In order to make his disciples understand that he had indeed been raised from the dead, he put on a human body, whose face was not always recognizable by his disciples
The narrative of the gospels of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to strengthen our faith in the Christian hope of everlasting life
Introduction
The purpose of this meditation on the different narratives of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is twofold: the first is, as the main title indicates, to encourage those who have faith in the Christian hope of the resurrection and of everlasting life (John 3:16,36). The second, is to show that according to the Bible, it is a guarantee given by God, that the resurrection of the dead will be effective. It is precisely the apostle Paul who wrote it in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, dedicated especially to this theme of the resurrection. While some people in the congregation said there would be no resurrection, here is what the apostle Paul wrote in response:
« Now if Christ is being preached that he has been raised up from the dead, how is it some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If, indeed, there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised up. But if Christ has not been raised up, our preaching is certainly in vain, and our faith is in vain. Moreover, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we have borne witness against God that he raised up the Christ, but whom he did not raise up if the dead are really not to be raised up. For if the dead are not to be raised up, neither has Christ been raised up. Further, if Christ has not been raised up, your faith is useless; you are yet in your sins. In fact, also, those who fell asleep [in death] in union with Christ perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied » (1 Corinthians 15:12-19; the reader who wishes, may read the whole of chapter 15, about the different kinds of resurrections).
The last point, this time regarding to the different narratives of the appearances of Jesus Christ resurrected, and this, for forty days, before his ascension. You will notice something surprising, that is the disciples did not recognize him right away, as if his face had changed. He was recognized by his ancient gestures, such as breaking loaf, or the way of pronouncing the name of loved ones such as Mary Magdalene. Why ? In 1 Corinthians 15:45 it is written: « It is even so written: “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit ». This text shows that the resurrected Jesus Christ has been raised up as a spirit, and a spirit or angel is not usually seen with human eyes. In order to make his disciples understand that he had indeed been raised from the dead, he put on a human body, whose face was not always recognizable by his disciples.
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– A generous woman: « She did what she could » (Mark 14:8)
« And while he was at Bethʹa·ny dining in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, genuine nard, very expensive. She broke open the alabaster jar and began pouring it on his head. At this some said to one another indignantly: “Why has this perfumed oil been wasted? For this perfumed oil could have been sold for more than 300 denarii and the money given to the poor!” And they were greatly annoyed with her. But Jesus said: “Let her alone. Why do you try to make trouble for her? She did a fine deed toward me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can do them good whenever you want to, but you will not always have me. She did what she could; she poured perfumed oil on my body beforehand, in view of the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the good news is preached in all the world, what this woman did will also be told in memory of her” (Mark 14: 3-9).
The generosity of this woman, is similar to that of the very poor widow who was noticed by Jesus Christ: « Now as he looked up, he saw the rich dropping their gifts into the treasury chests. Then he saw a needy widow drop in two small coins of very little value, and he said: “Truly I say to you that this poor widow put in more than they all did. For all of these put in gifts out of their surplus, but she, out of her want, put in all the means of living she had” » (Luke 21:1-4). Thus, Jesus Christ notices the slightest effort that we make with all our heart, to serve his Father (Matthew 7:21).
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– The courage of Joseph of Arimathea who asks Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, for the lifeless body of Christ:
Reading historical stories, in this case, the Gospels, we often know the end and maybe the « happy end ». However, the characters who lived the dangerous and scary situation, did not know the consequences of their courageous decisions, for example, imprisonment or all kinds of mistreatment. Among these courageous characters, in the Bible, there is Joseph of Arimathea, a man who asked for the body of Christ to have a suitable burial. The gesture of courage of Joseph of Arimathea, is that he made his grave available, especially prepared for him (Joseph of Arimathea), for the dead body of Christ. The story of Mark 15, describes him as a « reputable » man and his act before Pilate, who had decreed the death sentence of Christ, as a « courageous » act.
« Now as it was late in the afternoon, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who had also himself become a disciple of Jesus. This man went up to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given over. And Joseph took the body, wrapped it up in clean fine linen, and laid it in his new memorial tomb, which he had quarried in the rock-mass. And, after rolling a big stone to the door of the memorial tomb, he left. But Mary Magʹda·lene and the other Mary continued there, sitting before the grave » (Matthew 27:57-61).
