
REAL RESURRECTION OF CHRIST NOW
Recently, I, and a group of new friends, have been discussing a very important topic, the resurrection. I posted an essay on this subject awhile ago which laid out many reasons that I believe the resurrection takes place inside of us, and may not necessarily be something that happens after we physically die. Not that I don’t believe in an after life, or that we may in fact return to earth in a new body, as Elijah did, to carry out our purpose if not complete. The truth is no one really know what happens after we die, but there is plenty of evidence out there with Near Death Experiences and the study of brain activity to prove that after we die physically, who we are spiritually lives on.
But today’s paper is not about what happens after we physically die, it is about what is happening in the here and now. I believe the problem with most religions is they are too focused on what happens after you die. What they don’t teach is that experiencing Eternal Life and the Kingdom of God is not a future event but a NOW event.
Luke 17:19-21
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you
So while many religious leaders and religious organizations focus everyone’s attention to what happens after they die, I will focus people to the here and now. Because NOW is where salvation is, it has nothing to do with something you experience after you die.
Luke 19:9
And Jesus said unto him, THIS DAY is salvation come to this house
And what is salvation? Is salvation being set free from something that happens in the future? Or is salvation something that saves you now? Use your head, if you are drowning you don’t need a lifeguard after you drown, you need to be saved in the here and now. And SALVATION is a now event. It is the moment you cross over from the death of your suffering, ignorance, fear, and struggle, into the life of liberty, peace, truth, and hope.
You will find that this is what the resurrection of Christ is, as well. You become a new creature, the old you was dead (ignorant) and the new you is born again (resurrected)…. This essay will show you how that is possible.
Now I will not condemn anyone as ignorant if they say there IS a literal flesh and bone resurrection. You never know, the ways of God are beyond us all. But once again, I am not focused on the future which is not here or even real, I am focused on the here and now, which is all we have. And so is God…
However, regardless of whether you believe in a literal physical bodily resurrection from the literal grave there is still much that can be spiritually learned from this essay. And if you understand that the TOMB is mankind’s ignorant soul, that Christ (The power and wisdom of God) rises out of than, yes indeed this essay is for you as well.
Matthew 23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
So regardless of what your particular belief is you will benefit from this essay. Personally I am moving past the old teaching of resurrection unto perfection (the whole truth and wholeness of God) – This is my desire, to know the truth no matter what the cost. I pray it is the same for you.
Hebrews 6
1 Therefore LEAVING the principles of the doctrine of Christ, LET US GO UNTO PERFECTION; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD…
We do find clearly spelled out in scripture that FLESH can never inherit the Kingdom of God, so I question why so many believe there will be a physical flesh resurrection after literal death. With that being stated, if you’re still with me, we’re about to move on to some insight that I hope will open your eyes wide and get you saying, “Wow, I never saw that before!”… Then again you may not say that at all, but I ask only that you read with an open heart, and if you really want to know the truth I know you will one day KNOW the Truth/Word/Christ.
First of all, I am neither better or worse for stating there is no literal resurrection (the way it is taught in churches I mean). For, if there is a literal physical resurrection like something out of the movies than good, and if not, well then… good. I cannot prove either and neither can anyone of you. It all boils down to what we’ve been taught or what we have been allowed to see and believe. Seeing as I cannot prove there is not, and neither can anyone prove there is a literal flesh and bone resurrection I will instead make a strong statement of my faith using the scriptures. I will say that the RESURRECTION of CHRIST takes place WITHIN US and while many are CRAVING THE DEAD BODY OF JESUS to return again alive and well, I understand that Christ is resurrected in HIS BODY, but that HIS BODY IS ALL OF US. We are the hosts, the lord of Hosts is revealed in. Our life is Christ, Our life is hid in Christ. Christ IN US is the Hope of Glory, not Christ outside of us coming again in the future. Christ is not returning, for…
Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I (CHRIST) will NEVER LEAVE YOU, nor forsake thee
Since, Christ (The power and wisdom of God) NEVER LEFT, that means it is still within us.
Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ INSIDE you, the hope of glory
Notice, this is a MYSTERY, scripture goes on to explain that it has been HIDDEN. After all it is the Glory of God to hide a thing!
Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing
And Christ comes (which literally means REVEALED) in the Glory of God. In other words, the Truth of who we are in Christ is revealed in our understanding of this great mystery. WHICH believe it or not is the mystery of who we really are.
