72. Resurrection to The Calling on high : By Grace

INTRODUCTION
In this study we shall be considering the sequence of events through which the body and Spirit of The Lord Jesus Christ passed from His death upon the cross to His seating at the Right Hand f God.
A detailed plan of the initial events during the first part of that period has been carefully examined and set forth in a leaflet No. 8ML ‘Events During Passover in 30ad’. The author is the devoted Bible student Mr. Maurice Lloyd of Glasgow. The details of this sequence can be studied on the centre pages of this leaflet. If you would like to turn to that now, you can refresh your memory of these life changing events before we begin to examine them in more detail. [See also Resurrection Episodes. Pamphlet No. 34ML]
The Truth of this story is well known and deeply embedded in a Christian’s heart. It is the True story which, when believed, establishes and baptises, i.e. identifies[Gk.] the believer by faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. This brings enormous blessing in every day life and the promise of a body which does not enter into the condition of death but will live in a changed and new condition according to the Calling of God. [John 11:26, Phil 3:21, 3:14, Eph 1:18, 4:4]
We will examine the words that God has spoken regarding the changes to the physical body of Jesus in order to compare them with the promises that God has made to those men and women who are identified in Jesus Christ.
This study is divided into the following stages:
1. Christ’s bodily death and interment.
2. Christ’s bodily resurrection to life.
3. Christ’s bodily change.
4. Christ’s untouchability and ascension to The Father.
5. Christ’s touchability and relationship with His disciples.
6. Christ’s ascension to be seated on the right hand of The Father.
Also included are 1. A summary of important words and phrases, 2. A basic translation of the relative Greek words, 3. A summary of the events relating to the body of Christ following His resurrection.
We will begin after Jesus bowed His head and drew His last breath which led to His side being pierced with the spear, before it was taken down from the cross.
1. Christ’s bodily death and interment.
Following the removal of the body of Jesus from the cross…..
Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that He might take away the body of Jesus…….and there came also Nicodemus….and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about one hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new place of remembrance, a tomb, wherein no man had yet been laid. There they laid Jesus [John 19:38 & 42]
The women from Galilee followed after and beheld the sepulchre, and how His body was laid and they returned, and prepared spices and ointments and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment [Luke 23:55-56]
Note that it was the body of Jesus and not Jesus Himself which was encased in the linen clothes because the Scripture tells us that after death
The Spirit returns to God who gave it. [Ecc 12:7]
After a period of time, (one and a half days to be precise), on the first day of the week, life returned to the body of Jesus as He lay in the sepulchre covered in His grave clothes.
Between the first and third day, that is late on the Thursday to early on the Saturday, one and a half days, whilst the body of Jesus was in death, Peter tells us that during that condition
In Spirit, He went and heralded His triumph unto the spirits in prison who long ago disobeyed when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. [Peter 3:19]
Let us now consider the recorded details of the changes that took place at the time of Jesus’ resurrection.
2. Christ’s bodily resurrection to life.
When Jesus was risen early the first day of the week [Mark 16:9] In the end of the Sabbath came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre [Mat 28:1] They came to the sepulchre bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them [Luke 24:1]
They witnessed an angel rolling back the stone from the door. He said to the women
Do not fear, Jesus is not here, He is risen, see the place where the Lord lay.[Mat 28:5-6] They entered in, and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus [Luke 24:3]
Mary Magdalene ran to the disciples Simon Peter and John and told them ‘They have taken away The Lord out of the sepulchre’. They ran to the sepulchre and John looked in and saw [2] the linen clothes lying and [1] the napkin which was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
From this evidence we can recognise that Christ’s resurrection was in two stages:
[1] the napkin which was about His head,………...wrapped together in a place by itself
In the first stage Christ came back to life, i.e. His spirit returned and he needed to breath. The napkin about His head would have been removed, probably by the angel at His head. This initial stage of Christ’s resurrection would have been as that of Lazarus, i.e. incorruptible but lacking eternal [Gk. eonian] life. His body could die again.
3. Christ’s bodily change.
Immediately following the return of Christ’s Spirit of life, His body entered the second stage indicated by the statement:
[2] the linen clothes lying .
The linen clothes had not been moved to another place as was the napkin. These linen clothes within which Christ’s body had been wrapped, were lying where His body had been. The condition of his body had changed, no longer supporting the material of the linen clothes. We would say: they had just ‘flopped’.
4. Christ’s untouchability and ascension to The Father.
Then the disciples went away again to their own home, but Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping. [John 20:2-11]
Mary was then privileged to see the two angels, sitting one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. These were they who had no doubt assisted in the resurrection of Jesus. Mary then turned and saw whom she first thought was the gardener, but He, being Jesus, said to her:
Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father…..I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God. [John 20:17]
Was it possible that Christ’s changed body still retained its blood? If so, Jesus would speak to Mary as the High Priest fulfilling the day of atonement [Leviticus ch.16] Having accomplished the sacrifice He was on his way to present the sacred blood in heaven. Therefore, following this meeting with Mary Magdalene, Jesus ascended for the first time to His Father
5. Christ’s touchability and relationship with His disciples