« Now as it was already late in the afternoon, and since it was Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, there came Joseph of Arimathea, a reputable member of the Council, who also himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. He took courage to go in before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered whether he was already dead, and, summoning the army officer, he asked him whether he had already died. So after making certain from the army officer, he granted the corpse to Joseph. Accordingly he bought fine linen and took him down, wrapped him in the fine linen and laid him in a tomb which was quarried out of a rock-mass; and he rolled a stone up to the door of the memorial tomb. But Mary Magʹda·lene and Mary the mother of Joʹses continued looking at where he had been laid » (Mark 15:42-47).
« Now after these things Joseph from Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus but a secret one out of his fear of the Jews, requested Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. Therefore he came and took his body away. Nic·o·deʹmus also, the man that came to him in the night the first time, came bringing a roll of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds of it. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it up with bandages with the spices, just the way the Jews have the custom of preparing for burial. Incidentally, at the place where he was impaled there was a garden, and in the garden a new memorial tomb, in which no one had ever yet been laid. There, then, on account of the preparation of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the memorial tomb was nearby » (John 19:38-42).
– The day after the death of Christ, the Nisan, 15 (Jewish biblical calendar) the chief priests and the Pharisees ensure that the tomb of Christ is both sealed and kept by two soldiers:
« The next day, which was after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together before Pilate, saying: “Sir, we have called to mind that that impostor said while yet alive, ‘After three days I am to be raised up.’ Therefore command the grave to be made secure until the third day, that his disciples may never come and steal him and say to the people, ‘He was raised up from the dead!’ and this last imposture will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them: “you have a guard. Go make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the grave secure by sealing the stone and having the guar » (Matthew 27:62-66).
– Jesus Christ resurrected appears to women who came very early on the morning of Sunday Nisan,16:
« After the sabbath, when it was growing light on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to view the grave. And, notice! a great earthquake had taken place; for Jehovah’s angel had descended from heaven and approached and rolled away the stone, and was sitting on it. His outward appearance was as lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. Yes, for fear of him the watchmen trembled and became as dead men. But the angel in answer said to the women: “Do not you be fearful, for I know you are looking for Jesus who was impaled. 6 He is not here, for he was raised up, as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he was raised up from the dead, and, look! he is going ahead of you into Galʹi·lee; there you will see him. Look! I have told you.” So, quickly leaving the memorial tomb, with fear and great joy, they ran to report to his disciples. And, look! Jesus met them and said: “Good day!” They approached and caught him by his feet and did obeisance to him. Then Jesus said to them: “Have no fear! Go, report to my brothers, that they may go off into Galʹi·lee; and there they will see me”” (Matthew 28:1-10).
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– The women announce the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the apostles who do not believe them:
« On the first day of the week, however, they went very early to the tomb, bearing the spices they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the memorial tomb, and when they entered they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were in perplexity over this, look! two men in flashing clothing stood by them. As the women became frightened and kept their faces turned to the ground, the men said to them: “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead? [He is not here, but has been raised up.] Recall how he spoke to you while he was yet in Galilee, saying that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be impaled and yet on the third day rise.” So they called his sayings to mind, and they returned from the memorial tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. They were the Magdalene Mary, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. Also, the rest of the women with them were telling the apostles these things. However, these sayings appeared as nonsense to them and they would not believe the women » (Luke 24:1-11).
– Peter and John run to the grave to check the truth of women’s narrative:
« On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the memorial tomb early, while there was still darkness, and she beheld the stone already taken away from the memorial tomb. Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, for whom Jesus had affection, and she said to them: “They have taken away the Lord out of the memorial tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple went out and started for the memorial tomb. Yes, the two together began to run; but the other disciple ran ahead of Peter with greater speed and reached the memorial tomb first. And, stooping forward, he beheld the bandages lying, yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter also came following him, and he entered into the memorial tomb. And he viewed the bandages lying, also the cloth that had been upon his head not lying with the bandages but separately rolled up in one place. At that time, therefore, the other disciple who had reached the memorial tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet discern the scripture that he must rise from the dead. And so the disciples went back to their homes » (John 20:1-10).
