Their EYES Were HOLDEN ...

Day 9

of the 40 Days

of the Resurrection Season

 

when The RISEN LORD JESUS CHRIST

appeared to His+ Company of believers

in His+ Risen, Glorified Body

which could never die again.

 

Their Eyes Were Holden ...

 

The men walking to Emmaus had a problem: their eyes were holden and they could not recognize The RISEN LORD JESUS.

 

  But their eyes were holden

that they should not know him.

Luke 24:16

 

The men, one named Cleopas, were of the Company who followed JESUS and who were with the band of disciples gathered together the First Day of the week. They were present when the women reported that they had seen an Angel who told them HE+ had risen from the dead and was ALIVE !

 

 HE+ is not here, but is risen:

remember how HE+ spake unto you

when HE+ was yet in Galilee,

 

Saying,

The SON+ of Man must be delivered

into the hands of sinful men,

and be crucified,

and the third day rise again.

 

And they remembered His+ words,

 

And returned from the sepulchre,

and told all these things unto the eleven,

and to all the rest.

 

It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna,

and Mary the mother of James,

and other women that were with them,

which told these things unto the apostles.

 

And their words seemed to them

as idle tales,

and they believed them not.

Luke 24: 6-11

 

The two men were present when Peter ran to the tomb and found it empty and reported back to the Company of believers.

 

 Then arose Peter,

and ran unto the sepulchre;

 

and stooping down,

he beheld the linen clothes

laid by themselves,

 

and departed,

wondering in himself

at that which was come to pass.

Luke 24:12

 

Then, these two followers of JESUS embarked on a journey to Emmaus, a village about 7 miles away. As they walked, The RISEN CHRIST drew near and joined Himself+ to them ... but they did not recognize HIM+ !

 

It was fully day, for the women and Peter had come and gone from the sepulchre and reported back to the Company about their findings ... likely, with a storm of discussion... which would have given time for the sun to rise.

 

As the men walked in daylight with the unrecognized but RISEN LORD, HE+ asked them what manner of things were they discussing as they walked, being sad ?

 

After Cleopas exclaimed his surprise that this "stranger" was unaware of what had happened at the Passover, the two men expounded to HIM+ the events of the Crucifixion plus the reports of the Empty Tomb. It was the third day since all these terrible things happened.  

 

The surprising response of this "stranger" to their explanations was:

 

O fools,

and slow of heart to believe all

that the prophets have spoken:

 

Ought not CHRIST

to have suffered these things,

and to enter into His+ glory?

Luke 24:25-26

 

Then HE+ expounded to them the Scriptures from Moses and all the prophets concerning the CHRIST, Himself+.

 

However, their eyes were still holden ... and they yet did NOT recognize The RISEN LORD being with them and talking to them.

 

Do we recognize HIM+ when HE+ is among us today...

 

or are our eyes so fixated

on knowing ABOUT HIM+

that we do not discern

His+ Presence ?

 

Are our eyes so fixed on the things of this world...

 

that we cannot discern His+ Voice

from other voices...

especially the voice

of our own troubles

and concerns ?

 

When The RISEN LORD called these two serious-minded and sad believers "FOOLS !" , it was a stern rebuke, one of the hardest rebukes HE+ spoke in the New Testament.

 

Un-belief ,

even when in grief, sadness, and confusion,

earned these two believers

HIS+ stern rebuke

for their stubbornness.

 

+  +  +  

 

We do not know WHY they refused to believe the report that HE+ had risen from the dead and was ALIVE and had indeed appeared to the women, whom they all scoffed at. We can only surmise that they were still in shock and heart-broken.

 

That was no excuse,

according to

The LORD'S up-braiding !

 Yet, in His+ great mercy and kindness, The RISEN CHRIST JESUS opened their eyes at the Breaking of Bread, His+ Body.

 

What "eyes" ? 

 

HE+ opened the eyes

of their hearts

so they could "see"

with their spirit

 

WHO+ HE+ was,

The LIVING LORD JESUS CHRIST,

standing there among them

... all that time.

+  +  + 

 

DEAR LORD JESUS,

 

Open my eyes that I may see YOU+ instead of the things that crowd YOU+ out of my vision.

 

Open my eyes that I may see YOU+ instead of my troubles and concerns that loom so large.

 

Help me to stop focusing upon this temporary world and its crushing and certain evil and rather, let me see YOUR+ hand fulfilling prophecy for YOUR+ soon return.

 

I want to know YOU+, O my LORD CHRIST, not simply know things about YOU+.

 

Be THOU+ my vision, O LORD JESUS, I pray,

 

for YOU+ have risen from the dead

and YOU+ are LORD. 