The Angel of The Lord, who rolled back the stone, told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to go quickly and tell Christ’s disciples that He was risen…..that He goes before you into Galilee, you will see Him there. But as they went to tell His disciples, behold Jesus met them saying: O joy! They came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. [Mat 28:9]
This was the first meeting of the disciples after His return from The Father. They held Him by the feet, so His body was now touchable. It is probable that this changed body now no longer contained blood, being only flesh and bones [Luke 24:39]. We know that the life of our physical bodies is the blood [Lev 17:11]. We can conclude therefore that the life of Christ’s body was now sustained by the life of God, i.e. eonian or eternal life.
The apostle Luke, when writing to his friend Theophilus, says:
Jesus showed Himself alive to the apostles after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. [Acts 1:3]
Here are a few examples of those meetings:
Shortly after Jesus’ ascension to The Father, the disciples, Peter and John, who had departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy…….... as they went to tell His disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying ‘All hail’. And they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid go tell my brethren that they should go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. [Mat 28:7-9]
Later that eventful day, two disciples whilst journeying to Emmaus, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them but they were kept from recognising Him. After listening to Jesus explain the events of the day, as they neared Emmaus, they persuaded Him to stay for a meal during which they recognised Him when He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised Him and He disappeared from their sight. [Luke 24:13-35]
This same event was described by Mark in ch.16 v.12. when he writes: He appeared in another form unto two disciples as they walked, and went into the country.
After this, when the eleven were gathered together, Jesus Himself stood in the midst for the first time and said to them…….Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as I have…….have you here any food? And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and of an honeycomb. And He took it and did eat before them. [Luke 24:36-43]
At this time, He appeared before the eleven whilst they were eating, He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart [Mark 16:14]
But at this time Thomas Didymus was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples told him that they had seen the Lord, he said: Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. [John 20:24-25]
After a further eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: Then came Jesus the second time, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said Peace be unto you. Then He said to Thomas: Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God. [John 20:26]
The angel of The Lord who had rolled back the stone, after sitting upon it, told the two Marys that Christ was risen. After having shown them where The Lord lay, the angel told them to tell the disciples and to meet The Lord in Galilee. [Mat 28:1-6] As they went, Jesus met them and they held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. The eleven disciples went into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them, and when they saw Him they worshipped Him. Mat 28:16-20
The disciples, Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, the sons of Zebedee, John and another, decided to go fishing at the Sea of Tiberius, Jesus showed Himself to them the third time. It was not until they had caught an abundance of fish after following Jesus’ instructions that John recognised Him and told Peter. The other disciples feared to ask Him, Who art Thou ? but they knew it was The Lord. [John 21:7]
After that He was seen of James alone, then by all the apostles at the time of His departure at Bethany [1Cor 15:7]
6. Christ’s ascension to be seated on the right hand of The Father
In Bethany, when the apostles were gathered together, Christ had commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem in order that they should be identified with The Holy Spirit. They asked him:
Lord will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
This question focused upon Christ’s commission [Luke 4:18] and the whole of His ministry. The time of His personal return was not the subject of their question. This then, was the priority of the apostles work which is recorded throughout their Acts. The olive tree, a representation of that kingdom in Israel [Rom 11:17] , had a single branch broken off and replaced by a wild olive branch grafted in to provoke the Jews to jealousy. Christ was commissioned only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel [Mat 15:24], but the apostle Paul’s first commission was to fulfil this provocation by including the gentiles in his ministry [Rom 11:13-14].
So then, most of the New Testament record is concerned with the preparation and establishment of The Kingdom of God in Israel according to the commission of Christ. This remaining 14yrs work of Christ is yet to be completed following its postponement in 62ad [Act 28:27]. This is contrary to the belief of many Christians who believe this record seeks to establish the present day ‘Church’.
After Christ had answered the apostle’s question, while they beheld He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. The apostles were later equipped for their commission [Mark 16:14-18]: to be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,
Christ was working with the disciples throughout the period of their Acts [Mark 16:20]. Whilst working, standing on the right hand of God [Acts 7:55-56]. However, the writer to the Hebrews tells us When Christ had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of The Majesty on High [Heb 1:3], where He is seated to-day [Eph 1`:20, Col 3:1].
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RESURRECTION STAGES OF THE CHRIST AND THOSE OF THE CHRISTIAN.
Resurrection of the body.
[corresponding to the previous section 2]
We are reminded of the resurrection of Lazarus, the friend of Jesus. Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus called him forth from the grave. His body was wrapped in grave clothes and would have had to float from the grave being dead and unable to breath or move until, as commanded by Jesus, his family released him. This is the first step in the process of resurrection…..a return to life [breath Gk: psuche]. However, the implication is that the body is healed from whatever caused its death, as the Scripture says: the dead shall be raised incorruptible [1Cor 15:52]