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– Magdalene Mary meets Jesus Christ resurrected, and she does not recognize him and takes him for the gardener:
« Mary, however, kept standing outside near the memorial tomb, weeping. Then, while she was weeping, she stooped forward to look into the memorial tomb and she viewed two angels in white sitting one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her: “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them: “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have laid him.” After saying these things, she turned back and viewed Jesus standing, but she did not discern it was Jesus. Jesus said to her: “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She, imagining it was the gardener, said to him: “Sir, if you have carried him off, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her: “Mary!” Upon turning around, she said to him, in Hebrew: “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher!”) Jesus said to her: “Stop clinging to me. For I have not yet ascended to the Father. But be on your way to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and brought the news to the disciples: “I have seen the Lord!” and that he said these things to her » (John 20:11-18).
– Two disciples discuss with Jesus Christ resurrected, without recognizing him, on the road to Emmaus:
« But, look! on that very day two of them were journeying to a village about seven miles distant from Jerusalem and named Emmaus, 1and they were conversing with each other over all these things that had come about. Now as they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached and began walking with them; but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He said to them: “What are these matters that you are debating between yourselves as you walk along?” And they stood still with sad faces. In answer the one named Cleopas said to him: “Are you dwelling as an alien by yourself in Jerusalem and so do not know the things that have occurred in her in these days?” And he said to them: “What things?” They said to him: “The things concerning Jesus the Nazareneʹ, who became a prophet powerful in work and word before God and all the people; and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to the sentence of death and impaled him. But we were hoping that this [man] was the one destined to deliver Israel; yes, and besides all these things, this makes the third day since these things occurred. Moreover, certain women from among us also astonished us, because they had been early to the memorial tomb but did not find his body and they came saying they had also seen a supernatural sight of angels, who said he is alive. Further, some of those with us went off to the memorial tomb; and they found it so, just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” So he said to them: “O senseless ones and slow in heart to believe on all the things the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” And commencing at Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures. Finally they got close to the village where they were journeying, and he made as if he was journeying on farther. But they used pressure upon him, saying: “Stay with us, because it is toward evening and the day has already declined.” With that he went in to stay with them. And as he was reclining with them at the meal he took the loaf, blessed it, broke it and began to hand it to them. At that their eyes were fully opened and they recognized him; and he disappeared from them. And they said to each other: “Were not our hearts burning as he was speaking to us on the road, as he was fully opening up the Scriptures to us?” And in that very hour they rose and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and those with them assembled together, saying: “For a fact the Lord was raised up and he appeared to Simon!” Now they themselves related the events on the road and how he became known to them by the breaking of the loaf » (Luke 24:13-35).
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– Jesus Christ resurrected, appears to his disciples:
« While they were speaking of these things he himself stood in their midst and said to them: “May you have peace.” But because they were terrified, and had become frightened, they were imagining they beheld a spirit. So he said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why is it doubts come up in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; feel me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you behold that I have.” And as he said this he showed them his hands and his feet. But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and were wondering, he said to them: “Do you have something there to eat?” And they handed him a piece of broiled fish; and he took it and ate it before their eyes. He now said to them: “These are my words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all the things written in the law of Moses and in the Prophets and Psalms about me must be fulfilled.” Then he opened up their minds fully to grasp the meaning of the Scriptures, and he said to them: “In this way it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from among the dead on the third day, and on the basis of his name repentance for forgiveness of sins would be preached in all the nations—starting out from Jerusalem, you are to be witnesses of these things. And, look! I am sending forth upon you that which is promised by my Father. you, though, abide in the city until you become clothed with power from on high” » (Luke 24:36-49).
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– Jesus Christ resurrected appears to the Apostle Thomas who did not believe the other disciples, informing him that they had seen him at a time when he was not present:
« Therefore, when it was late on that day, the first of the week, and, although the doors were locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them: “May you have peace.” And after he said this he showed them both his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced at seeing the Lord. Jesus, therefore, said to them again: “May you have peace. Just as the Father has sent me forth, I also am sending you.” And after he said this he blew upon them and said to them: “Receive holy spirit. If you forgive the sins of any persons, they stand forgiven to them; if you retain those of any persons, they stand retained.” But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called The Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. Consequently the other disciples would say to him: “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them: “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe.” Well, eight days later his disciples were again indoors, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and he stood in their midst and said: “May you have peace.” Next he said to Thomas: “Put your finger here, and see my hands, and take your hand and stick it into my side, and stop being unbelieving but become believing.” In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.” To be sure, Jesus performed many other signs also before the disciples, which are not written down in this scroll. But these have been written down that YOU may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that, because of believing, you may have life by means of his name » (John 20:19-31).
