HE+ Opened Their EYES ...

Resurrection Season

Day 12

of the 40 Days The LORD JESUS CHRIST

spent with His+ Disciples,

in His+ Glorified Body,

AFTER HIS+ RESURRECTION !

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Knowing that CHRIST

being raised from the dead dieth no more;

Death hath no more dominion over HIM+.

Romans 6: 9

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How

Did HE+ Open Their Eyes ?

 And it came to pass,

as HE+ sat at meat with them,

 HE+ took bread,  and blessed it,

and brake,  and gave to them.

 

And their eyes were opened,

and they knew HIM+ !

 and HE+ vanished

out of their sight.

Luke 24: 30-31, 

The men of the Company of JESUS, walking to Emmaus

 

Let us notice what JESUS did to open their spiritual eyes.

• HE+ sat with them.

• HE+ took Bread.

• HE+ blessed it.

• HE+ brake it.

• HE+ gave it to them.

HE+ instituted the Bread and Wine as His+ Body and Blood during the Last Passover meal HE+ kept with His+ Disciples.

That unleavened Bread was His+ Body, broken for us.

And when HE+ had given thanks,

HE+ brake it, and said,

 

Take, eat: this is My+ Body,

Which is broken for you:

this do in remembrance of ME+.

I Corinthians 11:24

 

How do WE

open the spiritual eyes

of those around us ?

We must do the same thing for others

which Our LORD did for us. 

 

• We must be with them ... in some way, making some kind of contact with them.

• We take BREAD with us... that is , the Body of our LORD JESUS. This is not BREAD from wheat, but HE+ that lives within us, goes along with us in our contact.

 

HE+ is THE  Bread+ of Life

and HIM+ we take with us to share.

• We ask HIM+ to bless --- to sanctify and multiply --- this, His+ Bread of Life, that accompanies us wherever we go... and with whomever we are around.

• We break this Bread+ that lives within us.

  How ? 

• We go the second mile, we take the lowest seat, we turn the other cheek, we render good for evil. We share the Truth in love. ( Love is not "love" without Truth .) In short, we pick up our Cross also, and die daily.

• And in so doing, we GIVE others the Bread+ of Life, the broken Body of our CHRIST.

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In any situation, people will give Followers of JESUS their attention WHEN they see them turn the other cheek, WHEN they see them go the second mile, WHEN they actually witness someone returning good for evil. The witness of the Broken Bread+, the Broken Body of CHRIST , goes forth.

That kind of witness speaks

LOUDER THAN WORDS.

For some, it will draw them to HIM+. For others, it will cause them to ponder why someone turned the other cheek when he did not have to.

That may chase some people away, but it will bother them in one way or another the rest of their life; they will not forget it because it is incomprehensible to them.

But the natural man receiveth not the things

of the SPIRIT of GOD:

 

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.

I Corinthians 2:14

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We "open" the spiritual eyes of others when we WALK like JESUS walked, laying down His+ rights, His+ Life , for the unrighteous ... such as we were and sometimes still are.

He that saith he abideth in HIM+

ought himself also so to walk,

even as HE+ walked.

1 John 2:6,

Courtesy of Bible Gateway.com

When we lay down our “rights”, when we refuse to retaliate in order to obey JESUS, and follow His+ example, the Witness for HIM+ goes forth.

It is the LOUDEST witness we can give. It is also the SUREST witness we can give; there is no doctrine that can refute it.

There is no confusion about Whom+ we follow... when we do that. Others know immediately that we are NOT of the world.

Immediately, their eyes are opened to this one Truth:  There is something DIFFERENT about us. 

WHAT is it that makes us different ?

It is Who+ we follow.

 

Then JESUS said unto them,

Verily, verily, I+  say unto you,

Moses gave you not that bread from Heaven;

but My+  FATHER giveth you

the true Bread from Heaven.

For the BREAD+ of GOD is HE+

which cometh down from Heaven,

and giveth life unto the world.

Then said they unto HIM+, LORD,

evermore give us this bread.

And JESUS said unto them,

I+  am

the BREAD+ of Life:

HE+ that cometh to ME+

shall never hunger;

and HE+ that believeth on ME+

shall never thirst.

John 6: 32-35

Scriptures courtesy of Bible Gateway.com

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Missionary Report ~ POWER in the Little Things ~ RESURRECTION Season Meditation

Embracing the REALITY of Mission Work 

A YOUNG MISSIONARY'S JOURNEY

" I always play Easter music --- loud --- on Easter morning ! " wrote our friend, a young woman who works for the Kingdom of GOD in South Dakota. “ So, I played the HALLELUJAH Chorus ! ”

" Our Sunrise Service was beautiful out here ... and I imagine it was the ONLY Sunrise service in the country attended by drunks!  But thankfully, they did not cause a problem."

