He Arose

The Greatest Sin of All Unbelief

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Servant’s Victory

Book of Mark Chapter 16

The Lord Jesus Christ expressed victory for every believer with the fulfillment of His resurrection!

Jesus Christ had predicted His resurrection on several occasions, but His disciples never really understood Him.

Most of this world still does not understand the reality of the resurrected Christ today!

Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Mat 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
Mat 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Mat 20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
Mat 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Mar 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mar 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Mar 10:33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
Mar 10:34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Luk 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Luk 18:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
Luk 18:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

We also see that the Lord Jesus specified that He would rise again on the third day showing His omniscience and His obedience to the Word of God.

All the Gospels stress the “physical” resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

There were many witnesses to His resurrection.

Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Joh 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
Joh 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
Joh 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
Joh 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Mat 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Mat 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Then there were the two witnesses on the road to Emmaus.

Then the ten disciples in the upper room.

Then the eleven disciples a week later.

Then the disciples who decided to go fishing.

Then eleven disciples in Galilee, where Jesus had told them He would meet them there.

Then the disciples in Jerusalem.

Let us see what Mark wrote by the Holy Spirit.

The actual words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luk 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luk 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luk 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luk 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Let us analyze what John wrote:

Joh 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

We know one meaning is that when Jesus placed His napkin aside as this verse states means, that He will return.

There is another meaning.

As John wrote he described this napkin as being still rolled up.

This napkin was retaining the circular shape as though the head of Jesus were still in it but lying in a place by itself. It was detached from the rest of the wrappings, but the shape of this head piece and the wrappings tell us that the body of Jesus passed through those wrappings and left them undisturbed.

The Body of Christ had certainly risen even through His death wrappings.

The Body of Christ, the true Church, those alive and the bodies of those in the grave, may truly rise very soon, as we witness the signs going on in our world today!

The atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ reached its climax when He arose from His death!

The Rapture of the Church will be the climax of the period of the Grace of God and period of the Jews will begin.

The Apostle wrote:

Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Let us pick back up on our lesson with verse nine.

*Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Up until this moment no human eye had seen our risen Savior.

The Lord Jesus Christ had conquered death.

The Lord Jesus Christ had conquered the grave.

The Lord Jesus Christ proved that life “by Him” had no ending!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Giver of life!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and “the life”: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God is not the God of the dead!

Later the Apostles taught the “Gospel” as the truth of the Word of God and it is, but they taught the resurrection of Christ as fact, because they were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ!

They became bold in the preaching to the Gospel because the “Good News” is a fact!

The key to the New Testament is the fact that the Apostles were eyewitnesses to the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah!

If you look into the scrolls of the Catholic Church, the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus you will see that these are two of the many verses that were left out so Bibles translated from those altered scrolls do not include these words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that sin is sin and we sometime try to decide which one sin is greater than another as we try to hold on to our pet sins but this is not the complete truth.

The sin of lying will be treated the same as the sin of murder though there may be different degrees of suffering for some sins.

If we look at Mary Magdalene, we see a sinner just like we are all sinners.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Mary felt that the Lord Jesus had forgiven her so much more than others because she felt her sins had been so great.

In fact, this Mary should be an example for us all in her devotion to the Lord after she was forgiven.

It is said that Jesus had cast out seven devils from her.

What do we see of this Mary, she was not afraid to be seen as a believer!

Mary stood by cross through the whole ordeal of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.
Mary was even present when the Lord Jesus was taken down from that terrible cross, another witness to His death.
Mary was the one who led in the preparations for the embalming of His body over the weekend.
Mary was the first to visit the tomb after the Sabbath.
Mary refused to leave the tomb after Peter and John verified that the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
Mary was a precious saint of God who was truly devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ making her a great example for us all.

The Lord Jesus took the time to comfort His devoted follower before He met anyone else.

These things make Mary Magdalene a great witness to the death and resurrection of our Savior and a loving friend of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

To be a Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins, He had no sin.
To be a Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from that death to live evermore and to show each believer that death has no power over us and we will live evermore with our Savior and our Redeemer.
To be Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus is forever with us in the hour of our need, meeting every need and responding to our love for Him.
To truly be a Christian is to do our best to be like the Lord Jesus Christ in all His ways and be in the will of God for our own lives.

*Mar 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mar 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

In the fulness of believing faith, Mary hurried back to Jerusalem to inform the eleven disciples of what she had discovered at the tomb of Christ.

They were still mourning over the loss of not only their Lord but also their dear friend.

They just could not find the faith to believe what Mary was saying to them.

There is no doubt they were also mourning for every time they had let down the Lord Jesus Christ.

There was also mourning because they did not know what to do now, seeing their leader was gone.

Mary came with faith that the Lord Jesus had done what He said He would do!

We need to understand that the things that Jesus said He would do as written in the KJV, He did accomplish.

Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

All the prophecies that led to the coming of the true Messiah are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ!

The disciples of the Lord Jesus had not believed Him when He said these things would happen, so they did not believe Mary Magdalene.

It is probably more that they could not understand rather than could not believe.

They insisted that this true believer then had to be a liar even though they highly valued her.

We should realize that as Christians today, we are not the only ones who have mourned for Christ Jesus!

We are not the only messengers who have been rejected, but we are sure beyond any doubt that the Lord Jesus arose from that tomb!

In our hearts we do not care what all the doubters believe!

We need to show the faith that this Mary had and have no doubts about our Savior!

If this happen and there was a need for a courtroom, there is more evidence that Jesus arose from His death than most any other historical event, yet the world doubts the truth of God.

Most of this world will remain lost because of this doubt.

Remember:Mat_7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Once these disciples knew the truth then they would die before they would renounce their faith in the truth of the Gospel.

This says a lot about the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

They were slow to believe, but once they knew the truth, they could not be unconvinced and neither should we!

We have to stand on the truth of the Gospel simply because we know it is the truth!

If we want to mourn and weep let us mourn and weep for those who reject the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote:

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Paul could write these things because he knew they were the truth!

The Lord Jesus knew all these things would happen so; He began to show Himself to them.

*Mar 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Mar 16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

We should understand that one of the proofs of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate unbelief of His disciples.

They had to be convinced of the truth of the resurrection.

Once they realized this truth, they never doubted the Lord Jesus ever again.

All but John died because they could not be convinced otherwise.

They could have rejected the truth of the Messiah and lived!

There was a distinct change in the appearance of our Savior after His resurrection!

He was the same and yet not the same.

They knew the voice of the Lord Jesus this had not changed.

The Lord Jesus bore the marks of His crucifixion on His hands, His feet, and His chest.

He ate with His disciples, He had conversations with them, and He blessed them and yet He was not the same.

The body of our Messiah was no longer subject to the laws of space and time!

He came and went as He so chose!

One moment He was with them and another moment He would vanish out of their site.