I believe it is more important for us to consider what this resurrection means in the here and now. What does any doctrine benefit me, if it is a future thing. Christ said, I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, will live! I hope you understand literal physical dead people cannot believe anything, because THEY ARE PHYSICALLY, LITERALLY DEAD… I hope you can see the allegorical DEATH Jesus was talking about is mankind’s ignorance, or being ruled by their carnal mind.!
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is DEATH; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
It’s simple really, for many life is more like death than living at all. For many their days are filled with misery and no hope at all. When trouble comes they think the worst and believe “well that’s just my life”.
Everyone that is not LIFE that is DEATH. Life is understanding who you are, that all things (even the bad) work together for the good. LIFE is following the desires of your heart, loving others, and knowing love yourself. LIFE doesn’t mean you’ll always be happy, but it does mean you understand that there is a reason for all things and that all things are meant for our learning and our enlightenment.
So DEATH, in scripture is not explaining the literal physical decay of the body, where the LIGHT (Life force) of that body has fled and only a dead shell remains. NO! The Death scripture explains is very clear, it is being ignorant to the truth of God and who you are. But there is hope for those who are living a life of Death. The Dead will RISE as scripture promises. The way for this to happen is when you are enlightened to the TRUTH/WORD of GOD, and the Power and Wisdom of God (which is Christ) is active in your thinking and evident in your life. The Dead RISE, when the Ignorant to BELIEVE the TRUTH OF GOD and become spiritual minded.
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is DEATH; but to be SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE and peace.
Now I understand, a lot of you are waiting for JESUS to return in his LITERAL BODY. To which I say, you need to fully understand just who JESUS CHRIST’S BODY IS. YES, Christ will be resurrected in His literal Body… which is ALL OF HUMANITY.
“Know you not that YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST”
Oh I know, some will say, “How can that be, there is only ONE JESUS… and that is not ALLEGORICAL but LITERAL.” I in no way am saying that there was no Jesus of Nazareth. Not at all. In fact without his example, and the gospels we would not be able to discern who we are. His life was a pattern of our life. he clearly said, if you do not take up the cross and follow in the same steps you are none of his. the scripture go so far as to say, AS JESUS IS SO ARE WE.
1 John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because AS HE IS SO ARE WE in this world.
Jesus said he is the Light of the World, and told his disciples WE TOO ARE THE LIGHTS of the World.
Matthew 5:14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid
Now this many people aren’t ready to handle. But it doesn’t make it any less true.
1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are WE the SONS(offspring) of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM
At the moment it may not appear that we are who we are in Christ. But when THIS GREAT TRUTH, this GOSPEL is revealed to us, this LIFE IS RESURRECTED in us, then WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM. Because AS JESUS CHRIST IS SO ARE WE.
Pay attention to this next verse. Right now we are as sheep following a Shepherd, but look WHO WE BECOME when we enter into this understanding.
John 10
1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door IS THE SHEPHERD of the sheep.
Now here is the reason that we must all come to the UNITY OF THE FAITH. Because in fact we are all ONE IN CHRIST.
Romans 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another
We are ALL ONE BODY! This is why a majority of scripture teaches to do unto others as you want done to yourself. In fact, when you hurt others you are indeed hurting yourself. When you love and lift up others you are loving and lifting yourself up. Notice how scripture states, Love others as you love YOURSELF.
Romans 13:9
YOU shall love your neighbour as YOURSELF.
The entire law rests on these two things, Loving God, Loving Others. And the others you love are to be loved as yourself, for you are ONE WITH THEM!
According to scripture God only has one SON (child of God) – ADAM & CHRIST, the 1st child and the last child. But ONLY ONE begotten SON of God.
Adam, which literally means MANKIND, is the first NATURE OF MAN (Ignorant) and the second ADAM (Mankind) is RISEN, ENLIGHTENED…. So even though you see many, many people, we, the MANY make up the ONE SON (CHILD OF GOD)
Romans 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Should the hand say to the foot, you’re not Christ. Should Bob say to Bertha, you’re not Christ? I think not… Although, not all have CHRIST RISEN (revealed) in them… HOWEVER, CHRIST is in all.
Meaning most are still DEAD IN ADAM (ignorant of who they are, which is of course God’s child) but when you BELIEVE THE TRUTH you will LIVE (Be resurrected in Christ, as Christ) — too much for some to comprehend, I understand. But think about it, we are given the NAME OF CHRIST, THE MIND OF CHRIST, AND WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST… who truly are we?
