John 20:17 Jesus 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.'”

This has got to be one of the most mind-blowing messages ever given. Jesus was quite literally raising His disciples up to His level. There are of course differences, but in general, I think we tend to fail to see all that Jesus really accomplished for us through the cross. In my mind’s eye I can see Mary, lying at Jesus’ feet with her arms wrapped around His ankles, and Jesus saying, “You don’t belong there, but standing beside me.” Of course John, who wrote this report, likewise fell at Jesus’ feet when he saw Him in His glory, (Revelation 1:17) but Jesus raised him up as well. There is no room for pride in this, because none of us deserve this treatment, but Jesus and the Father, in the abundance of their grace, mercy, and love, choose for it to be so. That’s why Paul wrote, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29) Of course, that same Paul was painfully aware that he wasn’t fully there yet, (Philippians 3:12-14) but by God’s timeline it is already accomplished fact. This is the tension of serving an eternal God who is outside of time while we are still in the flow of time. However, the better we grasp what is already accomplished in Christ, the better we will be able to deal with all that comes at us in the flow of time.

My father wrote his doctoral dissertation on In Christ (actually, En Christo), and this is what it is all about. He didn’t understand it himself, despite writing about it from a Scriptural basis, until he had a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit, because He is the One who brings it to present reality in our lives. I’ve got to be more and more open to allowing God’s Spirit to flow through me all the time in every situation, because only then will the reality of Jesus’ words to Mary be realized. Just yesterday I was emotionally devastated by something that is entirely temporal, and thus, ultimately unimportant. I have plenty of growing to do! Today, with the Sunrise Service, the normal service, a pot-luck dinner, and then our Easter children’s program, there is much that could tear me down. However, on God’s timeline it’s already completed, so I have nothing to be anxious about! As He has told me to do, I need to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, knowing that He is absolutely trustworthy.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Yesterday was somewhat scary, for me and certainly for Cathy. I’m reminded of what Isaiah said to King Ahaz: “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” (Isaiah 7:9) Help me indeed stand firm in the faith You have given me, so that all the devil’s lies may be defeated and Your will be done, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!