This is what happened on the road to Emmaus. (Book of Luke 24:13-35)

Christ Jesus made Himself known to a select group of people.

We can understand these words of the Apostle Paul if we let this sink in.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; “that every one may receive the things done in his body”, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Paul was referring to the glorified body of our Lord Jesus.

Paul wrote to the Colossians that we would all appear with Jesus and be like Jesus when the Lord Jesus returns to claim this world.

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, “then shall ye also appear with him in glory”.

Again Paul was talking about this glorified body that the Lord Jesus showed to the Apostles after His resurrection, the same body He went back to Heaven with.

**The Lord Jesus had come to this earth as Spirit and took on the form of a new baby to make a point that we all must be “born again” in His Spirit.

**The Lord Jesus grew to adulthood to reach the age when He would begin His ministry.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior so we can become a servant of the Lord and be in His will, which is our ministry.

**The Lord died to show us that death had no power over Him and He rose again to prove it was true.

Once we are faithful believers, we know that death has no power over us ever again.

**The Lord Jesus raised Himself in a glorified body to show us that at the moment of our death, there will be no death, but we will begin a new everlasting life and it will be in a glorified body just like that of the Lord.

The difference is, He will show His battle scars and we will be brand new!

Though He was glorified, He was still the man Christ Jesus with all His individual characteristics.

This is the body He returned to Heaven in so we can all be alike body wise in Heaven but we all will still be different.

We should never listen to anyone who tries to get rid of the form of Christ or substitute some vague image of Him as the truth.

The Apostles were not confused and they were eyewitnesses!

The “Body of Christ”, the Church will one day soon resemble Jesus Christ’s resurrection body when we return with Him.

Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The Lord Jesus continued to show Himself to His disciples.

*Mar 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. is victory over death.

There are two major hindrances to being a true witness for Jesus Christ.

1) Unbelief.
2) The hardness of the heart.

The Lord Jesus Christ scolded these disciples for both of these things.

They had not believed the words He had taught them!

They had witnessed the power of God for about three years and there was no excuse for their unbelief.

They had seen His power over nature and disease.
They had witnessed His power over death when He raised up the daughter of Jairus and Lazarus and others.
They had witnessed the sinless life of Jesus, His purity, and His holiness. The Lord Jesus Christ was without sin therefore death had no power over Him!
They had been taught time after time that He was to die and be raised again.
They had rejected the testimony of His resurrection!

Their hardness of heart to not even believe other disciples was a very serious problem that they had to overcome!

We are all to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to spread the truth of our Holy God!

These things had to be dealt with!

The cause of unbelief and the hardness of the heart is the misinterpretation of Scripture and the misinterpretation of words of Jesus Christ which today we see them in red letters if we want to.

All the Scriptures are the Word of God!

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

They refused to see Christ as the suffering Savior and could think only of Him as the conquering King and He will be this too when it is time!

They refused to see the Kingdom of God as a Spiritual Kingdom, thinking only of a physical kingdom, which takes place as the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, which is a temporary thing, at least for only one thousand years.

They simply did not understand the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Until these things were understood completely, they could not be given the “Great Commission”.

*Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

All the Word of God is to be treated as the commandments of God and the “Great Commission” is as straight-forward as can be said.

The Lord used very few words but this command cannot be misunderstood.

The Lord was teaching this thing to His disciples.

If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ then you are also a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ!

That word preach is used here and it means to declare the truth of God!

It means for us to declare the truth of God, especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The “Gospel”, meaning the “Good News” of the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done for our salvation.

The Lord Jesus has done all the work and we are to believe and proclaim what He has done for us, including all the world.

Though most of the world will ignore the Gospel, the world still needs to hear what the Lord has to say, because He is the Lord of Life!

That word preach, does not mean that only those who are called to preach are to share this message, but every child of God is to share the “Gospel” message.

We are not to preach our own thoughts about the Gospel.
We are not to preach our own ideas about the “Gospel”.
We are not to preach humanistic or man-centered beliefs about the ‘Gospel”.
We are not to preach what world religions think about the “Gospel”,
We are not to preach what philosophers think about the “Gospel”.

We are to preach the “Gospel”, just as it is revealed to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God!

This is the Divine work that has been assigned to us.

No Christian is exempt from this duty.

None of us are excluded from the privilege and honor of taking part in this work given to us by our Savior!

The “Gospel” must be heard and it will do its own work!

The “Gospel” must be carried out into all the world.

The Great Commission was given to all the Church, to every believer!

Notice that the Lord Jesus does not give us a list of reasons why we cannot do this command.

In other words there are no excuses for anyone!

It is a permanent commission given to every believer, in every generation to do, until the Lord takes us home or He returns to take us all home on the day of the Rapture.

What is the truth to those after they have heard the Gospel?

*Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

What the world has a tough time believing is the fact that we are all doomed from the day of our birth.

We may look down at an innocent baby and say how can this child be a sinner, but it does not take many days until we see the truth as that child begins to lie.

We see that baptism is mentioned in this passage and we know that baptism is not part of our salvation in the sense that it is necessary.

What we must understand is, that being baptized is being obedient to the Word of God!

In the sense of that obedience, it is then necessary as becomes part of our beliefs.

We believe in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that He has done for our salvation, the “Gospel” and we believe in the truth of all the Word of God and in this context the Lord Jesus says we must be Baptized.

To be baptized is a sign of our belief!

Baptism is an act of obedience to God’s demand just as belief is an act of obedience to God’s demand.

We should also know that believing also includes, repentance, while obeying the “Gospel”.

To be saved we must believe the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ!

If we then believe, then God demands that we be baptized!

It could be said that how can a person be saved if that person immediately rebels against being baptized?

If we are saved, then God expects obedience to all the Word of God!

This is where the so-called progressives are failing today!

If that obedience does not exist, then that salvation does not exist!

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Every saved soul who believes in the Lord will not have a problem in obeying all the Word of God!

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Obedience is then tied to our salvation!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is by faith alone that we are saved but after that salvation then there are some works to do and baptism is that first works as is making a public confession of our sin.

We are all sinners saved by the “Grace” of God.

None of these things mean we can never fail; we will certainly fail in our service to the Lord!

We will fail, but we will not continue in sin.

We will get up out of our sin, ask God for forgiveness, and follow the Lord even more diligently.

Is it possible to be saved without following the Lord Jesus Christ which is the meaning of being a Christian?

Those who are lost are those who do not believe the Gospel!

Joh_3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We should ask ourselves just what does this belief “in Him” really mean?

Not being baptized is not a reason that is mentioned for a reason for salvation.

What we need to understand is, that believing is making a commitment to the things that God says, the infallible Word of God.

A person is not saved if they do not believe, which is a rejection of what God says!

To believe is a Spiritual event!

To be baptized is a physical event!

The Lord Jesus then is saying in verse sixteen, that when a person is saved and filled with the Holy Spirit they will not fail to be baptized unless they are physically unable to do so.