The instant we ate of that TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. The POWER AND WISDOM of God was buried underneath the lies of who began to believe ourself to be. Then we put God outside of us far away from us and we DIED (Became Ignorant).
Look, the Hope of Glory is not Christ outside of me returning soon. The Hope of Glory is CHRIST IN ME. It does not say the Hope of Glory is for Christ to resurrect in a separate literal flesh body outside of our own. In fact, before Jesus died he told everyone where he was going and where he, and we, would be.
John 14
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Now many will say THE FATHERS HOUSE is some place far away, a place called Heaven, where Jesus (the great carpenter that he is, will be building us a mansion of gold) — However, people the FATHERS HOUSE is not outside of us, in fact, WE ARE THE FATHERS HOUSE. The Temple of God – US!
Luke 19:46
Saying unto them, It is written, My house (the Temple) is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
This is an allegory. Jesus, had to go before his followers made him God himself. And today that is exactly what a majority of Christians have done. Made Jesus separate from us, and called him God, instead of seeing Jesus as a brother.
Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
This false belief takes the focus of God and finding the truth of who we are in God. Jesus always put the focus on the Father, and he also said we would do greater things than he, “Greater things than these we shall do”, that as he is a Light in this world, we are the Lights of this world, that as John put it “As Christ is, so are we in this world”. Jesus understood that we were no different from him, he was just the First born among the DEAD (Ignorant), the First Born among many brethren… – which means people, we are all ONE IN GOD. Which was the very nature of Jesus’s prayer in the Gospel of John.
John 17:11
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
The prayer basically means, God let them understand that WE ARE THE SAME!
There is NO DIVISION in ONE. Meaning we are ALL ONE, all the SAME, all united. Think about how much better the world would be if we saw each other as a part of ourselves. If we knew what we did to them, we do to ourselves. This is a great mystery, because so many people are selfish and think they are separate from others, when in fact, as Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.” – Meaning what you do to others, will most surely be done to you, because we are all ONE.
In truth, Hosea puts the 3rd day resurrection wonderfully and it paints a clearer picture of how this truly speaks of all of us.
Hosea 6
1 Come, let US RETURN to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive US; on the THIRD DAY he will restore US, that WE may live in his presence.
The resurrection spoken here is about restoring ALL OF US to the Power and Wisdom of God (Christ), after being stricken by the darkness of our vain imagination. It is all about RETURNING TO GOD (Truth).
But, I will answer, in a nutshell, why I am not worried, or concerned, that I do not hold onto a belief that “Literal Decaying Bodies or skeletons in the ground” will rise again in the judgment. And why I am only concerned with our RISING from the DEATH of our ignorance, as judgment begins at the house of the Lord. (ME and YOU). And if judgment begins IN US then that means God is going to destroy everything IN US that is not IN HIM (GOD/TRUTH/SPIRIT) until CHRIST is formed in us, as Paul said. Every false belief (portrayed as goats, tares, etc in scripture) will be destroyed, burned away (spiritually), when Christ is RESURRECTED IN US.
Galatians 4:19
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you
Look at a very similar passage in Revelation.
Revelation 12:2
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Just who do you think that WOMAN is… The WOMAN is our SOUL, who is going to deliver CHRIST. So the WORD will be RESURRECTED in our FLESH.
I spent a good deal of my life in carnal practices and principles. There was a time that I believed I had to baptize my son thanks to Catholic guilt. But I wised up and did not do the same for my daughter Shiloh, who according to the Catholic church is damned until she does so. Ah, the foolishness of vain traditions built on fear and shame.
Carnal mankind has made a god in their image. A god they can control. A god they can give birth to every year, persecute and crucify every year, and raise again every year. This is what many are celebrating today. The resurrection of Jesus, which takes all of the focus off the TRUE RESURRECTION that is to take place within us all. They look OUTSIDE OF THEMSELVES and WAIT. When God looks WITHIN and MADE CLEAR through Jesus RESURRECTION IS IN THE HERE AND NOW! So please tell me why everyone is looking to the sky and waiting and not wanting the kingdom to come (be revealed) on earth (in our waking life) as in heaven (the true spirit life/God’s ways and wisdom)
Ephesians 3:10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God
But now, I am moving unto perfection and I challenge you all to at least question and possibly do the same. Even though I understand “Each Man in His Order”.
Look, like Paul, there was a time that I, too, knew Jesus after the FLESH (My carnal mind) but No longer. Now I find it hard to know anyone, or anything, after the Flesh. In fact, if you’ve read my articles enough times it should be pretty clear I’m all about the “spirit” of a thing. I look for the “spirit” of what the scriptures teach, and I leave the literal (letter) because it doesn’t profit me, or anyone, at all.
