JOHN 20: 1-18...
1+++Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.
2+++So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3+++So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.
4+++The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;
5+++and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.
6+++And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7+++and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
8+++So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.
9+++For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
10+++So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11+++But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;
12+++and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.
13+++And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
14+++When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
15+++Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
16+++Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
17+++Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”
18+++Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
If Christ gave his life a ransom, and had not taken it again, it would not have appeared that his giving it was accepted as satisfaction. It was a great trial to Mary, that the body was gone. Weak believers often make that the matter of complaint, which is really just ground of hope, and matter of joy.
It is well when those more honoured than others with the privileges of disciples, are more active than others in the duty of disciples; more willing to take pains, and run hazards, in a good work. We must do our best, and neither envy those who can do better, nor despise those who do as well as they can, though they come behind. The disciple whom Jesus loved in a special manner, and who therefore in a special manner loved Jesus, was foremost. The love of Christ will make us to abound in every duty more than any thing else. He that was behind was Peter, who had denied Christ. A sense of guilt hinders us in the service of God. As yet the disciples knew not the Scripture; Christ must rise again from the dead.
We are likely to seek and find, when we seek with affection, and seek in tears. But many believers complain of the clouds and darkness they are under, which are methods of grace for humbling their souls, mortifying their sins, and endearing Christ to them. A sight of angels and their smiles, will not suffice, without a sight of Jesus, and God's smiles in him. None know, but those who have tasted it, the sorrows of a deserted soul, which has had comfortable evidences of the love of God in Christ, and hopes of heaven, but has now lost them, and walks in darkness; such a wounded spirit who can bear?
Christ, in manifesting himself to those that seek him, often outdoes their expectations. See how Mary's heart was in earnest to find Jesus. Christ's way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular. It might be read, Is it my Master? See with what pleasure those who love Jesus speak of his authority over them. He forbids her to expect that his bodily presence look further, than the present state of things. Observe the relation to God, from union with Christ. We, partaking of a Divine nature, Christ's Father is our Father; and he, partaking of the human nature, our God is his God. Christ's ascension into heaven, there to plead for us, is likewise an unspeakable comfort.
Let them not think this earth is to be their home and rest; their eye and aim, and earnest desires, must be upon another world, and this ever upon their hearts, I ascend, therefore I must seek the things which are above. And let those who know the word of Christ, endeavour that others should get good from their knowledge.
DO we grasp the RESSURECTION, and THE GIFT OF LIFE, or are we like Peter, John, and Mary who did not UNTIL they saw CHRIST JESUS??? Whatever is unfathomable in the flesh, THROUGH THE LORD SHALL be made fathomable; and so, we seek HIM IN HIS WORD, and KEEP our thoughts ON HIM, as we, FAITHFULLY FOLLOW HIM in HIS LOVE, and WILL...
The entire teaching of the Bible from end to end reveals and bears witness to a world ordinarily unseen by human eyes, but none the less real. Humans are used to the tangibles of this world, albeit we sense that which is not tangible, and when someone, or something is no longer with us, we tend towards despair, or lose belief, or resign ourselves to any of many mentalities in learning to deal with it! The knowledgeable KNOW we are NOT of this world, yet the world's holds are often stronger than not, thus, people fall wayside, so to speak! WHAT good is FAITH if it is premised upon what is worldly? It makes no sense, and is NOT TRUE!!!
EVERY WORD OF *GOD* IS DEPENDABLE, and IS FOR OUR GOOD, and SAFETY, therefore, we must diligently consume it, daily, as the unfathomable IS made fathomable THROUGH HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, and HIS WORD, AND LOVE begins to THRIVE in the hearts of those who take it in as food...
THE LORD IS RISEN! HE HAS CONQUERED what the enemy considered a win over THE LORD; death! THE LORD IS VICTOR OVER EVERY possible, and feasible opposition! YES, IT IS ALL FOR HIS GLORY, but don't you know, HIS people ARE part of HIS GLORY, and therefore, SHALL RISE TO EVERLASTING PEACE, JOY, and LIFE?!!
*GOD* IS JEALOUS for our souls! HE did NOT CREATE us to be overtaken, and lost! HE WILLS that we share eternity IN THE KINGDOM, although HE gave us free will, FOR the sake of HONESTY, and SINCERITY IN SEEKING HIM!!!
ALLELUIA, HALLELUJAH; THE LORD IS RISEN! Let HIS people look forward to RISING WITH HIM! Let HIS people in the mean time, PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD! Let HIS people HONOUR HIM in ALL their ways, ALL of their days, FOR HIS GLORY, and for the sake of lost souls! Let HIS people REJOICE, and CELEBRATE THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, HIS LOVE, HIS WILL, and HIS PLAN! FOLLOW CHRIST JESUS from the shackles of the world INTO THE FREEDOM OF LIFE! EXALT HIM, EXTOL HIM, WORSHIP HIM ARIGHT, GIVE THANKS, BE GRATEFUL, and GIVE HIM the best within! BLESS HIM, and BE a BLESSING in this dark, and fading world, for there are many more who might SEE THE LIGHT, and BE SAVED!!!
LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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