THE SAME DAY
John 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. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
John 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. 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.21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
This was the most unique day ever to come upon mankind in the entire history of the world. Never had there been a day like this day. The Old Testament sabbath was over! The first day of the week, or The Lord’s Day had begun! Matthew 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. Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. John 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.
No more animal sacrifices! God’s Lamb had been slain and the sin of the world of God’s elect had been legally justified. Romans 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; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
God, for the first time since Adam’s sin, was “satisfied!” Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge (or, by the knowledge of him), shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
The Apostle Paul warns the professed believers at Galatia not to go back to the observance of former days required by the law. Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Those “weak and beggarly elements,” was referring to the ceremonies of the law. And he states that his gospel preaching would be “labor bestowed on them in vain,” if they went back to the law’s observance.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.(That is, fallen from the entire concept of salvation by grace alone!) 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Sin can only be handled by the sacrifice of the Humanity of God – the Lord Jesus Christ! Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
At this time the Lord Jesus had given a sovereign command to the members of the Roman government not to bother his believers. John 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. That is why these believers, though fearful, were free to assemble, even though they had before been in their homes mourning and weeping. Mark 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. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
And we notice in that Mark 16:9 verse, just listed, that the word “first” is mentioned twice. It was the “first” day of the week, and it was Mary Magdalene to whom he “first” appeared. But why would the Lord begin his new era by first appearing to a woman, and not to one of his male disciples? God always chooses the weak in order to confound the mighty. He wants no flesh to glory in his presence. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
With all that the religious world has already done to exalt Peter as the first pope, can you imagine what they would have now done if the Lord had appeared to him first? In order to keep back the worship of Peter, the Lord left him still fearful, hiding at home, weeping.
God chose the angels to announce his Incarnation. God was come in the flesh of man to reveal God’s highest glory! Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And John the Baptist was chosen to be the forerunner to announce the Lord Christ’s public ministry. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
But it was Mary Magdalene who was chosen to announce to his disciples both his resurrection and ascension! John 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. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Then the gospel voice from God’s called human agents are sent forth to warn the Lord’s people to come out of the Harlot church. Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
And in the end, the forerunner to go before the King of kings personal return, shall revert back to the angelic realm! 1 Thessalonians 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:
For is should not be that such a glorious king should be without a forerunner to herald every aspect of his coming! Matthew 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
And I can tell you exactly when he shall come! He shall come when no one thinks he will! Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
There is no greater assurance of safety, concerning the Lord’s coming than the daily faith in looking unto him. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
For as this day of Christ’s physical appearance as the Incarnate God, was sovereignly set forth, even the day of his return has also been. Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Ezekiel 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
And it is all for the entirety of created beings, whether angels, demons or humans, saved or lost, to being honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God! Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
For even though their “doors were shut” the Lord Jesus came in and “stood in the midst.” For he IS the door! (John 10:7,9). And he is the focus of all creation! – whether providential, or of all created beings! He shall come with clouds of glory for every eye to see! Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
He had to be in the midst of the thieves on the cross in order to be in the midst of his church! John 19:18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. Mark 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
For he endured the cross, despising the shame by looking to the glory that should follow! Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Apostle Paul sums it all up in his letter to the church at Philippi. Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Pastor Gene Breed
December 21, 2018