In the discussion I mentioned earlier a new friend raised an important point. “What about those that witnessed Jesus placed in the Tomb, and witnessed his disappearance and ascension, etc.”
This point is the genesis of this essay and deals specifically with what was “quickened” to me about this event. Quick note of that, look again at what I wrote, “what was QUICKENED to me”. You when reading this had no problem understanding I meant, what was revealed to me, what was made clear to me. Yet, there are many people who will say a “Quickening” spirit is a spirit that will re-animated a literally physically dead body. As opposed to understanding it is all about QUICKENING (giving understanding and wisdom which is a tree of life to one who had previously been ignorant.)
1 Corinthians 15
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Our first nature is all about our five senses, it’s all about the temporal, sensual world. The first man, in other words, is NATURAL. (Get it?) Our second nature (after the truth has been RISEN within us) was made a quickening spirit. In other words, we don’t look to the nature, literal letter of things, we see to the SPIRIT of things. We don’t say the parable is literal, we say, “this is what the parable is teaching us.”
But I digress, I am going to attempt to show you that the events after Jesus’ death, where Joseph and Nicodemus begged for the dead body of Jesus from Pilate and buried him is ACTUALLY a picture of carnal Christians who CRAVE that DEAD JESUS (who they continue to worship today as a Dead Man from two thousand years ago). You find an image of that Dead Man hanging from crosses in Churches, in paintings, in movies, on tv, on tee-shirts, jewelry, etc… And then many go so far as to say that Dead Man Jesus is God. Knowing full well, Jesus never taught this, and that the scriptures are pretty clear we are not to place an image to what God looks like at all. He shouldn’t be likened to anything in the sea, in the air, in the earth, beneath the earth, and most definitely not in the IMAGE OF CORRUPTIBLE NATURAL MAN!
Romans 1:23
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man
You see God is not Man, God is the SPIRIT WITHIN MAN! God was IN JESUS, God is in CHRIST reconciling the world to himself.
2 Corinthians 5:19
To wit, that God was IN Christ, reconciling the world unto himself
You see, most today ignorantly worship a Dead Flesh Man from 2000 years ago, as opposed to worshipping the LIFE GIVING SPIRIT that is the SON OF GOD, which is the WORD OF GOD, which is the LIGHT OF ALL MANKIND, which we ALL HAVE OUR LIFE HID IN (Christ). This WORD is what LIVES and is RESURRECTS WITHIN US and BECOMES US and we BECOME HIM.
John 17:22
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one
This is like me praying, God please let them understand what I understand that we are one, so that they can understand that they are one, that we are all ONE! You in me, I in them, etc, etc. ONE! Please tell me how this leaves room for a resurrection outside of us, separate from us?
No, Christ is FORMED/BIRTHED in us. Christ is revealed in us! Christ is resurrected IN US!
“Until Christ be formed IN you.”
But the many that call themselves Christians today, are just like Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus. They don’t want CHRIST resurrected WITHIN THEM! They want the DEAD JESUS MAN. And so they take this belief and tuck it away in their Tomb (hearts/soul/ignorant understanding) and of course when people come looking for the WAY, TRUTH, AND LIFE it is nowhere to be found. Because you can’t find the LIVING (enlightened) among the DEAD (carnal/ignorant).
John 19
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
Here we see the picture of two men, Joseph and Nicodemus. Let’s first look at Joseph of Arimathaea.
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA
1) Joseph was a disciple in SECRET – He was ashamed of knowing the living Jesus. — And we know how that goes over with Christ.
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed”
2) Joseph was STILL WAITING for the Kingdom of God to come.
“He was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself WAITED for the kingdom of God.” Luke 23
I guess Joseph missed Jesus’ lesson that the KINGDOM of GOD is here now and WITHIN. Perhaps that is why he was still waiting.
Now onto Nicodemus.
NICODEMUS
1) Nicodemus was also ashamed of the TRUTH (Jesus) this is why he came to Jesus at NIGHT. A symbol of seeing Jesus in the DARK (carnally)
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by NIGHT” John 3
2) Nicodemus was ignorant of the truth, much like Joseph of A.
