Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV (6) As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
John 20:11-18 NKJV But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. (12) And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. (13) Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” (14) Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. (15) Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” (16) Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). (17) Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” (18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
John 20:19-20 NKJV 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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (20) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
John 20:26-29 NKJV And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” (27) Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (28) And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (29) Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
What happened from the Cross to the seating of the Master on the right hand of the Majesty on High?
This is the essence of the Pauline Revelation.
We talked about the Incarnation. Surely Mary told the Apostles of what she had encountered regarding the birth of Jesus.
All of it is based on righteousness. The whole plan of Redemption was for the purpose of making man righteous.
Righteousness – the ability to stand in the Presence of God without a sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority. To stand in God’s presence as though sin never existed.
Isaiah 54:14 NKJV In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV (21) For He made (poieio – made from something that does exist in the natural) Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become (ginomai – made from something that did not exist in the natural) the righteousness of God in Him.
Let’s start with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene:
Matthew 26:36-46 NKJV Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” (37) And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. (38) Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” (39) He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (40) Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? (41) Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (42) Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” (43) And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. (44) So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (45) Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. (46) Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
What was really going on here? What troubled Jesus to this degree? Was it simply giving up His physical life?
- The body Jesus possessed was a perfect human body just as Adam’s was in the Garden of Eden.
- There was no death present in His body although He was 100% human.
- Jesus’ body did not become mortal until He hung on the Cross.
John 10:15-18 NKJV As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (16) And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. (17) “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. (18) No one takes 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 command I have received from My Father.”
Power to take it up (authority) again.
EW Kenyon:
- Jesus agonized because He must partake of the dreaded nature of the Adversary
- His body would become mortal
- Satan would become His master
- He was to be reckoned among the transgressors
- He was to bear the sins and diseases of the human race
- He was to be forsaken by His Father
Luke 22:43 NKJV Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
Angels did not minister to Him on the Cross.
What did the angel do? Perhaps encouraged Him with the entire plan. Why? Because He came out of that situation emboldened to finish the task at hand.
He boldly and courageously faced His captors.
John 18:1-11 NKJV When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. (2) And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. (3) Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. (4) Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” (5) They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. (6) Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (7) Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” (8) Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” (9) that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” (10) Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. (11) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”