The moment of salvation is not at the time of salvation, but is at the time of believing!

A true believer will then be baptized and be obedient to all the Word of God!

This thing is not that confusing and each believer must work through these things with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Php_2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

It is our Savior who started His work of salvation in us, but we are to carry it to the end with the help of the Holy Spirit and following the Word of God being obedient to it!

*Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

To all those who are saved and have not grieved the Holy Spirit by ignoring the Word of God, then they will be able to work through the power of the Holy Spirit!

The pure fact of witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ is the fact that it cannot be done under our own power, but only with the power of the Holy Spirit!

Our world has always been a dangerous place and it is even more so today.

Dangers come not only from the enemies of the Church but also natural calamities.

And we must not forget what the Word of God says.

Eph_6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is these things that are the most dangerous and it is also these things that we hear every day that are Israel’s enemy!

Now we must not get confused.

There will be some who become martyrs.

There will be some who will suffer major persecution, but God will not allow all His children to die, except in the fashion of the Rapture.

Things will not always be smooth for believers even here in America!

The point God is making is that as God’s people carry out the “Great Commission”, God will make some of His power known to this world.

Many of these things mentioned here were necessary when the Church had its beginning but the Lord did not mean they are all needed today.

Some are to plant seeds.

Some are to water and nourish those seeds.

Some will receive the seed and believe immediately.

Some will reject the seed and never receive the truth of God.

We know that even in the time of Paul the speaking of tongues, which have always been about known languages and not some gibberish trying to imitate this power that was given to the first Apostles and a few others in the beginning of the early Church.

1Co 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
1Co 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, “but to them that believe not”: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

We now that Paul also seemed to have power over serpents at one time.

Act 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Act 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Act 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

No evangelist has this power over serpents today.

Snake handlers are not preachers of the truth!

We can also be sure if we test God and drink any substance that could kill us then it probably will.

Today we have the complete text of the Bible and it is the Bible, the Word of God that has the power needed to reach the dark soul of each sinner!

Faith is still the key to salvation that still comes by the Grace of God!

Faith is a distinct relation between the lost soul and the believing soul!

The triumph of the believing soul is that it can now live through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is safety in “faith” in Jesus Christ and it is eternal!

Psa 91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Psa 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Psa 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

There is safety in the Church if we remain in the Church.

Heb_10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Amen

Jesus Taught In His Glorified Body

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Jesus Taught in His Glorified Body

Book of John Chapter 21

As we close out our study of the Book of John. we will get another view of the “glorified body” of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ appeared to the disciples the third time on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

John uses the term Tiberius because of politics. The name this sea had been changed by the time John wrote this book.

Peter had invited the disciples to go fishing and at least 6 of them had gone with Peter.

As the day had dawned the Lord Jesus appeared on the shoreline, while these disciples were several yards off shore at least a hundred yards.

So let’s allow our Savior to speak:

*****Joh 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
Joh 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Joh 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

After what things?

1) After Jesus had met with Mary Magdalene.
2) After Jesus had met with the other women who had come to the tomb but had left leaving Mary Magdalene behind
3) After Jesus had met the two disciples on the Emmaus rode.
4) After Jesus had met with Peter.
5) After Jesus had met with the disciples without Thomas.
6) After Jesus had met with the disciples with Thomas.

It is after these things that Jesus met with the seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee.

What did Jesus prove to these disciples on this occasion?

Jesus Christ proved that the disciples could do nothing without Him.

This something we all need to know! Without the Lord Jesus Christ we are nothing.

Joh_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The men in typology were fishermen but they had labored all night and caught nothing.

When they knew that Jesus was on the shore and told them to throw the net on the other side of the boat which should have no difference at all but with the Word of the Lord, they became true fishermen!

Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

It is the same when we witness for the Lord! If we do not have the Words of Jesus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ we will never bear any fruit!

If we cannot be true to the Word of God, we are useless to Him!

The Lord Jesus resurrected from that death to prove He is God and that we must depend upon His strength!

Jesus continued to show Himself for as long as it took to make sure their faith was solid.

Jesus does the same thing today when He test our “Faith”.

The body of Jesus was the same body that had died upon the cross, but it was a glorified body!

What is the promise to each of us that believe?

Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

We should be able to see that there will be some differences in our body after physical death. Our Spiritual body will be made perfect while our earthly body cannot be perfect.

*****Joh 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

It should be obvious that even though these disciples could not tell if this body was Jesus, they could still tell that He appeared to be a human being and not a something that was not a man. They were too far out in the sea, to see clearly.

It was just breaking dawn. Jesus walked over to the shore line but still they could not tell until He began speaking loudly.

When Jesus speaks, we will know Him!

*****Joh 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
Joh 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

We should be able to tell by the words, of Jesus that He was expecting “a no” answer. Normally one side of these boats would make no difference in fishing, but the Lord knew exactly where the fish were because He directed them to be there.

These disciples had to be on the right side, and we are always to be on the right side of the Word of God.

If these disciples did not have enough faith to pull the net in and place it on the other side of the boat, they would have never caught those fish!

John knew as soon as he heard these words that it was the Lord Jesus standing on that shoreline!

We should understand that there is always a reward for being obedient to the Word of God.

Being on the right side of the Word of God is to be “justified”!

The reward for being obedient to the Lord, was not just the amount of fish that were caught, but the Lord had prepared them a meal on the shoreline.

In typology, the ship they were in represents the Church. The right side, points to those who have chosen the Lord, the elect.

Jesus is the first of the elect:

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

The Church is the true, choosing the “Grace of God” over the laws of man.

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

The casting to the net represents the preaching of the Gospel.

The promise of finding the fish, is the assurance Christ gives of the success of His Word, the Gospel.

Isa_55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

It is Jesus Christ that has blessed the Word of God and carries with it the promises of God!

The Church is to obey the Word of God for the Church to gather the fish.

What’s that old saying? “I catch them, but God cleans them”, is still the truth!

But, Simon Peter could not wait to see the Lord again.

*****Joh 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
Joh 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
Joh 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Joh 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

Each of us who are genuine will experience the super natural care of the Lord.

Jesus showed to these disciples the reality of His surroundings, so they could believe that He was certainly the “Risen Savior”.

The fish upon the fire represents all those who will be tried by the Lord to see if they are true to the Lord.

1Co_3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Peter dove in the water and swam to shore eager to see Jesus. The other disciples stayed in the ship (the Church) to make sure the fish made it to shore safely.

The message of the Church must always contain the truth of Jesus Christ!

Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Then Simon Peter helped to bring in the fish:

*****Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Joh 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Joh 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
Joh 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Peter drew in the fish and noticed not one was lost. The Lord will not lose any of the fish caught by His disciples!

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We can find the Gospel in everything that Jesus did when He walked among us!

There are many great thoughts on the number 153 fish. One theory is that the Lord blessed 153 persons during His time upon this earth.

