THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - PART 276

Mary, do not touch me for I have not as yet ascended to my Father. Mary, go to my brethren, and say to them,I ascend unto my Father and to your Father: to my God and your God.
Touch me not.

This conversation was happening very early in the morning when it was still dark. According to Leviticus 23, it was the first day of the week of Sabbaths.

JESUS said to Mary, "I have as yet not ascended." Why? Because JESUS as of yet had not offered Himself to His Father as the once and for all sacrificial offering. The same offering intended to purchase man's redemption. As it is written, “He offered Himself." He, God as a son over His own household offered Himself to Himself.

Prior to the even (note that this was the beginning of another day - 6pm to 6 pm as recorded in Genesis in the Jewish calendar - was also the first day of the week of Sabbaths) JESUS appears to the disciples in a room where the doors were closed. JESUS suddenly appears in the room saying, "Peace be unto you." Therein, JESUS showed the apostles His hands and His side. Needless to say, the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

JESUS then said to the disciples, "As my Father has sent Me, so send I you." And having said this, JESUS breathed upon them saying, "Receive you the Holy Spirit." Then Jesus added, "Whosoever sins you remit, then their sins are remitted also. Whosoever sins you retain, those sins shall be retained."

If you recall from reading the scriptures, JESUS was hastily put into the tomb at evening. The Even or the start of the Jewish High day. The Great Sabbath was approaching. But JESUS was not handled by anyone until 3 day and 3 nights later. That being the evening of the First day of the week of Sabbaths when JESUS appeared in the closed room to His disciples.

Exactly 3 days and 3 nights as He had said before His crucifixion. It was the same period of time that Jonah had spent in the great fish belly. How does the scriptures put it? Just as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so shall also the Son of man be three days and three nights in the bowels of the earth.

Thereafter, JESUS went in and out amongst His disciples for a period of 40 days and nights appearing in different forms and at different times. JESUS, during that period opening their minds so that they could understand the scriptures.

Why the 40 days and 40 nights? Well, this made up for the time period that JESUS had spent in the wilderness being tempted of the devil. JESUS explained to His disciples the scriptures that otherwise could have been hid! But JESUS, God Himself as a Son indwelling a Son’s body fathered us. If JESUS had not waged the battle of sin for our redemption we would still be held captive by Satan. Instead, JESUS BREATHED into his disciples His Spirit - the well of living water! It is this same well that we can drink from today. ONLY BELIEVE AND RECEIVE! Peace be to all in JESUS name! cont. ,