Our friend, Shanna, teaches in a small Christian School in South Dakota under the auspices of Olive Branch Mennonite Missions.

Her REAL work, however, is evangelizing the youngsters and adults she meets in this bleak, out-of-the-way place, among the Native Peoples of the Lakota-Sioux tribes on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.

Here is her recent report about her experiences.

" GOD is faithful!  That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about the months I have lived in South Dakota.  I do love it here, the rugged, wild hills... the town with its dear but hurting people... and the many opportunities we have to share CHRIST Who+ is Life.

I can't say it has all been easy.  I have had struggles along the way. But those are what The LORD is using to stretch me and show me that I can't do it on my own.  Since being here, I have seen greater than ever my need of depending completely on HIM+ for wisdom, for strength, for even enthusiasm and love.

I recall one day when I was feeling weary of ministering to people and was frustrated with myself.  I was struggling to even have a love for the girls that I work with in the evening.  Going for a walk, I was headed out of town, but somehow my steps found me turning to climb a hill where some children were sledding.

Soon, I was enjoying being with these youngsters who were doing the best they could with the sledding material they had.  Some were using cardboard and broken sled pieces.

Suddenly... one of the girls couldn't find her glasses.  She had put them in her pocket and went for a slide down the hill and now they were gone. Lost. Probably covered over with the white snow. 

I could tell she was distressed, so I started helping her look for them. As we went up and down the hill, I was feeling less and less confident that we would find the glasses.  I prayed quietly to myself, but a persistent thought told me I should stop and PRAY OUT LOUD with the girl. 

I found my faith wavering under fear. 

What if... 

GOD didn't answer with a "Yes " ?

Then what ?

Finally, I told the sad girl we should pray about it, so I stopped and prayed out loud as I was led to do, asking The LORD to help us find the glasses.

The search continued.  Then I heard a glad cry near the bottom of the hill. The lost was found ! 

NOW I prayed ALOUD to thank The LORD for answering this prayer!   As I left the hill that afternoon, my heart rejoiced ! HE+ had showed Himself+ mighty once again, even in the small things. HE+ cares.

As a teacher, I spend a lot of my time with just a small group of children.  This has its own challenges, but it's also a great opportunity for impact.  I was reminded of this when I found a note scribbled to me in a student's text / workbook:  " I am watching you, Shanna."

Though this student likely did not intend the note to mean what it did to me, I was sobered by it.  

I am being watched by many pairs of eyes. 

What I say, how I respond,

what I laugh at ---

--- all my choices are being observed.

Oh, I long for CHRIST and His+ Kingdom to be exalted here!

~  ~  ~

Shanna teaches grades 2-8 through the day in the Mission's Christian school and in the evening, works with the neighbors she meets in this small town... all for the love of JESUS CHRIST .  She has left the comfort of her family home to minister JESUS to these “dear but hurting” people in far away South Dakota. May The LORD reward her faithfulness to Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, as she shares HIM+, in season and out , by both Word and by example. 

+  +  +

 Matthew 9: 35-38

And  JESUS went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

But when HE+ saw the multitudes, HE+ was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Then saith HE+ unto His+ disciples, 

The harvest truly is plenteous, 

but the laborers are few;

Pray ye therefore the LORD of the harvest, that HE will send forth laborers into his harvest.

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RESURRECTION ! Season ~ Day 10 Meditations ~ John 20:17

I+ have not yet ASCENDED to My+ FATHER

RESURRECTION SEASON 

~ Day 10, Meditations

[ The Resurrection Season was not limited to Resurrection Sunday. It lasted until Ascension Day.  This Resurrection "season" was the 40 days and 40 nights the Resurrected LORD JESUS CHRIST  spent with His+ disciples--- in His+ glorified body ---, teaching them things and opening their understanding unto the Scriptures  which told about HIM+. 

These Scriptures, of course, were the Prophets and Patriarchs and Psalms found in the Old Covenant because ... the New had not yet been written. ]

John 20:17

JESUS said unto her [ Mary Magdalene ],

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.

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MEDITATION

There was a lot of movement ... A LOT of movement... going on between earth and Heaven during the days of His+ immediate Resurrection.

In this passage, we see the Resurrected JESUS meeting one of the Sisters of their company who came to the tomb bringing spices for His+ proper burial. 

She was over-joyed to see HIM+ ! 

We will be too.

However, notice what HE+ told her: 

"... I+ have

NOT YET ASCENDED

to My+ FATHER ... "

So, Our LORD JESUS had just arrived --- supernaturally --- from Hades / Sheol  back to the grave and supernaturally re-entered His+ Body --- now glorified via Power from on High --- and was en route to the Heavenly realm to present Himself+ to His+ Heavenly FATHER ! 