By talking, hearing and eating the Lord Jesus Christ proved He was in a living body of flesh but was a glorified body.

Remember a glorified body is a body of perfection and we do not have any clue of what a perfect body would look like!

A glorified body is real, and it is a perfect body and as believers we will each have one, one day soon.

After worship, and joy, and the peace we get from knowing Jesus Christ, the next great thing we get from the Church is fellowship.

Jesus had prepared a meal, not from the fish that these had caught, but with fish and bread He had gotten Himself.

The Lord is always giving us gifts that we do not deserve!

Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Jesus Christ is everything we need, and He is the only one who knows what we need!!!!!

These disciples began to understand that they knew what Jesus wanted them to know. Not like a brain washing but the truth!

When we understand the Lord, we understand the truth of life!!!!!

John lets us be aware that this was the third time that the resurrected Christ had appeared to His chosen disciples.

We must clearly understand that the success in catching fish or men, comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus just wants us to be busy about the Masters, work.

If souls are not coming to the Lord, it is not because there are no fish.

Joh_4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

The facts are that the Church has far too many men ready to put the brakes on the progress of the Church!

Just as the Lord does not relieve us from labor in this world, (he that does not work does not eat), Jesus also will not relieve us the labor for souls until the day we die. Remember it is the Lord that will call us home “when he is ready”!!!!!

We must remember why the Apostle John was writing this epistle!

Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Not till after they had dined did Jesus show us what it is to be a disciple!

*****Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

There are many things we feel in our doings from day to day, but it is the feelings of love that move us the most!

Peter was a natural born leader so in the presence of the other 6 Jesus went straight to Peter. Not so much because he had denied the Lord but to insure Peter clearly understood his mission.

We are never to take worldly objects and love them more than we love the Lord Jesus Christ!!!!!
We are never to have idols we cherish more than the Lord!!!!!

We all have close friends and family and most have spouses, of which I no longer have, but we are to never love them more than we love the Lord.

In fact we will never love them properly until we put the Lord Jesus Christ first in our lives!!!!!

The truth is Jesus loves all of us more than we can ever understand so He is our example to learn what love is all about!

We must always remember the length of suffering the Lord has done to show us what true love is all about.

Jesus Christ gave us the gift of His love while we were mired in sin, showing Him nothing but hatred.

If we are observant as we look out over the world of today, we see more hatred than we ever have, and hatred is the absence of love!!!!!

The leadership of Peter needed to be reinforced publicly before those that gone fishing with him.

We know when the Lord Jesus called Peter by his full name the conversation was very important!

The most important trait we must have as Christians is the love we have for our Lord and our God, Jesus the Messiah!

We must understand that we are nothing and can accomplish nothing without Christ Jesus!

1) The first question Jesus had to Peter was “did he love the Lord more than he loved these other men”.

Jesus could have also been talking about the family of Peter.

One more thing is that Jesus was talking about Peter’s love of fishing and his business.
Remember Peter was a business man along with James and John as partners who were also amongst these other men.

Our love for the Lord must be true and must be sincere!

Every true Pastor has loved Jesus more than their family and their career. As disciples we are to be no different!

Jesus ask for “agape” love, but Peter did not respond with agape love but “phileo” love.

You need to look these things up yourself so you will know the difference. We are all to know the difference!

There are even some who have made up their own Christ and not the Christ as described in the Scriptures.

Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible and we had better understand that!

2) The next question Jesus asked Peter was “did he love with God’s love”.

We are not only to love Jesus more than anyone else in our life, but we are to love everyone else with the same love that God has shown to us.

Our example is still John 3:16 but let’s look at some other passages also.

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

It takes time to learn this love and show it to others, but this is what the Lord was asking Peter and the same love Jesus ask of every disciple.

3) The third question Jesus asked Peter was “do you really love Me as your brother”.

Jesus now asked with “phileo” love. It takes time to learn the love of God but until then we must be loyal not only to the Lord but also to our brothers and sisters in Christ!

We must be loyal not only to Jesus Christ but also to the entire Word of God.

There is no modern interpretation of the Scriptures. The Scriptures have said what they have always say and God’s Word is just as vital today, just as it was in the time of Peter and this was something Peter needed to lock into his heart.

Words are wonderful but if those words do not originate from a heart dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ, then they are meaningless words!

Without the love of God as described here, Peter could never have done the things the Lord has asked him to do.

We owe a lot to Peter today because we know he learned the love that Jesus was insisting on this day on the shore of Galilee.

Peter could now feed the sheep of the Lord!

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Some of the flock will be one way:

1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Some of the flock will have progressed:

2Ti 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Then there is the special ministry of the Pastor:

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Then the Lord got up close and truly personal with Peter.

*****Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Joh 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

We need to understand as Christians, the Lord requires a total commitment in following the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who is that “another”.

What do we know about the Apostle Peter?

Peter lived for about 36 more years after this day with Jesus and he was tied to a cross upside down (because he insisted) and when the nails were driven in, he was carried by another to the place he was crucified.

Before Peter was saved, he, more or less did what he pleased, and this is the thing we must give up. We must follow the lead of the Holy Spirit!

If we cannot give the Lord Jesus full control of our bodies, then we are “foolish Christians”

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Tradition says that the wife of Peter served with him in his ministry and she to, was martyred the same day as Peter, right in front of him so the last thing he saw was his dead wife.

Peter was to die the death of a martyr, but not John!

On seeing his wife’s death before his own eyes, it is said that Peter rejoiced because he knew she would be waiting on him in Heaven when he got there.

We must understand that the call of Christ will bring some persecution.

We are to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in everything we do, until the day we go home to be with the Lord!

This was the life that Jesus told Peter he would have, and Peter stood true all his days.

We will all die unless we are among the few will go home at the time of the Rapture.

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2Co 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
2Co 5:12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
2Co 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

Jesus said to pick up your own cross and follow Him and this is what Peter did.

Peter turned to see John following and Peter asked Jesus what would John be doing in his ministry.

And Jesus firmly said:

*****Joh 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Joh 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Peter may have thought all the Apostles would minister together as a group, but Jesus told Peter that this was not going to happen.

Peter had gone into business with John and his brother James and they were very close for many years.

Peter wanted to know what lay ahead for John.

We know that for some reason, John was spared from a martyr’s death and lived a long life.

I believe that since John was to take care of Mary the mother of Jesus, that he did not suffer as much persecution as did Peter and we know the James the brother of John was the first to die a martyr’s death when he was beheaded.

We should understand that when Jesus said these things to Peter, it was not a revelation of the will of God for John as some believed.

Jesus was dealing only with Peter as Peter would remain the head of the Apostles till, he died.

If and when we called of God to do anything, then we need to concentrate on that calling and not on what is happening elsewhere or with other ministries.

Not that we are not to help when called upon, but that we are not to allow our own calling suffer for helping others!

We are to focus our energy and our efforts on fulfilling the will of God for our own lives.

