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 TERROR of the STORM ~ a Word from The LORD ~ 2 Thessalonians 2: 5-12

THE TERROR OF THE STORM

The wind howled. The trees bent and branches whipped wildly. The unmerciful rain poured in pounding sheets  on houses, plants, cars... people.  Hail started falling, growing larger as it fell. No-one was safe. Windows were popping in cars and vehicles, then buildings and homes.

The police and "first-responders" were helpless to stop the raging weather. They could rescue no-one. Emergencies were happening. Radios and phones were jammed, those that were working. A terrible panic ensued. 

In the cities, people were trapped. Their buildings were not safe and it was impossible to flee by vehicle in the storm. All they could do was watch ... and pray. They huddled together, helpless to ward off the storm tide. It was bearing down upon them, their families, the children.

There were no storm-chasers.

This storm was chasing THEM. 

Some called it the wrath of GOD. A few knew they deserved it. Some blasphemed and cursed GOD in the storm... cursed GOD, the only ONE Who could help them.

Why didn't HE help them?

Maybe HE did not like the curses??

OR......

Maybe HE knew once the storm was lifted, they would not think about HIM seriously until the next storm. Maybe HE knew they would not be changed... once the storm had lifted.

They would be proud and arrogant and hard , as before, congratulating themselves on how tough and strong they were to weather such a storm. Their own "toughness" got them through, after all.

Why should HE answer their cries for help ?  Since they refused to acknowledge HIS almighty power when it was calm, why should HE deign to help them through the crisis? Undoubtedly, they would not acknowledge HIS almighty power when the storm ended.

Relentlessly, the raging storm continues as the “sons of belial” shake their fists in GOD'S face for "hindering" their lives ... the very lives which sprang from GOD, and were going back very soon to stand before HIM, at the Great Judgment of all the dead who rejected GOD'S offer of Love and Mercy.

Soon, too soon for their comfort, they will be standing before the Judge of the Whole Earth. This Judge+ of the Whole Earth will most assuredly DO RIGHT... just like HE did in ancient times in the five cities of Sodom and Gomorrah's region.

There is a COMING STORM, RAGING. Raging its way across the face of civilization...  the Western-most Civilization is included this time.

There is NO ESCAPING this storm; it is the fire-storm promised by GOD. Only HE is powerful enough to stop it. HE wills not to do that. HE is going to allow this high-tech society to reap what it has sown. Full-time. For decades, at the least, but being birthed hundreds of years ago. The harvest of evil is coming to maturity.

The demons who have been nurtured and promoted by the highest "civilization" on earth are soon to be given more authority than the authorities bargained for.  More authority than the basest of people --- both high-born and lowly --- ever thought possible when they flaunted their evil in the eyes of GOD.

How many babies have been slain, chopped apart for sorcery and to hide their mother-and-father's sin ? About 60 million ?  [ Numbers may be a bit off due to errors in the official records, but the Judge of the Whole Earth has a most accurate accounting system ... and HE does not miss one little scream from the Little Ones being slain in the womb. ]

"As your ears have been deaf to the cries of these Little Ones, so MY+ Ears are deaf to your cries in the STORM," saith The LORD.

"As your heart has hardened itself against calling evil "EVIL," so MY Heart will be hardened TO THE SAME DEGREE when the STORM erupts against you," saith The LORD.

There is nothing secret that will remain hidden.  The sweeping STORM will reveal it all.

You care only about your own life and how much pleasure you can extract from it. Self rules. Self is led by demons.

So... the rule of demons --- undisguised  --- will be your portion. You will see how much "pleasure" the demons will give your flesh. You will call for Death, but Death will not answer you.

You trample my People by every method you can use, so now it is your turn. Only this time, I will use the methods I CAN USE... and there is no escape.

2 Thessalonians 2:5 -12 warns us:

[ ESV ]

You cannot but remember that I told you this while I was still with you; you must now be aware of the Restraining Hand which ensures that he [ the wicked one ] shall be revealed only at the proper time.

For already the secret power of wickedness is at work, secret only for the present until the Restrainer disappears from the scene.  And then he will be revealed, that wicked man whom the LORD JESUS will destroy with the breath of his mouth, and annihilated by the radiance of his coming.

Even him,

whose coming

is after the working of satan

with all power

and signs and lying wonders,

And with all deceivableness

of unrighteousness

in them that perish;

because they received not

the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

And for this cause

GOD shall send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:

That they all might be damned

who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

[ KJV]

^{Romans 8: 13-14}

For if ye live after the flesh,

ye shall die:

but if ye through the SPIRIT

do mortify ( put to death )

the deeds of the body,

ye shall live.