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– Jesus Christ resurrected appears on the beach of the Sea of Tiberias, is recognized by his disciples by a miraculous cash. Then he encourages the Apostle Peter to spiritually feed his sheep:
« After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; but he made the manifestation in this way. There were in company Simon Peter and Thomas, who was called The Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them: “I am going fishing.” They said to him: “We also are coming with you.” Out they went and got aboard the boat, but during that night they caught nothing. However, just as it was getting to be morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not, of course, discern that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them: “Young children, you do not have anything to eat, do you?” They answered “No!” to him. He said to them: “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” Then they cast it, but they were no longer able to draw it in because of the multitude of the fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus used to love said to Peter: “It is the Lord!” Hence Simon Peter, upon hearing that it was the Lord, girded about himself his top garment, for he was naked, and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not a long way from land, only about three hundred feet away, dragging the net of fishes. However, when they disembarked onto land they beheld lying there a charcoal fire and fish lying upon it and bread. Jesus said to them: “Bring some of the fish you just now caught.” Simon Peter, therefore, went on board and drew the net to land full of big fishes, one hundred and fifty-three of them. But although there were so many the net did not burst. Jesus said to them: “Come, take your breakfast.” Not one of the disciples had the courage to inquire of him: “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after his being raised up from the dead. When, now, they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He said to him: “Feed my lambs.” Again he said to him, a second time: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He said to him: “Shepherd my little sheep.” He said to him the third time: “Simon son of John, do you have affection for me?” Peter became grieved that he said to him the third time: “Do you have affection for me?” So he said to him: “Lord, you know all things; you are aware that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him: “Feed my little sheep. Most truly I say to you, When you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk about where you wanted. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands and another man will gird you and bear you where you do not wish.” This he said to signify by what sort of death he would glorify God. So, when he had said this, he said to him: “Continue following me.” Upon turning about Peter saw the disciple whom Jesus used to love following, the one who at the evening meal had also leaned back upon his breast and said: “Lord, who is the one betraying you?” Accordingly, when he caught sight of him, Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what will this [man do]?” Jesus said to him: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you? You continue following me.” In consequence, this saying went out among the brothers, that that disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you?” This is the disciple that bears witness about these things and that wrote these things, and we know that the witness he gives is true. There are, in fact, many other things also which Jesus did, which, if ever they were written in full detail, I suppose, the world itself could not contain the scrolls written » (John 21:1-25).
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– The narrative of the ascension of Jesus resurrected in heaven:
« However, the eleven disciples went into Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had arranged for them, and when they saw him they did obeisance, but some doubted. And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things” » (Matthew 28:16-20).
« But he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them he was parted from them and began to be borne up to heaven. And they did obeisance to him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple blessing God » (Luke 24:50-53).
« When, now, they had assembled, they went asking him: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them: “It does not belong to you to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction; but you will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Ju·deʹa and Sa·marʹi·a and to the most distant part of the earth.” And after he had said these things, while they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud caught him up from their vision. And as they were gazing into the sky while he was on his way, also, look! two men in white garments stood alongside them, and they said: “Men of Galʹi·lee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who was received up from you into the sky will come thus in the same manner as you have beheld him going into the sky” » (Acts 1:6-11).
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– Jesus Christ glorified appears to Saul (which later will be called the Apostle Paul), he is blinded for three days. Then, Jesus appears to a disciple named Ananias to baptize Saul:
« But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women. Now as he was traveling he approached Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 Nevertheless, rise and enter into the city, and what you must do will be told you.” Now the men that were journeying with him were standing speechless, hearing, indeed, the sound of a voice, but not beholding any man. But Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were opened he was seeing nothing. So they led him by the hand and conducted him into Damascus. And for three days he did not see anything, and he neither ate nor drank. There was in Damascus a certain disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision: “Ananiʹas!” He said: “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him: “Rise, go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. For, look! he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands upon him that he might recover sight.” But Ananias answered: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many injurious things he did to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to put in bonds all those calling upon your name.” But the Lord said to him: “Be on your way, because this man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel. For I shall show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name” » (Acts 9:1-16).