We must also understand our motivation to serve must remain our love for God, and not our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are to do the same.

We are certainly to love one another, but Jesus Christ is the one who is to the first in our love.

Our power to serve comes from the Holy Spirit, and we need to pay close attention to Him!

The one more thing we are to understand being a Christian in the full will of God, this will not keep us from growing old or from suffering as we grow old.

We must understand that Paul was a great Apostle only because of that thorn that caused him so much misery.

If we become too rich in material things or physical comforts, we may forget that it is the Lord who will provide.

If we become rich, then those most of those riches are to be used in the ministry or the ministry of the Church.

As Christians we are to live without the favor of this world.

We cannot do without devoted followers.

What would happen to the Apostle John was to be no concern of Peter’s.

What was said to Peter about John was misunderstood. Remember it is John who has given us these passages by the Holy Spirit, and we can believe what John is saying.

*****Joh 21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Joh 21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

Since John did live the longest of all the 12 Apostles, then he could give the Church the truth of how the early Church withstood the world around it.

The Church is like a ship on course through this world, taking the message of Jesus Christ to all ports of call and the Church will sail boldly as long as the world is not allowed into the ship (Church) that would cause the Church to sink.

We can see that many a ship are sinking, or struggling today because they have allowed the world inside the Church doors!

In truth, as Christians we should forward to death. Not to rush our death in any way, but to know the joy of a job well done and going to the one place that has no part of the world and that is Heaven!

We can understand that the specific form and the manner of our death is predetermined and arranged by God Himself!

The death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has made a dramatic change to this world we live in.

We can only imagine what this world would look like without the Church or our own nation without the Church.

If we were to understand a miserable future, then the Church would have been useless all these years.

The Lord has promised an eternal life in Heaven. A place where we cannot even imagine the beauty of, where God accepts His adopted family and we will eat as His table for an eternity!

John could not tell us somethings because the Holy Spirit did not require them.

*****Joh 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Amen

Let’s Pray!

Jesus Christ Appeared After His Resurrection

/ Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

Jesus Appeared After the Resurrection

Book of John Chapter 20:11-31

When all the disciples were hiding in fear of the Jews, Mary was not. Mary was bold in her devotion to the Lord. A lot of things have been said about Mary Magdalene but she was a woman who was devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ and was willing to the show the world that she was!

We know by the Gospels that Peter and John had left and all the women but this Mary who had stayed behind trying to find her Savior.

*****Joh 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
Joh 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Mary had something that many a church lack today:

1) Mary was devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ.
2) Mary had courage, she was not afraid to show the world her love for Christ Jesus.
3) Mary had patience, she knew her Savior had rose from the dead and she waited on Jesus to show Himself.

No doubt Mary understood the first commandment of the Lord.

Mar_12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Above all other commandments we need to understand what Jesus is saying here!

We must understand that those who love Jesus Christ the most are the same ones who receive the greatest benefit from Him!

We must also understand that those who are conscious of their own guilt and who are convinced that without Christ Jesus they would sink into hell, are the same ones who will cling to the Lord Jesus Christ and His commands.

2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Mary also saw something the others had not seen, two Angels.

We must understand that there exists a spiritual world around us all the time and many times we may have had Angels around us and not recognized them.

Heb_13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

If you do not believe in Angels, you will never see one!

These two Angels could see the misery of Mary and they reacted

*****Joh 20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

Mary had done two things that none of the others had done.

1) Mary had lingered at the tomb of Jesus taking it all in and what His death meant.
2) Mary was contemplating what an empty tomb would mean to the world.

Why was this Mary the first to see Jesus? It was because she had the greatest faith on that day!

These two Angels were not sitting around wondering at what was happening. Angels are messengers of God and at this time they had a message for Mary Magdalene.

They were also there to show the enormous power of God!

The fact they were dressed in white, signified the purity of God!

Here again we see this word “woman”. This word implies tenderness and courtesy and not disrespect.

The woman may be the weaker vessel in some ways, but a good woman will stand beside her husband such as Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel did.

As far as Mary was concerned these two Angels were nothing compared to her Savior and she spoke to them as if they were only humans also realizing that they may have some answers.

Notice she said “my” Lord and the “I” meant all the other women had gone and she was alone at the tomb.

All these things being true, this Mary was the first to see the resurrected Jesus.

Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mar 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mar 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

*****Joh 20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Joh 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Mary failed to see Jesus even with Him so close, which is the story of the Church today. We will never recognize Jesus until He has that permanent place in our heart!

Mary could not recognize Jesus because she was torn apart by His death.

Doubt will not let us get close to the Lord. All the disciples and family and even Mary had doubt that they would ever see Jesus again.

Doubt will cloud our eyes to the truth. None of the disciples of Jesus were prepared for His resurrection!

They could not believe that He could die and gave no thought to His resurrection!

Mary was still seeking a dead Savior as so many are today. Our God is alive!

While Mary was still hopeless, the Lord Jesus was standing right next to her.

Mary may not have recognized Jesus in His resurrected state, but she knew who He was when He mentioned her name.

When Jesus calls our name, we will definitely know it is He who is calling.

We can never miss out on the Rapture of the Church because we will know it is time to go home.

Many times we Christians grieve when we should be rejoicing!

The Lord is always near us when we are going through tough times in fact, He is with us all the time!

We need to serve the Lord while it is still time.

When the Lord returns there will be millions who will want to serve Him, but it will be too late for them.

Isa 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

We must focus on the work of the Lord and focus our eyes upon Him at all times.

Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

*****Joh 20:17 Jesus saith 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.

No doubt that Mary was so excited that she wanted to cling to Jesus but there was still work, to do. Jesus sent Mary to do one thing while He did something else.

Mary had not yet understood the message of the resurrected Savior.

You will never find a time that Jesus is not busy with His Father’s business.

He will hold us forever when we get to Heaven!

Mary would have held on to Jesus for days had not Jesus told her that there are things that had to be done.

Jesus would never allow any of us to interfere with the plans of His Father!

Mary needed to be obedient the Words of Her Master, now her God, in His glorified form.

What did Paul write?

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Notice also the Church had begun. The disciples were no more called disciples, but all believers are in the brotherhood and sisterhood of Christ!

*****Joh 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Mary Magdalene was the first eyewitness to our resurrected Savior!

Mary was seeking the same relationship she had before the crucified Christ, but this was impossible.

By the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ requires a knew, relationship. A relationship that could not be established until Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would descend to begin the Church of the Living God and this could not take place until after Jesus ascended back to Heaven.

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

We still need to study the other Gospels to get the complete story of the things that happened that day.

Another thing we should mention is when Mary the mother of our Lord was given over to the care of the Apostle John, then being the mother of the Lord was not as important as being a believer in her resurrected Son, and the salvation that was offered to be just as it is to “whosoever” will believe in the work of Christ.

