The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 20:17b,
"I [Jesus] am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
These are the words Jesus instructed Mary to take back to his disciples when she first saw him resurrection morning at the empty tomb.
We read of the resurrected Jesus ascending into heaven in Acts 1:9-11, "After he [Jesus] said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'"
Of that account, the NIV Quest Study Bible, answering the question, "Why did Jesus depart so dramatically?" says, "Jesus' ascension into the cloud may have been the final lesson for them; it showed them he was leaving the physical world and returning to the heavenly realms. His extraordinary departure helped the disciples to see Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah of heaven."
This "Messiah of heaven" can be viewed as our "friend in the castle." He currently resides in heaven and is active on our behalf. Paul says, "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:31-34.
"I [Jesus] am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
These are the words Jesus instructed Mary to take back to his disciples when she first saw him resurrection morning at the empty tomb.
We read of the resurrected Jesus ascending into heaven in Acts 1:9-11, "After he [Jesus] said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'"
Of that account, the NIV Quest Study Bible, answering the question, "Why did Jesus depart so dramatically?" says, "Jesus' ascension into the cloud may have been the final lesson for them; it showed them he was leaving the physical world and returning to the heavenly realms. His extraordinary departure helped the disciples to see Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah of heaven."
This "Messiah of heaven" can be viewed as our "friend in the castle." He currently resides in heaven and is active on our behalf. Paul says, "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:31-34.
The writer of Hebrews notes, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16.
When Jesus spoke to Mary of "my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" he was clearly establishing an intimate and personal link between us and the heavenly environs, and specifically with our heavenly Father. God the Father is Jesus Christ's Father and God as well as each believer's Father and God. We share that with Jesus Christ!
When Jesus spoke to Mary of "my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" he was clearly establishing an intimate and personal link between us and the heavenly environs, and specifically with our heavenly Father. God the Father is Jesus Christ's Father and God as well as each believer's Father and God. We share that with Jesus Christ!
Our arisen, ascended Savior, Jesus Christ, is our "friend in the castle" and our advocate before our Father God. How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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