Why spend so much time on the study of the resurrection of Jesus. Perhaps to put in one place all scripture surrounding it or that talks about the event according to scripture. References to it only entice us to ask what all was taught about Christ before it was recorded and why only some of it was told, or where their question that could not be fully answered with knowledge that was left behind. I do not know the answer myself, but I do know if we understand the resurrection a little more we can understand the hope of the believers that wait for Christ return.

Sometimes the resurrection seems like a dream of sorts, or a moment in time we can not fully grasp. But there were events that followed the resurrection. The shock of the world was one that many can only imagine. Was it joy, was it fear, was it hope or what was it that caused the disciples to doubt, fear, shake and even bow at the presences of the Lord once they saw him after the resurrection.

Let us begin with Mary, the name Jesus called the women when he spoke to her. Who was Mary, the person that saw him first, a harlot, a women caught in adultery saw him first. Yet Jesus said Mary and she turned and said Rabboni(Master) Jesus said to her not for her to touch him because he had not ascended to his Father and her Father and to my God and your God. Jesus is clear who he ascends to is God. He does not declare his lordship here, but his servant like attitude of going to the one in charge of all things. We can not forget our place in God's kingdom or his plan. Jesus has the fullness of the God head bodily within him, but his servant attitude declares him as Son and he is calling God his Father.

Understanding Jesus came in the flesh is so important to understanding his role as Son to teach us how to be sons and daughters to God. To teach that respect given to his Father, Showing obedience though it hurts us in the flesh. We must think again and realize Christ had not finished the work that began on the cross, he had descended but now he must ascend to the Father, and then he would return and appear to the other disciples. That is important, there is ascension that is seldom spoken of. Yet the ascension does not occur until the cross nor does it occur in scripture beyond small testimony of it by Paul, who was not around to witness or see the event in Ephesians.

No one would witness the first ascension, but it happened to take the captives that were in captivity home to be with God. The one that were raised to life and walked into Jerusalem. His return was to finish out his call and to baptize the disciples in the Holy Spirit. The story is laid to rest with with ascension into heaven, and then the descension back to earth and giving of the Holy Spirit to the disciples, to help them in ministry and work of the Gospel. To provide the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the disciples/church of Jesus.

No more mystery Mary could not even touch his feet til the work was done that God had ordained of him. With the people from the graves gone, everything goes back to normal, until the Holy Spirit descends, no, they had Jesus on earth 40 days and he taught his disciples and the crowd that gather, before His ascension once more to the Father. The world would never be the same again because of this one testimony of Christ resurrection. This one major event we call Easter last Sunday. But the events that followed would shake a nation and a group of people. Yet the story would take time to get to all parts of world and even governments of the world.

What can we know about our own ascension into heaven, that when we die, we will ascend as promised by God's word as believers in Christ. We will rise up to meet our Savior. To be absent from our physical body is still to be present with the Lord. That the separation of death is no more between man and God. The judgment of God is yet to come. I think of award assemblies and wonder will we be tired of hearing names called to the stage to graduate, or will we rejoice with each name called that cross over to heaven. If you ever been to a sinners funeral versa, a believers funeral, or one not necessarily a believer's funeral of state probably unknown, then you know there is a difference in handling of the service. The idea of rejoicing a celebration, versa the weeping and mourning of the unknown fate of the one that died.

In the church world no matter the person if someone gets saved the church rejoices upon the news of salvation of the sinner that came home. There is a new name written down in glory and is it yours? I know when mine was written down and I also know when God should of given up on me, but did not. See salvation comes with belief, works and sharing the gospel come after. It is the opening of a gift of God that can take time, for God begins to shape and use our natural and spiritual gifts often together. Yet the journey to God's perfect design might take time to develop. A person that goes into nursing might become a doctor one day, or use those skills with carrying for children at school, or else where, not always in hospital or doctors office. Skills might be used in other field unknown but other talents will be used as well. How do you want people to remember you. Are they going to remember your obedience to the Lord like Christ obedience through the cross and all the way through the resurrection, ascension and descension? No matter where we are, or land up are we using the gifts and talents God gave us to use? Even if it leads to imprisonment, death, or easy roads in life. For example the Jews in Babylon that were believers still found hope in their journey, the believers in Christ despite their suffering and pain still continued on spreading the gospel. Paul even made tents, he did not wallow in self pity through life, he pick up the cross of Jesus and continue carrying it despite his own cross, despite his own misery and pain. Something as important as the Gospel was worth the retelling, no matter the cost. That is the point are you telling your story and how God is working in your life? Or are you telling your story without faith. Paul wrote the church about how God delivered him, but it is also about how God strenghten his faith and gave him the will to stand up and carry on in his journey. Jesus demonstrates faith in his own life though he knew the result of his journey would lead to the cross because of God will, for him to have the victory to over come sin and the punishment for sin which was death.

Dear Heavnely Father help us to share the story of faith how God is moving in our life despite the hardship of our own journey, not leaving out the victory of faith. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Ephesians 4:8-9 KJV
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?