Mary the mother of the Lord could not be saved just because she was the Mother, she had to be saved because of her faith. She certainly is not to be worshiped.

It was Mary Magdalene who became the first witness because she had the greatest faith!

*****Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

As we see the disciples of the Lord were sealed behind locked doors because they were afraid the show themselves in public.

But no amount of security could stop the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. He just appeared inside the room where these disciples were hiding.

The Lord’s appearance first brought fear, but His words brought peace.

You see we must first have that reverent fear of the Lord before we can be at peace with God! After all our God is the sovereign God of everything we can see and of all things we cannot see!

For those who think the Lord only appeared as a spirit should be able to see that even in His glorified state the Lord did have a material body.

There was no blood left in His body. No blood was required in His glorified body. There was no food required but the Lord Jesus could still eat if He so desired. All this being was because He was Jehovah God.

Luk 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luk 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luk 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Notice the Lord did all He could to assure these unbelievers that He was certainly the resurrected Christ!

These disciples became believers this day, but they would still not understand all things until they received the Holy Spirit.

They could not receive the Holy Spirit until their faith was solid and real and from the heart!

*****Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Joh 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

We should also understand that once Jesus returned to Heaven, it was the job of these Apostles to carry the “Good News”, the “Gospel” to all the world.

Some of them had not first believed even when they saw the Lord.
They had not believed the words of the women who had seen the Lord.
They had not believed Mary Magdalene who was the first witness of our risen Savior.

The disciples had remained in Jerusalem as they were told to do, and they now believed the truth of the Lord.

Even doubting Thomas was now a believer.

These disciples began to go through a great change. They began to understand that all life can come only by the Lord!

The truth of our Lord began to sink in. The Lord Jesus does exactly what He says He will do!

Jesus had said He would give His life so we could be saved, and He did.

Jesus had said He would resurrect from that death to prove He was God, and He did.

Sin and death are now conquered

Jesus Christ is the “Good Shepherd” who gave His life for His sheep!
Jesus Christ did defeat the works of the Devil!
Jesus Christ was lifted up for all the world to see!
Jesus Christ did say that greater love has no man but a man who would lay down His life for His friends!
Jesus Christ did say if I depart, I will send the Comforter to you, who will never leave you!
Jesus Christ did say “my record is true” and it has proven to be true!

Jesus Christ did say, “as the Father has sent Me, I will now send you!

The truth is that until we know the peace of God and reconciled to Him by the works of Jesus Christ, we cannot represent God in this world!

We have a specific mission but many a church has forgotten how specific is the mission that the Lord has given to us, and have taken up many things, many of them being good things but have veered from the mission given to us by the Lord.

Jesus Christ breathed upon this whole group, just as He did to bring the life of Adam into existence symbolizing that the Holy Spirit must dwell in the entire church body for the church to be the “Bride of Christ”.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

We should understand that verse 23 does not suggest that any man can forgive the sins of another.

If one has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, we can say their sins are forgiven and if not then we can say that their sins are not forgiven.

Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Only a believer can tell another believer that their sins have been forgiven a non-believer cannot know the truth!

The day Jesus first came unto the disciples Thomas was not with them.

*****Joh 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Thomas refused to accept the Lord Jesus Christ had arisen from the grave unless he could see Him with his own eyes.

Today many are just like Thomas who refuse to believe that Jesus the Messiah died and then arose from the grave.

Thomas would not believe these ten men who he had been with for as much as 2 years.

By forsaking the Lord Thomas became frustrated.

Thomas had missed the proof of Jesus because he was not gathered with them.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

It is the same today. We do not know what we miss when we do not gather with the Church.

Another thing we see is, when we speak out against the Lord, we may have to eat our own words. Everything we say is heard by the Lord and this is true today also!

Thomas acted foolishly but the Lord Jesus acted with mercy and grace!

Eight days later would have been the next Lord’s Day, the next Sunday and this time they were all gathered together.

Again Jesus came right in through locked doors and stood in the midst of the 11 disciples.

Again saying “Peace unto you”.

We can only wonder what Thomas thought as Jesus recited back to him his exact words!

The world fails to understand that Jesus is much more than some great prophet.

Jesus is much more than some great teacher.
Jesus is much more than some great man.
Jesus is much more than the founder of Christianity.
Jesus is even more than the greatest man that ever lived!

Those that see Jesus as only these things, see only some man who lived and then died.

The non-believing sinner sees Jesus as only some man, because it brings our Savior down to their level.

If Jesus was truly some man, then He could not be perfect and could not be worthy to sacrifice Himself for anyone sins.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

This was the feelings of most of the world then and we see that most of the world today has gotten worse!

2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Jesus said to Thomas come, I will show you the proof you seek after.

*****Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

When the Lord returns, He will also show the world the proof they seek.

Jesus knew that Thomas had a momentary loss of faith because Jesus can look into the heart and it was necessary for Thomas to be a true believer in order for all the Apostles to do the work that lay ahead of them.

Today Jesus knows not only our heart, but our doubts, our fears, our despair, our hope, our love and every other thing about us.

God sees everything we do every day, and records them in His books, and these are the things the non-believer will be “judged” by on the “Day of the Lord”!

And the believer on the day of the Rapture, at the judgment seat of Christ.

1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Lord and our God whether we believe it or not!!!!!!!

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

If we have no faith, then we are not a Temple of God!

Jesus Christ is truly our risen Savior!

Jesus Christ is certainly the Sovereign majesty of the universe!

Jesus Christ is the One who came to reveal our God to us!

Jesus Christ is the One who we are to worship!

Jesus Christ expects an open and public confession.

Jesus Christ expects the same from us as He did from Thomas even though we have not seen Him in person.

By the Holy Spirit we have all His words of truth!

*****Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

We are to believe even when we do not see the evidence and proof!

We are to believe because of God’s love!

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Through the Scriptures we see the need for us to be Christian because we know the “character” of God!

We are to believe because of the billions of witnesses have gone on before us or how can we believe that our loved ones who knew the Lord are in Heaven.

We are to believe because when the Lord moves in our heart tells us so!

Thomas had chosen his own path until he saw the proof of our Savior and then these things were settled within him, just as they should be in us!

Jesus made sure they all understood the truth!

*****Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Immediately we see that there are many things that these disciples saw that were not written down for us.

So even after He arose Jesus was ministering to the needs of the believers.

The signs that Jesus chose to use brought great results because we can see the evidence of that by the results of the lives of these Apostles afterwards.

His character, His behavior, His preaching, His teaching, His miracles, His control of the environment, and His power proved that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly the Messiah.

We should know that in the life of our Savior upon this earth He did not have a secret He could not openly show!

What we have in the Book of John are the things selected by the Holy Spirit to keep in our remembrance on our Savior!

We will end our study in the Book of John next week knowing that we could not cover everything in this series of lessons!

Amen

Let’s pray!

