SONS AND BROTHERS

“Jesus said, ‘Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary 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.” John 20:17-18.

Mary was overwhelmed with joy. All she wanted to do was to hold her Master and never let Him go. There were so many things she did not yet understand. For now, Jesus was alive and that was all that mattered. But for Jesus, there were still things to accomplish to fulfil the imagery of the Old Testament Scriptures.

After the high priest had sacrificed the second goat on the Day of Atonement (the first goat was theAzazel – the live goat that carried the sins of the people out into the wilderness), he had to take the blood into the Most Holy Place and sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat to make atonement for the people. No one was allowed to touch him until he had reappeared from behind the veil.

Was Jesus referring to this imagery when He stopped Mary from touching Him? Later on, when He met His disciples in the upper room, He invited Thomas to touch Him, to probe His wounds so that he would be sure it was really Jesus. Why did He contradict Himself?

“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, not part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:11.

The writer to the Hebrews does not give us an idea of when this happened. It could be that at some time between Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene and to the disciples in the upper room, He had presented His blood to the Father as an eternal atonement for sin. How else can we understand the apparent contradiction between His instruction to Mary and His invitation to Thomas? I am not starting a new heresy, just wondering!

Jesus used a little phrase that has captured my attention, ‘…My brothers…’ For the first time in His association with His disciples, He called them “brothers”.  Something had changed His relationship with them, from “servants” to “friends” (John 15:15) to “brothers”. There was a new blood relationship with them that had not existed before. He referred to God as His Father and their Father, not “our Father” in a general way which would not have drawn their attention to the newly-formed family relationship.

Again, we are indebted to the author of Hebrews for throwing light on Jesus’ words.

“In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what He suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

“He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.'” Hebrews 2:10-12.

The unthinkable has happened. Brothers and sisters! That puts us who believe in Him on the same level as He is. The same love that the Father has for His Son He has for His sons and daughters. Through His grace, He has raised us up and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6, 7). He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

It’s all about Him. He has reinstated us into His family and given us the status and privileges of sonship. We are no longer slaves but sons, and He had given us the Spirit of sonship and the witness of the Spirit that were are indeed children of God. He has given us His name, His blessing, His home and an inheritance in His Son which are all the benefits of sonship.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:14-17

What more do we need?

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.