The biggest challenge was God’s Word being made Man! Yes! I can imagine a discussion about Mankind!
Satan: “In Your Image??? Yet, when I promised (Ahem!) to be like You, they were expelled from the garden.”
Reply: “To save Mankind, My Word shall go forth as Man.”
Jesus, on the scene!
After He rose from the dead, without conferring with Himself; He did not offer comfort of touch! Until He asked doubting Thomas knowing exactly what he had said:
After Jesus appears to the disciples (in the absence of Thomas) and Thomas initially says he won’t believe without physical proof, Thomas’s words after Jesus’ second appearance are, “My Lord and my God!” This declaration in John 20:28 marks the culmination of his doubt and a powerful confession of faith in the resurrected Christ.
The Context of his Words
- Initial Doubt: When the disciples first told Thomas they had seen the risen Lord, he refused to believe unless he could see the nail marks and put his finger into Jesus’ side.
- Jesus’ Appearance: A week later, Jesus again appeared to His disciples, with Thomas present.
- The Invitation: Jesus told Thomas to “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side” and “Stop doubting and believe”.
- Thomas’s Confession: In response, Thomas, after fulfilling his requirement of physical evidence, exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”.
Significance of the Statement
- It is one of the most profound declarations of faith in the Bible, showing Thomas’s recognition of Jesus’ divinity.
- Jesus’ response, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” adds a layer of theological depth to the encounter.
The assertion that “Jesus after resurrection did not “embrace” Mary Magdalene the word” is a misunderstanding; Jesus, as the incarnate Word of God, appeared after his resurrection and did engage with His followers, explaining the Scriptures to them and commissioning them to spread the message, thereby fully embracing and acting upon “the Word” of God. While His appearance was initially different and He told Mary Magdalene not to cling to Him, this was not an abandonment of the Word but rather a command for her not to hold back His mission to return to the Father and a confirmation of His divine nature.
Jesus as the “Word of God”
- In the Gospel of John, Jesus is identified as the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us. Therefore, when He acted after the resurrection, He was embodying and enacting the Word.
Interaction with Disciples
- Jesus did not simply disappear after the resurrection; instead, He appeared to His disciples and spent time with them, explaining how the Scriptures pointed to His suffering, death, and resurrection.
- He commissioned them for a great mission to become His witnesses, directly involving them in spreading the message of the Word to the world.
“Do Not Touch Me” vs. “Touch Me”
- Jesus’s instruction to Mary Magdalene, “Touch Me not” (John 20:17), is not a rejection of the physical or the Word, but a command to “do not cling to Me” because He had not yet returned to the Father.
- He later invited Thomas to touch Him to prove the reality of His resurrected body, thereby fulfilling His promise and affirming the truth of the Scriptures and His divine identity.
Theological Significance
- The events after the resurrection served to demonstrate that Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and was indeed the Messiah, the living embodiment of God’s Word.
- His resurrected appearances and interactions with His followers validated their faith and empowered them to continue the work of God.
God is giving you favor and opening doors you haven’t even thought to knock on! The story of Esther is a powerful reminder of how God can position someone for divine purpose. Esther, an orphaned young woman, was lifted to the palace and became queen—not by chance, but by God’s hand. “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14. God gave her favor with the king and used her courage to save an entire nation.
In the same way, God is working behind the scenes in your life. Opportunities you never dreamed of, blessings you never expected, and breakthroughs you never thought possible are coming your way. Keep walking in faith, stay humble, and trust His timing. The same God who opened doors for Esther is opening doors for you—doors that no one can shut. God bless you abundantly.