The Resurrection Of The King

/ Bobby Mayfield / 2 Comments

The Resurrection Of The King

Our Text: Book of Matthew Chapter 28

We must not be ignorant of the Bible. If the resurrection of Jesus did not occur then there is no Christianity!

Paul wrote:

1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

The doctrine of the resurrection is fundamental to the Body of Christ!

To deny the resurrection is to deny the whole Bible, for no part of it can be true if not all of it is true!

If the foundation of Christianity is removed then the whole superstructure will fall!

Jesus taught us of two resurrections.

1.) A "spiritual" resurrection.

Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Joh 5:26  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
Joh 5:27  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

2.) A "bodily" resurrection.

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

The "spiritual" resurrection takes place the day you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. That is the Soul resurrection!

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The "bodily" resurrection means more than just bringing the body back to life. Jesus brought people back to life and they again had to die:

The daughter of Jairus:

Luk 8:50  But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
Luk 8:51  And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
Luk 8:52  And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
Luk 8:53  And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Luk 8:54  And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
Luk 8:55  And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

The son of the woman in Nain:

Luk 7:11  And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
Luk 7:12  Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
Luk 7:13  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
Luk 7:14  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Lazarus:

Joh 12:9  Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
Joh 12:10  But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
Joh 12:11  Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

These all had to die again. The resurrection of Jesus means more than these things.

It means to make alive, no more to die.

Paul again writes:

1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

What else does the Bible teach?

While this resurrection takes place, the identity of the "body"  that is raised is never lost. That dead body will be raised to suit it’s new life in Heaven.

Proof when Christ Jesus was transfigured:

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Moses was still Moses and Elijah was still Elijah!

God had this purpose from the beginning. There would never have been a Tree of Life if God had not planned for immortality. It was sin that changed things!

Paul wrote:

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, [who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel]:

What is the Gospel?

Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and [that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures]:
1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

When Paul uses the phrase "according to the scriptures", he means according to Old Testament prophesy!

*****Our text:

Mat 28:1  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mat 28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mat 28:4  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Mat 28:5  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mat 28:7  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

When most people look at this Sabbath they think that Jesus was crucified on a Friday. The fact is that the Bible tells us a different story.

When Jesus was crucified and placed in that tomb it was the evening before the preparation day:

Mat 27:62  [Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation], the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

John wrote:

Joh 19:31  The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

If we go back to the Laws of the Jews we know:

Exo 12:15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exo 12:16  And [in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you].
Exo 12:17  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

In other words this day should be treated as a Sabbath(a high Sabbath).

In the Book of Leviticus we read:

Lev 23:5  In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover.
Lev 23:6  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
Lev 23:7  [In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein].

Jesus could not have been placed in the grave on Friday but on Thursday.

There are many who write the harmonies of the four Gospels that list thirteen events happening on Tuesday and eight on Thursday and leave Wednesday totally blank. These same scholars list the words Jesus said on Tuesday:

Mat 26:2 [Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified].

If Jesus said this on Tuesday then Jesus said He would be dead by Thursday. I believe the Words of God are more valuable and true above what man writes:

Jesus had given the World a "Sign" that He would fulfill:

Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

This is the truth of the Gospel:

Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

These women who had witnessed the crucifying of Jesus waited until the dawn of the day after this Sabbath. It had been three days not four so His body would still not have begin to deteriorate.

Joh 11:39  Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, [by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days].

Prophesy says:

Psa 16:10  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

They knew Jesus had died!

BUT, They had no faith in what Jesus had taught:

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Most of this world will tell you that they believe that Jesus lived and that he died but only the Church the Bride of Christ truly believe that Jesus "rose again".

What does the "resurrection" of Jesus Christ mean to us?

1.) It proves that Jesus was truly the Son of God:

Joh 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

2.) It proves the truth of the Old Testament:

Psa 16:10  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

3.) It proves that there will be a resurrection of the saints of God, a Rapture of the Church:

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

4.) It is proof of a future judgment:

Act 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

5.) We now have a Heavenly Priest that will never change:

Heb 7:22  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Heb 7:23  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Heb 7:24  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Heb 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Heb 7:27  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Heb 7:28  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

6.) It is the "power" behind the Church:

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7.) It is our hope for the future:

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Though these women and those that were told had gathered discouraged and defeated, the Church can assemble on any day to bear witness that Jesus is alive and is the foundation of the Church, "Because He Lives".

The Bible tells us that there are earthquakes when the LORD visits this earth. They may not take place every time but they may. What does seem true is that the severity of the earthquake may coincide with God’s wrath at that time.

Any earthquake that would move stable things on this earth would be severe. That word "great" would mean that this earthquake was widespread.

Though this earthquake was great it was not the earthquake that moved the stone that covered the entrance into the tomb where Jesus had been placed.

Luk 24:3  And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luk 24:4  And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

The Book of Luke tells that there were actually two angels.

It was an angel that had rolled tat stone away. That stone had the seal of the Roman government on it but a much higher power had removed that stone.

It was not Jesus that removed that stone. Jesus could pass through walls. He had passed through His grave clothes which still held His shape lying in that tomb, and he had passed through the walls of that tomb.

Joh 20:5  And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Joh 20:6  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, [and seeth the linen clothes lie],
Joh 20:7  And the napkin, that was about his head, [not lying with the linen clothes], but wrapped together in a place by itself.

Those wrappings, those grave clothes laid there like an empty cocoon!

The angels said:

Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. [Come, see the place where the Lord lay].

The soldiers that had witnessed these things had passed out in fear of their lives!

We can think that we will bravely stand before this awesome God but I fully believe we will be more like these soldiers or like Daniel whom the Lord loved:

Dan 10:7  And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
Dan 10:8  Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and [there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength].
Dan 10:9  Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

Jesus was not held by the bonds of death and could not be:

Act 2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: [because it was not possible that he should be holden of it].

"Come and see" was followed up by "Go and Tell".

*****Our Text:

Mat 28:8  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Mat 28:10  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Mat 28:11  Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
Mat 28:12  And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Mat 28:13  Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
Mat 28:14  And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Mat 28:15  So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Discouragement had become great joy. Fear had become hope. Death had become life!

Gazing on that empty tomb and hearing those angels say "He is risen" is the beginning of our faith!

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? [It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us].

Notice the next thing that comes is worship as they all fell at the feet of Jesus.

We are in the wrong when we say we have faith and do not take the time to worship our Lord!

Some say we can worship without going to gather in His name. We can and we should! But we cannot forsake the assembling also:

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

We know that the disciples were hiding in fear of their own lives. We know that after realizing the truth of Christ resurrection, how great they became as disciples and servants of the Lord.

Can you imagine what was going through the minds of those soldiers when they awoke.

To be a member of Pilate’s personal guard they had to be experienced, battle hardened men. They knew that things had happened beyond normal, these were spiritual things and they went straight to the High Priests of Israel.

This may have also been their instructions but we must also remember a couple of more things.