Every knee shall bow,

every tongue confess

that JESUS CHRIST is LORD !

 

Amen and amen,

and thankfully so !

+  +  +

30 DAYS ... and Counting ... Through the Glorious RESURRECTION SEASON ...

Today is DAY 30 of the  "40 days and nights"  Our Risen LORD JESUS CHRIST spent with His+ Disciples, coming and going among them, teaching them those things concerning the Kingdom of GOD, opening unto them the Scriptures concerning HIMSELF+. 

Can we just IMAGINE how filled with JOY and HOPE His+ followers were... those same ones who had heard HIM+ teach, who had walked with HIM+ daily, and who saw HIM+ die ?  

Forty Days and Nights are a LONG TIME  for our Resurrected LORD JESUS to spend here on earth, appearing at will behind closed and locked doors,   disappearing at will , and even eating...  to the awe of His+ Disciples. 

We have only come to Day 30 yet from the Glorious Resurrection Day,  counting down to ASCENSION DAY.    Here is a laud with which to worship Our Risen LORD: 

A  SONG to The LAMB+

(Revelation 4:11, 5: 9-10, 13 )

 

Splendor and honor 

and kingly power

are YOURS by Right, 

O LORD our GOD,

 

For You created 

everything that is,

and by Your will 

they were created

and have their being;  

 

And Yours by right, 

O LAMB+ that was slain, 

for with Your Blood 

You have redeemed for GOD ,

from every family, languages, people, and nation,

a Kingdom of Priests 

to serve our GOD.

 

 And so,   

to HIM 

Who sits upon the Throne

and to CHRIST the LAMB+,

be worship and praise,

dominion and splendor, 

for ever and for evermore. 

(BCP , Morning Prayer II, pg 93-94)   

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.

+  +  +

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.

+  +  +

*** 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.

+  +  +

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.

+  +  +

The 40 Days of the Resurrection Season...

"I+ am risen

and am still with thee."

.

HalleluJah

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ ~ ~ Day 29 --- of Gates and Keys

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 29

--- Of Gates and Keys

For the Year of Our LORD, 4.20.2008

+ + +

Arise, shine: for thy light is come,

and the glory of the LORD

is risen upon thee.

+ + +

Therefore, thy gates shall be open continually;

they shall not be shut day nor night;

that men may bring unto thee the

forces of the Gentiles,

and that their kings may be brought.

+ + +

For the nation and kingdom

that will not serve thee

shall perish;

yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

+ + +

Isaiah 60, excerpts

+ + +

These wonderful verses in Isaiah also tell us another truth about gates: the gates of the City of Zion and Jerusalem will be opened BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WILL BE DWELLING IN SAFETY. The LORD of HOSTS on that day will be their defense and the glory of the GOD of Israel will be their protection. Bloodshed will indeed cease in the Holy Land.

+ + +

The sons also of them that afflicted thee

shall come bending unto thee;

and all they that despised thee

shall bow themselves down

at the soles of thy feet;

and they shall call thee,

The city of the LORD,

The Zion of the Holy One

of Israel.

Isaiah 60: 14

+ + +

The Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST…

the most life-changing event in human history!

+ + +

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ ~ ~ Day 28 --- Of Gates and Keys

Resurrection Season ~ Day 28 ~

Of Gates and Keys

For the Year of Our LORD, 4.19.2008

Speaking of Gates and Keys, look at the gates in Psalm 24, the gates that lead into the Heavenly Realm. Our LORD has entered into them, IN HIS+ TRIUMPHANT, GLORIFIED BODY ! Keep in mind these gates are NOT OPENED to everybody... or every spiritual entity. The Rebellious ones who were involved in the great insurrection against GOD eons ago would like nothing better than to usurp HIS Authority... if they could.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates:

and be ye lift up,

ye Everlasting Doors;

And the King of Glory shall come in.

Who is this King of Glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates:

even lift them up,

ye Everlasting Doors;

and the King of Glory shall come in.

Who is this King of Glory?

The LORD of Hosts,

HE+ is the King of Glory.

Psalm 24: 7-10

+ + +

[...Just a note about the hosts in this verse. Heavenly Hosts refer to the large amount of Heavenly Ones, angelic beings, Heavenly warriors, who are on the LORD'S side. HOSTS do not refer to the "stars" of the sky. There is a different Hebrew word which refers to the natural stars in the sky. In English, we know the word as sabbaoth. That means Heavenly beings or warriors, if it is talking about The LORD. Otherwise, sabbaoth means an army . .. but never the stars in the sky. Some hymns have erroneously confused this concept also.]

+ + +


The Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST… the most life-changing event in human history!

+ + +