Friday, May 23, 2014

Matthew 28:10b "Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

RESURRECTION REALITIES

Did you notice what Jesus called the disciples -- His brothers. In calling them "brothers" Jesus comforted those men who had forsaken and fled on Maundy Thursday. The Lord had earlier called them friends (cf. John 15:12-17), but after the resurrection Jesus spoke to them not as mere students, but as close family members, as brothers.

We may also think of ourselves as part of the family of God by faith. We have been adopted into the family of God, made the children of God by faith through baptism, for it is written (Galatians 3:26-27): "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

We should not only consider ourselves part of the family of God, we should consider our fellow Christians in the same way. We are workers together with Christ, servants together and equal, no one person of greater value than another. For we who once were by birth and nature children of wrath, by faith have become the people of God.

For it is written (1 Peter 2:9-10): "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."

Jesus resurrection from the dead has made this all possible, indeed a reality.