1.) For a Roman soldier to lose his prisoner would cost him his life.

2.) For a soldier to sleep on guard duty could also cost them their lives.

The supernatural things they had witnessed would have to be explained to Pilate in order for them to live.

Proof:

Act 12:18  Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
Act 12:19  And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

We can actually see proof of the resurrection in these things:

1.) If the body of Jesus had been stolen the grave clothes would not have been left behind especially as they were undisturbed.

2.) If the friends of Jesus had stole His body, surely they would not have returned to place more spices on it.

3.) The enemies of Christ would not have stolen His body for they wanted no hint of a resurrection.

4.) If the body of Jesus could be found and we can be sure it has been looked for, it would have silenced the early church and the spread of Christianity.

What we see is that there are no answers except the truth which is that Jesus Christ "arose from the dead" just as He said and He is still alive today!

The had given Judas only 30 pieces of silver. It would take a great sum of money or death to silence the truth of what these soldiers had witnessed.

Remember that some had already been convinced of the truth.

Mat 27:54  Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

*****Our Text:

Mat 28:16  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
Mat 28:17  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Some scholars have said that the Book of Matthew is the Gospel of the Mountain:

1.) From a mountain Jesus gave the "Sermon on the Mount".

2.) From a mountain Jesus was transfigured.

3.) From the Mount of Olives, He took His place as the Son of David and rode into Jerusalem.

4.) From the Mount of Olives, He delivered the prophesy of the second coming and His Kingdom.

5.) He is now on a mountain in Galilee.

Some Bible scholars say that it is on this mountain where Christ Jesus was seen by more than 500 people at one time.

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

We can see from the scriptures of Paul that most of these were fairly young people because they were still alive when Paul was preaching to the Corinthians and we can know there some that doubted on this mountain but at this time all the 11 disciples were now confirmed believers:

The proof:

Joh 20:24  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

The Lord Jesus did not ascend back to Heaven at this time but later in Jerusalem again on the Mount of Olives:

Luk 24:50  And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
Luk 24:51  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

We now have what is called the "Great Commission". Jesus directed these words to everyone on that mountain that day even though there were some that doubted. These words of Jesus do also apply to all that call on the name of Jesus as their Saviour.

If we want to be a part of God’s Word then we must be disciples and obey this command:

Paul wrote:

Rom 15:20  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
Rom 15:21  [But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand].

We must tell all those that have not heard of Jesus!

This will also fulfills prophesy and includes those in the governments of this world!

Isa 52:15  So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: [for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider].

Though this is the "Great Commission" all the Word of God have the same authority and are given by the same author. We cannot pick and choose in the Word of God!

When Jesus said "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" He was saying it is His right only to use this power!

Jesus is still the only "authority" in this world because He is still ALIVE!

By His death and resurrection He defeated all His enemies.

Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

You see all the work that needed to be done for "Salvation" is finished because of the cross!

Jesus showed the power of God in His resurrection!

It is with this authority that we have hope as Christians!

To be a Christian is to be a "Missionary for God" to all that have not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has given His Church this time to share this Gospel.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, [not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance].

Those that perish will perish because of their own refusal to believe!

Our command is to teach all nations. That begins where we now live. That begins in the place where we first got saved. If we will not share the Gospel at home, we can be sure that God will not call on us to go to foreign lands.

No matter where we are located in our daily walk with God, it is that place, in that moment that is our missionary field.

Act 11:19  Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Act 11:20  And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Act 11:21  And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

To be a disciple of Jesus means we are attached to Him and what He teaches. We have what He teaches in the written Word of God. That Word is settled in Heaven. It is not for us to make changes in it but teach it as it is.

We must study that Word in order to do these things:

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

This same Word is what we are to teach!

The main thing we need to know is that Jesus will be with us in all these things and it is still His Power that saves.

We just deliver the message as we are Christ’s messengers of the truth of the Gospel!

So now let’s look at the facts:

1.) Jesus had repeatedly while He lived predicted that He would suffer death and that He would rise on the third day.

2.) Jesus made His resurrection the "sign" of proof of all His claims.

3.) Jesus instituted two perpetual ordinances:

a.) One to commemorate His death.(The Lord’s Supper)

b.) The other to commemorate His burial and His resurrection.(Believers Baptism)

4.) It seems that only Mary, the sister of Lazarus believed that Jesus would die and resurrect but we see that all the religious leaders and His enemies had believed and taken measures that they thought would stop it.

Mat 26:12  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
Mat 26:13  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

His enemies:

Mat 27:39  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Mat 27:40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

Mat 27:62  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Mat 27:65  Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Mat 27:66  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Jesus risked everything of the New Testament Church and Christianity on the fact of "His Resurrection". This fact has never been proven wrong and I’m sure that Caiaphas and the Roman government did everything in their power to prove differently and failed.

Did Jesus actually die?

The facts:

1.) The written record says He died. We have that record!

2.) All historians most being non-believers said He died. (Josephus and others)

3.) The man Pilate had put in charge of those soldiers, a Centurion, officially said He died and reported this to Pilate. Pilate believed his man!

4.) Jesus was actually embalmed and buried in the Jewish fashion of that day and that tomb was barred with a great stone. There was one hundred pounds of embalming spices used. That could not have been done to someone that was alive.

5.) That great stone was sealed with the seal of the Roman government. To remove this seal was an act that required death. No Jew would have done this!

6.) There was an armed guard posted to guard this tomb. Not of the Jewish Temple guard but of Pilate’s palace guard. They knew their own death would follow if they failed to do their job!

7.) It was an angel of God who has all authority that removed that stone.

8.) That Roman guard reported first to the Jewish High Priest for what they saw was supernatural things that they had no defense of. They knew they faced death at the hands of Pilate for these things they could not stop.

9.) It is the angel that told all the Jesus had risen.

Did Jesus resurrect back to life, how do we account for that tomb being empty?

1.)  Some of the guard testified that the body of Jesus was stolen but that contradicts the story told to the High Priest!

Mat 28:11  Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

2.)  The testimony of the stolen body was only told after the bribe was paid. This would have been thrown out of any court.

Mat 28:12  And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Mat 28:13  Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

3.) These men could not have known anything about the body of Jesus if they had been asleep the whole time and they would have stopped it if they were not asleep.

4.) The disciples would have had no use for the dead body of Jesus. It would have proved nothing.

5.) It leaves unexplained the resurrection and appearances of those saints of old that roamed the streets of Jerusalem in full view of everyone.

Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

6.) A Centurion of the Roman army could not have been fooled by these things and was witness to the truth and we should believe as he did.

Mat 27:54  Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

7.) The disciples believed when they saw Him:

1Jn 1:1  That which was from the beginning, [which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled], of the Word of life;
1Jn 1:2  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1Jn 1:4  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

8.) His Mother, His brothers, His friends and His companions for three years could not all have been fooled!

Act 1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Let’s Pray!