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Both Joseph and Nicodemus were ignorant and ashamed of Christ. But BOTH CRAVED THAT DEAD BODY of JESUS. Isn’t this what so many so-called Christians are doing today. Aren’t they waiting for that Dead Jesus to return. Isn’t that REALLY what the Easter celebration is all about. One day every year getting together to celebrate something that happened in the past (whether literal or allegorical) it is obvious this was something that happened in the past. And Mankind re-peat the past again and again. Yet, we are clearly instructed to FORGET ABOUT THE PAST and MOVE UNTO PERFECTION.
Philippians 3:13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are BEHIND, and reaching forth unto those things which are before
Paul said, he FORGOT what happened in the past and reached for what was to come. Why do most people today continue to live in the past. Why does mankind continue to look back and wait for the future, instead of looking within in the here and now? The reason is, “they know not what they do.”
So in their ignorance, ignorant mankind does what Joseph of A and Nicodemus did. They dress up dead Jesus, by wearing dead Jesus jewelry, talking about how Jesus died, acting it out and getting everyone to put their faith in past events instead of NOW. It’s a faith based on Death (THAT WHICH NO LONGER EXISTS/LIVES). Yes, carnal/ignorant mankind also CRAVES THE DEAD BODY OF JESUS…
They just can’t wrap their minds around the truth of the resurrection which is unto LIFE IN THEM. But the DEATH of someone in the past, and that dead man’s resurrection they say is literally true. And so instead of reaching for Christ within, they keep looking behind and say he is coming again.
Like many today, Joseph, and Nicodemus, didn’t have a clue about the things of God. If they did, they probably would not have been so concerned about “preserving” and “storing” the DEAD BODY of Jesus after following a bunch of vain religious burial rites and traditions. However, many today elevate these men as faithful disciples. They talk about how AWESOME NICK AT NIGHT AND JOSEPH A are, for taking that Dead Body of Jesus and parading it around, wrapping it all nice with sugar and spice and burying that dead body away in their new tomb. But people, they didn’t know the first thing about the truth. They wouldn’t be seen in public with the LIVING CHRIST, but the DEAD JESUS they were all about. That should say something.
Just like I will say, look we are all ONE WITH CHRIST, CHRIST’S LIFE IS OUR LIFE, CHRIST IS YOU AND I when that Daystar is risen in our heart(understanding)… people don’t want to have a part of this LIFE! No, they only want the version where Jesus is dead and gone and coming again. Just like Nick at Night and Joseph A.
These two ignorant men followed the ritual LAW for burial. Something that they would NOT DO had they the slightest understanding of CHRIST WITHIN. In Fact, I don’t think they would have paid much attention to the Dead Flesh Body of Jesus at all, if they knew the truth.
But, Joseph and Nicodemus are like many today that focus on the OUTWARD MAN which perishes, and ignore of the inward man, that is renewed. They worship the Creature, as opposed to the CREATOR. Which NO MAN can literally see!
“No one has seen the Father at any time” “God is spirit and truth”
Now a side note about what Jesus said we will be like in the Resurrection, for those who are waiting for us to rise again as immortal flesh bodies that we have right now.
29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do ERR, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the RESURRECTION they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are AS THE MESSENGERS of God in heaven.”
In the Resurrection we are AS THE ANGELS (MESSENGERS OF GOD’S TRUTH), not as we are now (SELFISH CARNAL SOULS)… When we are RESURRECTED we are as God’s messengers, as Sons and Daughters of the most high! (United in God’s spirit)
So, now that we have a clearer picture of Joseph and Nicodemus. We see that they were two ignorant, howbeit well-meaning, good men, who CRAVED the LITERAL DEAD BODY of Jesus, and then followed the DEAD LAW and BURIED their DEAD JESUS in a TOMB for the DEAD.
Had they paid attention in the “Living” Jesus school, they would not have done such a thing.
Matthew 8:22
But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Joseph and Nicodemus must have missed that day. Since they were BURYING DEAD JESUS. And as I mentioned earlier many today are the same. On Easter many are acting out the death and resurrection of that man who died two thousand years ago, never once understanding that Christ and they are in fact one.
There are carnal people who will wrap, bury, and protect that DEAD JESUS, they crave that DEAD BODY (The flesh man) and yet, they will NEVER admit that CHRIST Resurrects IN THEM. Like Nicodemus and Joseph they are ashamed of the LIVING CHRIST. Because this wisdom has not yet been quickened to them. But one day it will, each man in his order. They see themselves separate from Christ, not realizing it is impossible to be separate from Christ, as everything has its existence in the Power and Wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:39
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Look we can NEVER be separate from CHRIST (which is God’s word/truth/wisdom/spirit/son). We can only be DEAD (ignorant) to the TRUTH of that.