HE+ had not yet returned unto His+ Heavenly FATHER when HE+ encountered this Christian sister outside of the tomb.

Notice this: The Apostle John's account focuses only on one of the three women who went early to the tomb to bring spices. THIS WOMAN, Mary Magdelene, was told "not to touch HIM+. "   

The account in Matthew 28:1-9 mentions only two women ( Mary Magdelene and the other Mary )... and when HE+ met THEM, THEY ( notice the plural ) held HIM+ by the feet !

In Luke 24:10, three women are mentioned by name. This account has Joanna included in the women who followed HIM+ from Galilee. 

In The Apostle John's account, HE+ gave her an obedience to perform: she was to carry a message to the disciples, an IMPORTANT message.

 HE+ called them BRETHREN. HE+ told them HE+ was ascending to their FATHER and GOD... which was HIS+ FATHER and GOD ! 

HE+ reminded His+ followers that they remained  His+ FAMILY.  HE+ had told them much earlier that those who obeyed were "in the Family."

Matthew 12:47-50 ( See also Mark 3:31-35 and Luke 8: 19-21 )

Then one said unto HIM+,

Behold, Thy+ mother and

Thy+ brethren stand without,

desiring to speak with THEE+.

But HE+ answered

and said unto him that told HIM+,

Who is My+ mother?

and who are My+ brethren?

And HE+ stretched forth

His+ Hand toward His+ disciples,

and said,

Behold

My+ mother and My+ brethren!

For whosoever shall do the Will

of My+ FATHER

WHO is in Heaven,

the same is

My+ brother,

and sister,

and mother.

+  +  +

  

From Tertullian*** ~ "Against Praxeas" ( See notes below the quote).

“   JESUS saith unto her,

“Touch ME+ not,

for I+ am not yet ascended to My+ FATHER;

but go to My+ brethren” ...

(and even in this HE+ proves Himself+ to be the SON+; for if HE+ had been The FATHER, HE+ would have called them His+ children, (instead of His+ brethren),

... “and say unto them,

I+ ascend unto

My+ FATHER and your FATHER,

and to My+ GOD and your GOD.”

Now, does this mean, I+ ascend as The FATHER to The FATHER, and as GOD to GOD?

Or as The SON+ to The FATHER, and as the WORD+ to GOD?

Wherefore also does this Gospel, at its very termination, intimate that these things were ever written, if it be not, to use its own words,

“that ye might believe

that JESUS CHRIST

is the SON+ of GOD?”

 ...   ...   ...

For these things certainly are NOT written that you may believe that JESUS CHRIST is The FATHER, but The SON+. ”

~ end of Tertullian’s quote.

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*** Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3., Tertullian, Part Second, # 7 Against Praxeas, chapter 25, page 621, from the edition: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., Peabody, MA, 2nd printing, June 1995. 

***  Tertullian was a Christian apologist from Carthage, North Africa, c. 160-230. He wrote in Latin.

**** Praxeas taught the heresy that it was The FATHER Who descended into the virgin, was born and put to death, etc. , in an un-balanced effort to unify The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT, making the three as one person instead of one essence or substance.  See footnote #1, chapter 1, pg. 597. 

In contrast, the Early Christians said that The FATHER sent His+ Eternal WORD+, the SON+,  to become human flesh for the suffering of death in order to redeem the human race. The FATHER did not leave Heaven.

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LET US PRAY...

HOLY FATHER of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST and of us... yes, Our dear, Heavenly FATHER also...

We come to THEE through the Victorious Name of Thy SON+ JESUS CHRIST, Who+ loved us and gave His+ Life for us. 

Thank YOU for the Resurrection Victory YOU gave as a commandment to YOUR SON+ JESUS in WHOM+ YOU were well pleased. YOU gave HIM+ the authority to lay down His+ Life and the authority to take IT+ again... as a commandment.

O LORD CHRIST, we have been born anew into Thy+ Royal Family.  Help us so to walk in obedience that we may REMAIN in Thy+ Family , both now and forever.

Increase our faith. Help us to trust that Resurrection Power is there to keep us when lay down our Self, our lives unto THEE+. Help us to trust that same Resurrection Power that promises we will NOT be destroyed if we walk as YOU+ walked on earth, as an obedient SON+.

Help us not to fear embracing meekness, humbleness, and lowliness, knowing that YOU+, O LORD, have walked the valley of humiliation first and came forth VICTORIOUS.

Help us to embrace the humility of heart that is required of Thy+ Brethren, O CHRIST.

Then, we will know Thy+ Peace, as Thy+ Resurrection Power descends upon the meek and lowly of heart.

Yes, LORD, we want to be called "Thy+ Brethren" ... both here and in the Heavenlies.

In the glorious Name of our Resurrected LORD JESUS CHRIST... Whom+ death could not conquer and hell could not hold... we pray. Amen.

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