LSW Divine Personalities Graphics

 Holy Sepuchre Church Jerusalem

Now let’s look at the most mysterious personally of God: The Holy Spirit

Questions:

What skill or knowledge would be helpful for you to be better at our job or profession?

A demanding profession!

What quality or ability would benefit you in your relationships?

Michael sharing with the Project Ezra Teachers, Sawa Rio Coco Nicaragua 2018

We first see the Holy Spirit hovering over the uncreated earth in Genesis 1.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was  formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

There were many individuals in the Hebrew Scriptures who were empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim God’s words, do lead nations, heal the sick, raise the dead, an other extraordinary miracles.

Two examples;

So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together to follow him. Judges 6:34

So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” ¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. 1 Samuel 16:12-13

Rio Coco Cafe dock, Utila  Bay Islands Honduras 

Jesus told His disciples the night before His execution that He would send the Holy Spirit to them.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another  Helper, that He may be with you forever; ¹⁷ that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:25-26

⁷ But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the  Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

 ⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

 ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;

¹⁰ and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;

 ¹¹ and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

¹² “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:7-14

The ultimate rejection of God is rejecting His Son as your Savior.

Jesus’ embodies righteousness and He imparts that to all believers who receive Him as Lord.

Jesus will be the Righteous Judge who will sit on the Great White Throne judging all mankind.

The Temple Mount from the Haas Promenade, Jerusalem

After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.

Luke writes:

¹ The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

³ To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

 ⁴  Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for  what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit  not many days from now.”

⁶ So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

 ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; ⁸ but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:1-8

The South Steps of the Temple, Jerusalem

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit suddenly arrived and filled the disciples:

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

The crowd was amazed that these Galileans were speaking in the languages of many people. Peter explained why, focusing on Jesus, His sacrifice on the cross, his resurrection, and his promise to come back.

 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren,  what shall we do?” ³⁸ Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38

God’s invitation to mankind is four-fold.

1) God extends an invitation to individuals to become members of His family by believing that Jesus is God and receiving His sacrifice on the Cross as the penalty for our sins.

2) The individual considers the proposal and decides that Jesus is Lord, that he does need a savior to be forgiven, that he has been walking away from God but now turns back to restore the relationship with God.

3) God hears the declaration of that individual, considers the sincerity of his heart, and receives him into His Family;

4) Then God connects with the consciousness of that individual by giving him the Holy Spirit, who now indwells in that person.

In Him (Jesus), you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is  given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth about the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

²  You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking  by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is  accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except  by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 ⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

 ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

¹⁰ and to another the effecting of  miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the  distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

¹² For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

¹³ For  by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:1-13

Spiritual: pneumatikós;
(I) Pertaining to the nature of spirits. "A spiritual body" (1 Cor. 15:44) means a body dominated by the Spirit, in contrast to a natural or soulish body which obeys one's natural instincts or soul.

(II) Pertaining to or proceeding from the Holy Spirit, 
(A) Of persons who are spiritual, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, enjoying the influences, graces, gifts of the Holy Spirit; (B) Of things spiritual, communicated or imparted by the Holy Spirit:

Gifts: chárisma; to show favor. A gift of grace, an undeserved benefit. gift. In the NT used only of gifts and graces imparted from God

Supernatural Empowerments  are given for the common good;

·         Word of Wisdom

·         Word of Knowledge

·         Faith

·         Healing

·         Miracles

·         Prophecy

·         Discernment of Spirits

·         Speaking in other languages

·         Understanding other languages

Each individual in the Body of Christ is given a specific supernatural empowerment as the Holy Spirit desires.

The Colosseum, Rome

Paul give another listing of Spiritual Gifts to the congregation in Rome:

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

⁶ Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:

 if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

⁷ if  service, in his serving; or

 he who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸

or he who exhorts, in his exhortation;

he who gives, with  liberality;

he who leads, with diligence;

he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:4-8              

Question:

What supernatural empowerment would be effective in the ministry that God as called you to? 

Jesus

Daniel saw this vision 500 years before:

⁹ “I kept looking
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His vesture was like white snow
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was ablaze with flames,
Its wheels were a burning fire.
¹⁰ “A river of fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The court sat,
And the books were opened.


¹³ “I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
¹⁴ “And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and  a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:9-14

Isaiah prophesied 600 years before:

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷ There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7

The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2

The Cave Home under the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

Luke records:

¹ Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. ²  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. ⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, ⁵ in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

 ⁶ While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
  Luke 2:1-7

Jesus taught in a manner very different from other rabbis:

They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. ²²  They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Mark 1:21-22

Jesus performed many miracles. He fed 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread. He calmed the storm. He raised Lazarus from the dead. He healed many of sickness.  One notable miracle was giving sight to a man born blind.

So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.”

 ²⁵ He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” ²⁶

So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

 ²⁷ He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?”

 ²⁸ They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹ We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.”

³⁰ The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.