Although this is the evidence relating to mortal mankind, the body of Jesus retained the marks of its injuries as identification and authority

And I saw and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders, a lamb standing as having been slain. [Rev 5:6]

The apostle Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians that their hope is in this condition……...:To be brought back to life with bodies healed of all ailments. to attend the Judgement Seat of Christ.

The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet The Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [1Thess 4:16-17]
This is the initial hope of all those Christians generated during the first phase of The Kingdom of Heaven in Israel during the time of the record of the book of Acts.

The Change of the body.
[corresponding to the previous section 3]
This condition of bodily change after raising without ailments is referred to by Paul when writing to the Corinthian Christians concerning their hope in resurrection
Behold I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [1Cor 15:51]
The Presentation and return of the live body of Jesus
[corresponding to the previous sections 4 and 5]
This is an act which could only be performed by The Lamb of God without blemish…...The Righteous Lord Jesus Christ…..The perfect Son of God. After ascending to The Father [John 20:17] He alone could present to Him His own atoning blood for the sins of the world.
Adam, being created perfect in the likeness of God with perfect and unpolluted blood, failed in obedience to His Father. This catastrophic event required atonement in the form of a sacrifice of perfect blood only found again in God’s Son. He alone, of all mankind, was worthy. This will be recognised by all creation when:
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, of those on earth and those under the earth
The Ascension to be Seated in the Rights of God.

[corresponding to the previous section 6]
In His resurrected form Jesus continued to work with the apostles during their work of building up the kingdom in Israel. When this work was postponed in 62ad [Acts 28:27] He would then be seated at His father’s right hand. This is His place to-day during the present Administration of His Grace. When the work for the kingdom in Israel recommences in 2022ad, He has promised to assess all those Christian Israelites, generated during that work of the apostles, regarding their worth prior to their entry into the re-established and manifest kingdom in the land.

Many years before, when writing to the Thessalonian church, the apostle Paul had recognised that he would be present in a resurrected and changed condition at the time when Christ personally returned to rule all the kingdoms of the world.[1Thess 4:17, Rev 19:11] However, when his first commission was completed in 62ad at the time when God withdrew His offer of the kingdom to Israel [Acts 28:27], he was led to strive for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus [Phil 3:14], leaving behind the calling associated with his place, position and authority as an Israelite. [Phil 3:7-8].

This high, or upward calling, differs from the calling [Rom 8:28, 2Tim 1:9] associated with that precious hope described to the Thessalonian Christians [1Thess 4:17]. It is not only an upward calling but has a prize associated with it. This change had been introduced as part of the Newly introduced Administration of God’s Grace [Eph 3:1-9]

It is not until Paul later writes to the Ephesian church, when he has achieved that which he described to the Philippians [3:12], that we learn what that prize is. Not only to be raised in resurrection with Christ, but to be seated with Him on God’s right hand far above all principality and power and might and dominion [Eph 2:6, Col 3:1-3]

This prize is to be attained by the right state of mind, as Paul tells the Philippians::

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

What is that mind? It is described as follows:

Being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant; and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The actions of this mind are, of course, unique to The Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul describes what this mind means to him: After describing the importance of his place in Israel, he says:

What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ, Yes doubtless I count all things but loss for the Excellency of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

What is Paul’s purpose in doing this….