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– The vision of the Apostle John, then very old, of Jesus Christ glorified, in the beginning of the narrative of the book of the Apocalypse: They are in the Holy of the Temple Sanctuary:
« I John, your brother and a sharer with you in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in company with Jesus, came to be in the isle that is called Patmos for speaking about God and bearing witness to Jesus. By inspiration I came to be in the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a strong voice like that of a trumpet, saying: “What you see write in a scroll and send it to the seven congregations, in Ephesus and in Smyrna and in Pergamum and in Thyatira and in Sardis and in Philadelphia and in Laodicea.” And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, and, having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands someone like a son of man, clothed with a garment that reached down to the feet, and girded at the breasts with a golden girdle. Moreover, his head and his hair were white as white wool, as snow, and his eyes as a fiery flame; and his feet were like fine copper when glowing in a furnace; and his voice was as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth a sharp, long two-edged sword was protruding, and his countenance was as the sun when it shines in its power. And when I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet. And he laid his right hand upon me and said: “Do not be fearful. I am the First and the Last, and the living one; and I became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write down the things you saw, and the things that are and the things that will take place after these. As for the sacred secret of the seven stars that you saw upon my right hand, and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars mean the angels of the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands mean seven congregations » (Revelation 1:9-20).
This vision that the apostle John had, then between 90 and 100 years old (in 96 Common Era), seems to correspond to the prediction of Jesus Christ resurrected, told to the apostle Peter, regarding John, namely that he would see the return of Jesus glorified (John 21 the part of the conversation between Jesus and Peter).
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– The vision of the Apostle John, of Jesus Christ glorified, in the narrative of the book of the Apocalypse, seated on white horse, coming against the nations with a sharp and long sword:
« And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice as of thunder: “Come!” And I saw, and, look! a white horse; and the one seated upon it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went forth conquering and to complete his conquest » (Revelation 6:1,2).
« And I saw the heaven opened, and, look! a white horse. And the one seated upon it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. His eyes are a fiery flame, and upon his head are many diadems. He has a name written that no one knows but he himself, and he is arrayed with an outer garment sprinkled with blood, and the name he is called is The Word of God. Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen. And out of his mouth there protrudes a sharp long sword, that he may strike the nations with it, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. He treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty. And upon his outer garment, even upon his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords » (Revelation 19:11-16).
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– The visions of Revelation, regarding Jesus Christ glorified as King and High Priest, should make us think. Jesus Christ is no longer a harmless infant in a manger. Jesus Christ is no longer the representation of a sacrificed and dead man, nailed by the hands and feet with the side pierced by a spear. Jesus Christ is currently a King and High Priest who has the right of life and death over each of us, the living, but also over the dead who will be resurrected. The resurrected Jesus Christ (Yehoshuah Mashiah) said shortly before his ascension that his Father Jehovah God (YHWH Elohim) had given him all authority (Matthew 28:19,20). In addition, here are two biblical quotes that will illustrate this important teaching point, allowing us to see in Jesus Christ a King now in office, both benevolent, but also to be verentially feared:
« Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness » (Matthew 7:21-23).
« When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.
“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I became hungry and you gave me something to eat; I got thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you received me hospitably; naked, and you clothed me. I fell sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous ones will answer him with the words, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty, and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to you?’ And in reply the king will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, To the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say, in turn, to those on his left, ‘Be on your way from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I became hungry, but you gave me nothing to eat, and I got thirsty, but you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not receive me hospitably; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not look after me.’ Then they also will answer with the words, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them with the words, ‘Truly I say to you, To the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me.’ And these will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life » (Matthew 25:31-46; see also Psalm 2 and Revelation chapters 1-3).
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The narratives of the miracles of Jesus Christ to strengthen faith in the hope of everlasting life…
The Significance of the Resurrections Performed by Jesus Christ (John 11:30-44)
The narrative of the resurrections performed by Jesus Christ to comfort those who have faith in this hope…
The Earthly Resurrection of the Righteous – They Will Not Be Judged (John 5:28, 29)
The righteous resurrected will not be judged or scrutinized, but will obtain a resurrection of everlasting life…
The Earthly Resurrection of the Unrighteous – They Will Be Judged (John 5:28, 29)
The unrighteous resurrected will be judged or scrutinized before possibly obtaining everlasting life…
The Heavenly Resurrection of the 144,000 (Apocalypse 14:1-3)
Many will live in paradise, but few will go to heaven, in the presence of God and of His Son Jesus Christ…
The Harvest Festivals were the Foreshadowing of the Different Resurrections (Colossians 2:17)
The former harvest festivals were prophetically assimilated to the different resurrections…
Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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