The setting? It is the first day of the week. Although it was still dark, unto the tomb [sepulchre] Mary Magdalene ventured. Therein, the stone was rolled away. She turns and runs to Simon Peter, and to also the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them -- "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre and we know not where they have laid Him." (John 20:2)
This statement led to both of the disciples running to the sepulchre. Inside, they saw the linen clothes but no Jesus. Note that the napkin which was about Jesus' head was not lying with the linen clothes but wrapped together in a place by itself. Because of what he saw, that other disciple believed.
Unlike this day, when many in the religious culture like to put their own spin on the scriptures, that other disciple simply believed. That other disciple being the one which testified of all these things, and wrote them so that we would know that his testimony is true. "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written, every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." (John 21:24-25)
"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing ye might have life through His Name." (John 20:30-31)
This latter scripture is written in the space of time before Jesus ascended, wherein, after that, He [Jesus] THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3)
Still, unless we accept and believe that Jesus is who He said He is, we cannot see the kingdom. We cannot understand the hefty price that Jesus paid on the cross, having shed His own precious blood for our sins. And He did so because of His abundance of love for you and I. Indeed, we who believe in Jesus by faith, and continue steadfastly in His Word, being water baptized in His precious Name are His beloved. We are the apple of His eye. And He desires to show His marvelous loving kindness to those who seek Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)
In part, it is coming to understand that Jesus is no longer a Son, as the world proclaims but rather, the Son of man is once again become the Lord of glory, having returned to the place where He was before -- as the Spirit of the Lord God who moved upon the waters in the beginning. (Genesis 1:1-2) The Holy Ghost who now dwells within.
This is why Jesus said to Philip, "If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him." (John 14:7) Because when we truly desire to know Jesus, we understand that He is the Father in bodily form. All the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9) God Himself was manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) After the kindness and love of God, He became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7; Isaiah 42:13)
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
This is why John's writing is critical, because sooner or later, each and every one of us have to reach that point in our heart too, wherein we simply believe. Jesus said to Philip, when Philip asked Him, "Shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us." Jesus said unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, "Shew us the Father?" (John 14:6-9)
For clarity and understanding, Jesus went on to say -- "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself; but the Father that dwells in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I [am] in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you -- He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do because I go unto My Father." (John 14:10-12; John 10:30, 38; John 5:19; John 14:24; Luke 10:17)
At that day, when the Spirit of truth is come -- whom the world cannot receive because it sees Him not, neither knows Him -- in that day, because ye know Him -- "for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you" -- He will come and abide with you forever. Jesus said, "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)
But Jesus had to ascend, because as a man walking the earth, He could not dwell in us. This is why -- after Jesus was taken up -- He THROUGH the Holy Ghost could dwell in us. "I am in My Father, and ye in Me and I in you. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loves Me, and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father and I will love Him and will manifest Myself to him." (John 14:20-21)
There is much more to understand here -- but for now, recognize that the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, as Jesus said "He shall testify of Me, and ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with Me from the beginning." (John 15:26-27) And believe that Jesus is the same He whom was from the very beginning.
And with all our learning, seek to understand the doctrine of Christ. That is, like the "other disciple who simply believed understood -- "he that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." (II John 1:9)
Stand in the offering plate.
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