I press towards the mark for the prize of The High calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul is very anxious that his beloved Philippians should achieve the same mind. He tells them:

Let us therefore, as many as be mature, be thus minded

The immature could not therefore be of the same mind but would need to seriously consider the fundamentals of a mature mind as that of Christ……... A year or two later, Paul had reached the mark and achieved the prize of the High Calling which he describes as follows:

Since you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the Right Hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth [Col3:1-2]

God has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus [Eph 2:6]

According to Paul’s words to his beloved Philippians, this prize has to be achieved because he goes on to tell them:

Let us therefore as many as be mature, be thus minded and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. [Phil 3:15]

This then is a revelation of God to a mind which is able to receive it.. A mind free of any earthly order and not held back with any religious content during the time of the present Administration of God’s Grace.

SUMMARY OF THE IMPORTANT WORDS RELATING TO JESUS’ CONDITION AND THE PERCEPTION OF THE WITNESSES
Let us now consider any clues in the meaning of the Greek Scriptures which can give us an understanding of the changes that occurred in the condition of Jesus and/or His body. The meaning of the words of the experience of the witness of the disciples is also important
1. INTERMENT
a. The body of Jesus was wound in linen clothes
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2. RESURRECTION
a. The napkin which was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
b. Peter saw the linen clothes lie
Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father
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3. MEETINGS AND WITNESS
a. and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him.
they were kept from recognising Him.
b. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised Him and He disappeared from their sight.
c. He appeared in another form unto two of them as they walked
d. handle me and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as I have
e. have you here any food? And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and of an honeycomb. And He took it and did eat before them.
f. Then He said to Thomas: Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side
g. The Eleven disciples went to Galilee to meet the Lord by appointment. They saw Him and worshipped Him
h. Seven disciples went fishing. Jesus was on the shore.. John recognised him and told Peter. Even though the other disciples feared to ask Him, Who art Thou ? They knew it was The Lord.
i. Jesus was seen by James in Galilee.
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4. ASCENSION
a. The eleven disciples were with Jesus in Bethany when He was taken up and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

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A summary of all the events relating to the physical body of Jesus and His appearances following resurrection

This summary begins with the wrapping of His dead body in grave clothes and ends with His ascension at Bethany recorded in Acts 1:9. The extraordinary appearance which was later made before Paul [Acts 9:3-7], is not included, neither is there any detail included in the scripture record of those appearances which were made during the rest of the Acts Period when He was working with the apostles [Mark 16:20].

1. Jesus’ body is wrapped in grave clothes. [John 19:40]
2. Jesus’ body is placed in an new tomb. [John 19:41-42]
3. The tomb is empty [John 19:41]
4. Jesus is amongst the dead, ministering to the spirits in prison. 36 hours. [1Pet 3:19]
5. Angels are seated at the head and feet positions where Jesus had lain. [John 20:12]
6. The folded Face Cloth was lying on one side. [John 20:7]
7. The linen grave clothes were just lying. [John 20:5 & 6]
8. Jesus was alive outside the tomb. [John 20:14]
9. Mary Magdalene did not recognise Him. [John 20:14]
10.When addressed as ‘Mary’, she then recognised Him. [John 20:16]
11.Jesus tells Mary not to touch Him. [John20:17]
12 Jesus tells Mary that He is about to ascend to the Father. [John20:17]
13.Peter and John hold Jesus’ feet and worship Him. [Mat 28:9]
14.Whilst going to Emmaus, Jesus appears in another form to two disciples. [Mk 16:12]
15.When breaking bread, Jesus is recognised by the disciples He vanishes .[Mk 30-31]
19.When the eleven were gathered, Jesus Himself stood in the midst [John 20:19]
20.Jesus shows the disciples His hands and His feet. He is flesh and bone. [Luke 24:39]
21.Jesus