Now, I want to tell all of you what and who CHRIST is. We know many say, it means annointed ONE. But really, what does CHRIST MEAN, and what does CHRIST DO, and why Christ? Well check out what scripture says, Christ is made to become for us!
1 Corinthians 1:30
But OF him are YOU -IN- Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Re-read that people. The WORD OF GOD is TRUTH, a LAMP to our FEET, LIFE. And Christ is MADE to become for us, WISDOM, RIGHTEOUSNESS, SANCTIFICATION, AND REDEMPTION. Christ is TRUE LIFE. And we are OF HIM meaning our very essence is GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT revealed in CHRIST. But no one seems to want this, they want and crave that DEAD BODY OF JESUS.
The Natural man cares only about Natural things. So it makes sense that so many are waiting for a literal natural appearance of Jesus Christ. But the Spiritual Man, which is our SECOND NATURE, knows nothing naturally, waits for nothing, and looks for nothing, for everything is WITHIN!
2 Peter 1:19
We have also a more SURE WORD of prophecy; whereunto YOU DO WELL THAT YOU LISTEN, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the DAY STAR ARISE IN YOUR HEART.
Notice, it doesn’t say, the DAYSTAR coming again from a far off distant place. This SURE WORD OF PROPHECY speaks ONLY OF Christ RISING IN YOUR HEART to become Wisdom, understanding, righteousness, redemption, sanctification. CHRIST ONLY RESURRECTS IN YOU PEOPLE!
Few will believe Peter’s “SURE WORD” of prophesy. Because they have been taught since they were children, the same error they continue to teach today to their children. And if you dare say a word otherwise, you will be threatened, attacked, torn down, because the Darkness (Ignorant) hate the Light. (Truth)
“Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:”
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
It’s all about the OUTSIDE with those stuck in Adam (The natural carnal man). They worship the Flesh, which is why they condemn and attack, as these are fruits of Carnality. To the carnal religious it’s all about the Flesh. They are right in their own carnality and pride and the rest who believe differently (In “their” eyes will burn for all of eternity)
Now, does that sound like they worship a God of Love? A God, who teaches humility, long-suffering, patience? A Teacher is to be apt in these areas, not quick to judge and condemn. Christ did NOT come (rise/revealed) into the world to CONDEMN it but to SAVE it. And when Christ RISES in each of us, we too will be saved! Saved from our own ignorance, not some future torture.
Today on Easter, many may dress up their DEAD BELIEFS and do all they can to make their false beliefs look, and smell good. They want to “PRESERVE” their error and hold unto it forever. No matter how you slice it, the Jesus they are working so hard to “PRESERVE” is DEAD. Then, like the ignorant and ashamed Joseph and Nicodemus, MANY want to make sure their TOMB is sealed so they can KEEP THAT DEAD JESUS safe, so no one will take what they now own away. And they do this by ROLLING A GREAT STONE in front of the TOMB.
And what does this stone represent? Their works, beliefs and laws!
Consider, how the STONE needs to be rolled away to water he sheep. The STONE needs to be thrown to kill the Giant. The STONE is used to KILL and PUNISH. The STONES are what the LAW is written on to begin with. Joseph, and Nicodemus are pictures of those who worship a DEAD JESUS and keep that DEAD JESUS tucked away and covered by their works of the law, which is all death.
How do I know this? Well, what did the ANGEL say when everyone was looking in a TOMB (Carnal soul) for the RISEN CHRIST? Mind you they were NOT looking for the dead Christ at this point but the RISEN CHRIST and they could not find Christ there… and what did the ANGEL SAY?
“Why seek you the living among the dead?”
You cannot FIND THE TRUTH in DEAD BELIEFS or CARNAL UNDERSTANDING. You will NEVER find the TRUTH if you continue to look for DEAD FLESH to be raised. No matter how many Easter services you attend.
The good news is even this GREAT STONE (works, carnal beliefs, laws and traditions) will be rolled away when the TRUTH descends from a higher place of understanding and is revealed to us. And it will shake our beliefs and traditions to the very core, breaking apart every foundational belief we once put our faith in.
Matthew 28:
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
And when that day comes, we will know Christ as we are known by Christ!
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
News flash people, when you know as you are known, YOU KNOW YOUR TRUE SELF!
Colossians 3:
4 When Christ, who is OUR LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Jacob
http://www.JacobIsrael.org
“The Truth Will Change You”