.

The Reverend Mother Edrice Viechweg, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Bridgeport, Ct., Edrice became a guide; a source of knowledge quietly encouraging my work. Her support was so gratefully appreciated, especially within all of her selfless, productive, caring help throughout the difficult stages of making the staged production of Just Imagine! a successful reality.

To my brothers, Bill and Flip Plancon, and their wives, Marlene and Gale, I am so very grateful for their interest, patronage and generosity. They gave freely of their loving encouragement and help to make my dream of publishing this huge story a reality.

C. Bernard Ruffin, Author, The Twelve: The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary. Mr. Ruffin explained the hard to find facts surrounding the Apostles; their miraculous ministries in clearly written pragmatic detail, which helped my writings of their personalities tremendously.

Dr. Jane Schaberg, Professor of Religious Studies at Detroit Mercy University: her input was taken from an online profile interview of her great thoughts and work toward the total exoneration of St. Mary Magdalene which became a vital part of my portrait of her, proving her devout and pure character.

Corrie ten-Bloom: From a poem spoken at McClean Presbyterian Church, VA: 1975: ten-Blooms’ poem relates to an inquisition from Angels to Jesus about His faith in His Disciples to do the work; this poem gave me a delightful insight into the imagery of Christ’s faith and trust.

Author, Cathy Cash whose spirituality helped me to persevere with my book as she related to me the God-given insights she interpreted within the scope and depth of my artwork.

Diana Zitnay, Manager, New England Ballet Company. Not many people have a friend and co-worker such as Diana. Her knowledge and wisdom with complex computer production coupled with her professional stage managing of the production of Just Imagine! are invaluable gifts as Diana gives freely of her time, herself and her expertise with little expectation of financial reimbursement. As she says, I’m glad to be of help. I am tremendously grateful to her; but mostly for her delightful friendship.

In Memoriam: Reverend Birgitte Ivarson and Chaplain, Elsie Weston: Two Angels of the church who became my mentors; loving critics, and always there for me to approve a new rendering coupling and sharing their vast knowledge within the renderings and writings of my book. To them go my love and thankfulness.

Table of Contents

Method of Research

Acknowledgements:

Pictures and Their Titles

Introduction: Volume 2

Chapter 1: The Resurrection; The Empty Grave: Magnificence

The Resurrection: Aftermath

Chapter 2: Mary Magdalene and Mary Go to the Tomb

The Women at the Tomb

Mary at the Doors of John and Peter

Portrait of John

Portrait of Peter and His Three Denials

A Woman Named Mary Magdalene

Mary, Alone at the Tomb

Jesus Appears to Mary

The Conversation

Rabboni!

Jesus’ Affirmation to Mary

Preface: Jesus Appears to His Mother

Jesus Appears to His Mother

Jesus Appears to the Women

On the Road to Emmaus

St. Peter’s Anguish

Jesus Appears to His Disciples the First Time

Doubting Thomas

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

The Great Commission

The Meetings After the Great Commission and The Ascension

Conclusion

Bibliography

Pictures and Their Titles

1. The Resurrection Picture

Chapter 1: The Resurrection; The Empty Grave: Magnificence

Chapter 2: Mary Magdalene and Mary Go to the Tomb

1. Mary Magdalene and Mary at the Tomb

2. The Women Running to the Tomb

3. Women at the Tomb

4. John, Peter and Mary run to the tomb

5. Portrait of John

6. Picture of Peter’s Three Denials

7. Portrait of Peter

8. Portrait of Mary Magdalene

9. Mary Looks into the Tomb

10. Mary and the Gardener

11. Jesus Appears to Mary

12. Mary Collapses

13. The Conversation

14. The Rabboni Picture

15. Jesus’ Affirmation to Mary

16. Jesus Appears to His Mother

17. Jesus appears to the Women

18. On the Road to Emmaus #1

19. On the Road to Emmaus, #2

20. St. Peter’s Agony, #1

21. St. Peter’s Agony, #2

22. St. Peter’s Agony, #3

23. St. Peter’s Agony, #4

24. St. Peter’s Agony: The Rapture, #5

25. Jesus Appears to His Disciples the First Time

26. "Doubting Thomas: #1

27. "Doubting Thomas: #2

28. Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

29. Jesus asks Peter, Do you love me?

30. The Great Commission

31. The Ascension

Introduction: Volume 2

JOY! Jesus Christ Has Been Raised Up!

After finishing the very troubled, darkly sad and grim stories of the Trials and The Fourteen Stations of the Cross, I knew I had to go farther with His story. The drawing and writing of the Trials and Stations was a labor of love and devotion with each event becoming more and more horrible; tearful episodes of extreme brutalities and awful punishment levied on The One who was God’s Son. So, I took a deep breath, picked up my