For as many as are led

by the SPIRIT of GOD,

they are the sons of GOD. 

+  +  +

NOT ASHAMED OF ... US ? ... RESURRECTION WEEK, Day 5 ... MEDITATIONS

Touch ME+ not; I+ am not yet ascended... 

[ 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

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.

   +  +  +

But we see JESUS,

WHO+ was made

a little lower than the angels

for the suffering of death,

crowned with glory and honor;

that HE+

by the grace of GOD

should taste death for every man.

For it became HIM,

for WHOM are all things,

and by WHOM are all things,

in bringing

many sons unto glory,

to make

the CAPTAIN+ of their Salvation

perfect through sufferings.

For both

HE+ that sanctifieth

and they who are sanctified

are all of one:

for which cause

HE+ is not ashamed

to call them Brethren.

HEBREWS 2:9- 11

+  +  +

MEDITATION

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? 

How can that be ?

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? …  who whine and murmur, groan and complain through-out our day ?

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? … who are so concerned about our own family's salvation but do not have time to concern ourselves about the salvation of strangers ... whether they be nearby or across the sea ?

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? … who refuse to don a head-covering ( 1 Cor. 11) , who refuse to forsake looking like the world, talking like the world, and behaving like the world ?

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? …   who are too tired and busy to stop our day to come before HIM+ ... in humility and thanksgiving ?

NO, rather...  the truth of the matter is this:  

HE+ is NOT ASHAMED

of those…

who are NOT ASHAMED

of HIM+.

Those who confess HIM+ before the  hidden, Unseen Watchers and put to chase the spirits of Self, complaining, and grumbling … HE+ is openly not ashamed of these Blood-washed Believers.

Those who make a sacrifice of thanksgiving and with determination maintain their trust in HIM+ to utterly conduct their affairs as HE+ sees fit --- even when adversity arrives --- HE+ is unreservedly not ashamed of these Faithful ones who lift HIM+ up in their hearts.

Those who care about the dying souls who have never heard the Word+ of GOD or those who care about the many souls who have never understood clearly the CHOICE between Eternal Life and Eternal Damnation... HE+ is joyously not ashamed of these Laborers in His+ Kingdom.

Those Followers who have forsaken the world, its ways, and ALL of its values and have maintained a distinct separation... so distinct that the worldlings may see at a glance a glimmer of the Essence of GOD... ah, no, HE+ is definitely not ashamed of these Separated ones who follow HIM+ boldly and unashamedly !

Those who pay the price that the world exacts on those who REFUSE to allow "the requirements" to absorb their entire life's energy --- for a job, a career, for fine housing and all the amenities of this life --- in order to have SOME QUALITY energy to devote to CHRIST JESUS ... YES ! HE+ is delightedly not ashamed of these Single-of-Eye Followers. 

For both

HE+ that sanctifieth

and they who are sanctified

are all of one:

for which cause

HE+ is not ashamed

to call them Brethren.

Are we His+ Brethren ? 

Yes, we are ... when we live in ONENESS with Our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Both a babe in CHRIST and a mature Follower of JESUS can live in ONENESS with CHRIST ... if that Follower determines to do so.

It is simply a matter of priorities.  

When we yield our lives unto His+ rule, HE+ sanctifies us daily.

HE+ is NOT ASHAMED 

of those HE+ sanctifies.

Furthermore, HE+ confesses us as "His+ Brethren" before Our FATHER WHO art in Heaven, hallowed be HIS Name, and before His+ Holy Angels.

+  +  +

Let us pray...

Dear Heavenly FATHER,

We are not ashamed of Thy+ Holy SON+ JESUS CHRIST !

We are not ashamed of HIM+ before our family, before our relatives, before our neighbors and friends. 

And we are not ashamed of JESUS CHRIST before our enemies... both visible and invisible.

Help us to STAND for JESUS in the inner man when the fear of the face of man raises its ugly head. 

Help us to STAND for JESUS in the inner man in spite of our aching bodies and hurting hearts.

Help us to STAND for JESUS in the inner man in the face of  adversities... knowing YOU are working in us a far greater maturity in CHRIST.

We thank THEE , O CHRIST, for calling us Thy+ "brethren."  Fit us for this calling, as only YOU+ can do.

For Thy+ Glory we pray this, O LORD, through the Name of JESUS CHRIST, our Risen LORD and SAVIOR.  Amen.

+  +  +

I+ am the resurrection,

and the life:

 he that believeth in ME+,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth

and believeth in ME+

shall never die.

Believest thou this?

Yes, LORD, I+ believe

 that THOU+ art the CHRIST,

the SON+ of GOD,

 WHO+ should come into the world.

+  +  +