³²  Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. ³³  If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

³⁴ They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out.

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

 ³⁶ He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.”

 ³⁸ And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.

 ³⁹ And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”

 John 9:24-39

Jesus claimed to have the authority to forgive sins.

¹ When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home.

 ² And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.

 ³  And they *came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. ⁴ Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.

 ⁵ And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

 ⁶ But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?”

 ⁸ Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, *said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? ¹⁰ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He *said to the paralytic, ¹¹ “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.”

 ¹² And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” Mark 2:1-12

The Capernaum synagogue

Jesus claimed to be sinless:

But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.

 ⁴⁶ Which one of you convicts Me of sin? John 8:45-46

Jesus proclaimed His Divinity:

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; ²³ it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.

 ²⁴  The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. ²⁶ But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

³⁰ I and the Father are one.”
³¹ The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.

³² Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”

 ³³ The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” John 10:22-33

Jesus promised eternal life to His followers:

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.

 ³⁷ All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

 ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹ This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

⁴⁰ For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:35-40

The altar on the execution place . Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem 

Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be killed as a guilt offering for the sins of mankind:

¹  Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
² For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
³ He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
⁴ Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;

Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
⁵ But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
  He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.

⁶ All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

⁷ He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

⁸ By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

¹⁰ But the LORD was pleased
To crush Him,  putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,

By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.

¹² Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out  Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors. Isaiah 53

David prophetically described the Crucifixion 1000 years before it happened and 600 years before the capital punishment of crucifixion became common.

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
 Far from my deliverance are the words of my  groaning.
² O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest. Psalms 22:1-2

But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
⁷ All who see me  sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
⁸ “Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” Psalms 22:6-8

Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
¹² Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
¹³ They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
¹⁴ I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
¹⁶ For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
¹⁷ I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
¹⁸ They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots. Psalms 22:11-18

John, an eyewitness, gives us some details of the Crucifixion:

So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.

¹⁷  They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out,  bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.

 ¹⁸ There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. ¹⁹

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

²⁰ Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’”

 ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

²³ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.” ²⁵ Therefore the soldiers did these things. John 19:16-25

Matthew’s account of the Crucifixion:

And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, ³⁴  they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

³⁵ And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there.

³⁷ And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

³⁸ At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.

 ³⁹ And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, ⁴² “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. ⁴³  HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴  

The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

⁴⁵  Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶ About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

 ⁴⁷ And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” ⁴⁸  Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. ⁴⁹ But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.”

 ⁵⁰ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

 ⁵¹  And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

⁵⁴  Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was  the Son of God!”

⁵⁵  Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while  ministering to Him. ⁵⁶ Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Matthew 27:33-56

Holy Sepulchre Church, site of the Crucifixion and Resurrection

John records the Resurrection:

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

² So she *ran and *came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and *said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

 ³  So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; ⁵ and stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.

 ⁶ And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸ So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.

 ⁹ For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰ So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

¹¹  But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; ¹² and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

¹³ And 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 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?”

Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *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 in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).

¹⁷ Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”

¹⁸  Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

¹⁹ So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “ Peace be with you.”

²⁰ And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

 ²¹ So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²² And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

²⁴ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called  Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

²⁶  After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

²⁷ Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

 ²⁸ Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:1-29

The Edicule, Jesus' burial place

Luke adds these details of the Resurrection:

While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.”

³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

³⁸ And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

⁴⁰ And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

 ⁴¹ While they still  could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; ⁴³ and He took it and ate it before them.

⁴⁴ Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

⁴⁵ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:36-49

If you could imagine how God would be like if He arrived on Earth, He would teach profound things, He would perform miracles, He would live a sinless life, He would forgive sins, and when executed, He would rise from the dead.

Jesus did all that.

Personal Application.

“Abide in Me”  ménō;  To remain, abide, dwell, live. (A) Of place, i.e., of a person remaining or dwelling in a place; Of the relation in which one person or thing stands with another, chiefly in John's writings; thus to remain in or with someone, i.e., to be and remain united with him, one with him in heart, mind, and will.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.¹⁶ I will ask the Father, and He will give you another  Helper, that He may be with you forever; ¹⁷ that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

Obedience to Jesus lead to the level of presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” John 14:21

Obedience leads to a great presence of Jesus in our lives.

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. John 14:23

Obedience leads to an indwelling of the Father in our lives.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

Jesus’ presence and the Father’s indwelling in our lives leads to Peace.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

 ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

 ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:1-5

When we remain united with Jesus in heart, will and mind, we will bear much fruit in our lives.

¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:10-11

Abiding with Jesus will result in much joy in our lives.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

 ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do what I command you.

 ¹⁵ No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Obedience to Jesus results in greater levels of friendship and intimacy.

¹⁶ You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. ¹⁷ This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:12-17

Jesus has chosen us to go with Him and bear much fruit in His mission to bring many into His Family. As we do this, whatever we need to accomplish this mission, we can ask and He will give us all that we need.

All photos by GMBagby (c)