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George Townshend, sometime Canon of St Patrick’s Cathedral, in Dublin, Ireland, and Archdeacon of Clonfert has expressed this in his book The Heart of the Gospel. He writes of the disciples and their earnest belief, to the very last moment, that Christ’s kingdom was to be an earthly one in which they would enjoy positions of glory and power among men. The tragic close of His [Christ’s] career brought their spiritual failure to unmistakable expression. Peter denied His Master thrice; Thomas doubted Him; Judas betrayed Him; all in the hour of His danger forsook Him and fled. The crucifixion cast them into utter amazement and despair ...Their world was empty. Their beloved Lord was defeated - the mocking Scribe was right. They had made some terrible mistake...For three days the Cause of Christ lay in their hearts dead and buried. None can tell what might have happened, had it not been for the intuition and courage of one who was not of their number - a woman, Mary of Magdala. She it was who was the first to understand the reality of eternal life and Christ’s eternal Sonship ...and recognized that if His body was dead, His spirit was indestructible and was alive breathing in mortal power. She cheered the disciples. She communicated to them her vision, quickened their faith and renewed their courage.13
(104:4)
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