Rembrandt Van Rijn's drawing of Jesus, Healing and Teaching
1 Corinthians 15:6
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
John 20
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
Peter and John Running by Dan Burr
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she 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 Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 1
8 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Rembrandt Van Rijn
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, [Greek, Ioudaioi probably refers to Jewish leader and others under their influence] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, [Didymus] was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Rembrandt Van Rijn
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Psalm 119 is part of Passover and Lent.
The basics of faith.
If we don't ask each other what is uncomfortable, how will we know what we really think in faith.
It's disconcerting, to me, Jesus was reported to walk among them and His disciples didn't recognize him. I always look to this portion - and I am grateful His disciple John records seeing Jesus appear in a locked room with absolute recognition of Jesus and the wounds He bore for us. It is a portion of Scripture I hold on to.
And think on when I need Spiritual reassurance. I think this is a good thing. Not something to be embarrassed about. The disciples were confused and afraid ~ and they were there with Jesus.
Another portion to consider is the time frame of Jesus - announcing the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Thomas cried out, John 20:28
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Another portion to consider is the time frame of Jesus - announcing the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Thomas cried out, John 20:28
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
I would be more comfortable if Jesus is recognized by Mary Magdalene at the tomb.
I would be more comfortable if Jesus is recognized on the Road to Emmaus.
I would be more comfortable to know why the 500 in 1st Corinthians, Chapter 15, recognized Jesus.
I'd like to know why the Disciples didn't fully recognize Jesus and the miracle, again, of so many fish and breakfast in John 21.
And this becomes a question about the new body we receive in Heaven. We don't have questions others don't have. For millenniums.
Jesus says pray like God is in bed resting, and your relationship is so good, He is your Friend, and you can ask Him anything, anytime. The Gates of Heaven are always open. (Peter is given the key! Peter!)
God, what does a Heavenly Body look like?
First Corinthians 13 - fits and fits and is a puzzle piece, here.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
This isn't a rebuke! This is a wonder of God. God asks us to have faith as a child. A child would ask Jesus, "Why?"
Yes He would.
Jesus tells us in 1 Corinthians 13, when we find someone we knew in childhood, we might recognize them, or we would not. Jesus has been through torture and death. We will not know the exact answer to our questions today, when we are in Heaven. We can put our ideas and Scriptures and come to an answer we can hold, today.
In our wonder of God's Plan, we worship Him.
1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we shall be changed.
Jesus tells Mary Magdalene not to cling to Him, He is changing. Jesus, at first, does not eat. A wonder of Heaven. Will we change as we arrive in Heaven? Yes, very possible, for our own self-image to understand ourselves. Jesus does not break a bruised reed.
Last year, we travelled 500 miles a week and for a year. Gone 4 or more days a week. Life was completely interrupted. My mother was really in ill health and went from being in care at home, to full-time facility care. She couldn't walk, or have a conversation. I would walk down the hallway and dread going in to see her so diminished or vegetative.
And Mother's house took months to clean out, she had hoarded for almost a decade and a half, in Dementia. I gained 20 pounds. We could do the work to sort, if we could leave to eat. Life was in disruption. We could fill her garage, and we had help to have the things just removed.
Mother passed away and death came as a friend. I began to have dreams of her. My grandmother Anita also dreamed of Heaven and those who had passed to Jesus' Kingdom.
My mother went from a very dark, gloomy Hospital. Weeks later, her hospital was very bright.
And within a week, I thought, this isn't Hospital, this is Jesus and His Hospitality. My mother was assuring me she really was getting so much better! It was the key of what she had to say.
I can think of nothing I would want to hear from my mother in Heaven more.
Zechariah 8
4 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great age. 5And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “If this is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be impossible in My eyes?”
declares the LORD of Hosts.
Jeremiah 30:19
Thanksgiving will proceed from them, a sound of celebration.
I will multiply them, and they will not be decreased;
I will honor them,
and they will not be belittled.
Jeremiah 30:20
Their children will be as in days of old,
and their congregation will be established before Me;
and I will punish all their oppressors.
Jeremiah 31:12
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD--the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds.
Their life will be like a well-watered garden,
and never again will they
languish.
Jeremiah 31:13
Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well.
and give them comfort
and joy for their sorrow.
When Jesus gives us John 14, 15, 16 and 17 - The Gift of Joy. Jesus is telling us what He knows about Heaven.
Jesus has a very turbulent
last 40 Days
and know all manners
of trouble.
The Courage of Jesus
His Last 40 Days
is
Undeniable.
Other people saw and believed:
Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Faith is like the parable of the workers arriving through the day-Nathanael got there much earlier than Peter:
John's First Chapter of His Gospel:
47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus was not recognized for an excellent reason. Jesus was eating fish. Making Breakfast for the disciples at the end of the Gospel of John. The Good News of Jesus Christ is concrete, the promises we can hold on to be real. Jesus was becoming a New Creation of Heaven.
Jesus was showing us about concrete and new bodies for His Kingdom.
John's First Chapter of His Gospel:
47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus was not recognized for an excellent reason. Jesus was eating fish. Making Breakfast for the disciples at the end of the Gospel of John. The Good News of Jesus Christ is concrete, the promises we can hold on to be real. Jesus was becoming a New Creation of Heaven.
Revelation 21
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Jesus was showing us about concrete and new bodies for His Kingdom.
2 Corinthians 5
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies;
we will not be spirits without bodies.
Abba, Father,
We ask to have You dwell in us
and those we love.
To seek You first.
Finish well in Jesus Christ.
We obtain Blessings
in Your Word!
Teach us to please You
and have Your Blessings
the ability to find the Mercy Renewing Daily.
Bless, for to this we were called!
That we may obtain a blessing.
For
“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
Answered prayers?!
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy!
Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone
who asks you for a reason for the hope
that is in you;
yet do it with gentleness and respect
And give us this day, in the adventure of seeing Your will in our lives.
Amen, Amen always in
The Highest Name of Jesus.
Abba, Father,
We pray for this Blog
as I began to write today's Post
it began to double space.
We pray for Violence not to be suffered
nor the violent.
In the Name of Jesus
bless and help and strengthen
those who are treated cruelly.
Amen in Jesus. Amen.
Therefore lift
your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
and make straight paths for your feet,
so that what is lame may not be put out of joint
but
rather
be healed!
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God;
that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble,
and by it many become defiled.
Psalm 134
A Song of Ascents.
Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
A Song of Ascents.
Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!
3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!
In the Highest Name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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