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John 20:1-18
The Empty Tomb
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15?Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ “
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
WHO IS THIS JESUS?
We know him as the son of a carpenter.
We know him as born in Bethlehem.
We know Jesus died on the cross.
We know Jesus rose again on the third day.
We know he is called the Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, King of Jews.
When did Jesus get his glory?
Did Jesus become glorified in his birth?
Did Jesus become glorified in his baptism?
Did Jesus become glorified in his death?
Or did Jesus become glorified in his resurrection?
Many teach about Jesus’ glory differently. Let us see what the Bible says about Jesus.
For this we will have to go to the gospel of John chapter 1. John gives us a clear description of Jesus Christ. John’s gospel soars much higher than the other gospels and gives a clear picture of who Jesus really is.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
When other Gospels are starting with the birth and baptism of Jesus John goes to the very beginning of time and says Jesus is there from the very beginning.
In the beginning was the Word.
WHAT IS THIS WORD JOHN IS SPEAKING ABOUT?
In Greek it is given as in the beginning was the Logos. Now Logos according to the Greek philosophers is a bridge between the transcendent God and the material universe. Logos is the bridge between the Supreme, preeminent God or God the Father and this material world. Who is that bridge? What is it that connects between God and us? Jesus Christ, the Word or the Logos.
In Revelation 19:13 John is seeing Jesus returning as the Messiah king and look at the title by which he is called.
Revelation 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
The Word in John 1:1 is Jesus himself. Therefore John 1:1 in simple words should read:
John 1:1 In the beginning was Jesus, and the Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.
The Amplified Bible says it directly that Jesus is the Word.
(Amplified) John 1:1 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
This Jesus Christ whom we worship did not become God at his birth.
John 8:58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
The life of Jesus did not start when he was born.
Jesus did not become God when he got baptized.
Jesus did not become God when he died and rose again.
From the very beginning, even before the beginning of time Jesus Christ is God.
John 1:1-2 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
1. Jesus Christ is the Eternal God & the Pre-existent God.
2. Jesus is Divine.
Born to a virgin does not mean that Jesus lost his divinity.
Coming in flesh form into this world does not mean that Jesus is not divine.
John 1:2 2He was with God in the beginning.
John 10:30 30I and the Father are one.
Jesus Christ is Divine. Jesus Christ is God.
3. Jesus Christ is the Creator God.
John 1:3 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
All things on heaven and on earth were made through Jesus.
Jesus Christ being the creator God did not need a seed to be born. We try to understand Jesus’ earthly birth through human understanding (father & mother terms). Jesus never had an earthly father. Jesus never needed an ovum in Mary to be born because He himself is the creator God.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
It is through him all things are born. You and I are born through Jesus. Mary was born through God. Jesus just took the womb of Mary to be born into this world as flesh.
This same creator God can create new opportunities in your life. He can give your body a new life and heal your body. He has the power of creation. Jesus can resurrect to life whatever is dead in your life because he has the creation power.
4. Jesus Christ is the Saviour and Redeemer.
John 1:12-13 12 To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. But when you and me believe in Jesus, Jesus has the power to give you a new life because He is our savior and redeemer.
5. Jesus Christ is the Revealer of God.
John 1:14 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
HOW JESUS CHRIST REVEALED GOD TO MANKIND?
The Word became flesh. Jesus came in the form of flesh to identify with you and me and made his dwelling among you and me.
But how was Jesus before he came from heaven? We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus in heaven was full of Glory.
When he was in human form Jesus was fully of Glory.
When he rose again and ascended to heaven Jesus continues to be in full Glory.
Jesus in absolute glory came down from heaven full of glory, lived and ascended to heaven full of glory. The story of Jesus is from Glory to Glory.
Jesus came in human form to reveal God to you and me.
Never think Jesus was glorified only when he rose from the dead. Jesus was in full glory when he was on this earth.
Colossians 2:9 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.
(AMP) 9For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].
CONCLUSION
The Christ that we serve is the only God. Today being the resurrection Sunday let us understand that Jesus was not only glorified in his resurrection but Jesus is in fact from Glory to Glory. Jesus was in heaven full of glory, came to earth full of glory, died full of Glory, and rose again full of Glory. Jesus is from Glory to Glory. Let’s pray.
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