Jack Jurgens's Ministry Library

Women in John’s gospel

[0:00] Now, again, a very, very warm invitation and appreciation for all who have taken time to come, and also a very genuine expression of thanks to the assembly for your kindness in inviting me to be with you these four nights. I often think the responsibility of a man who comes to preach the word of God to the people of God is to leave you better than I found you. That’s a very, very high standard. I trust there’s been something of Christ and something in the ministry that has been a help in some way to all. Now, John’s Gospel, chapter 20.

[0:43] This is, of course, the resurrection morning, and verse number one tells us that the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene early while it was yet dark. Again, he’s using physical conditions to give us some type of insight into spiritual conditions, unto the sepulcher, and saw the stone rolled away. Of course, then she runs, and Simon Peter and John come. Drop down to verse number 11. They leave, but Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher, seeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She said unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, I know not where they have laid him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, but knew him not, that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say teacher or master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not. I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren. Saying to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. And Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

[2:06] We trust God will add his blessing to the public reading of his word, and we’ll make mention of other scriptures as well. Now I mentioned, I think, in the first night, but if I didn’t, I’ll mention it now, that the resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus can be placed alongside Psalm number 23. We have at least five of those here in this section. For example, we have someone whose cup is running over with joy as the Lord Jesus Christ reveals himself to Mary Magdalene. My cup runneth over. Then when he appears to Thomas, or rather appears to the Twelve, he…

[2:40] It uses the, or it doesn’t use, but it fulfills the expression found in Psalm number 23, waters of rest, fear not. He calms them, brings them beside waters of rest to enjoy peace and rest despite all of the worry and concern. Then, of course, he deals with Thomas and we see he restores my soul. We mentioned as well, when you come to chapter number 21, you have the Lord preparing a table before his disciples in the presence of all his enemies.

[3:08] Bread and fish already prepared by him for their enjoyment, for their nourishment. They had gone out for fish. He had bread and fish. They would have had to clean them and cook them. He had everything ready already. So he’s showing he can do far better for us than we can do for ourselves if we allow him. So he prepares a table. Then, of course, you have the Lord Jesus saying, follow thou me. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. And also you would see him telling Peter and John, if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? There he’s reminding us of a home in heaven. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Now, if you add to that, very quickly your mind can run through these. Luke 24, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, two walking under the shadow of death on the road to Emmaus. Remember as well in Matthew 28, thy rod and thy staff. Lo, all authority is given unto me. that’s the rod of authority. I am with you always. That’s the staff to comfort and protect. So we have all of the teaching of Psalm 23 contained in the resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus. Now, that’s not just a nice way of looking at them, but keep in mind, what he is displaying is what he is doing right now at God’s right hand as our shepherd.

[4:22] The Lord Jesus has many offices. He is our great high priest. He’s our advocate. He’s our friend, but he’s our shepherd. And so as our great shepherd, he is still caring for us in the very same way all of these appearances

[4:37] reveal him to be caring for his own. So just to mention that as far as that is concerned. Mention as well, to show us the unity of the word of God, which is a tremendous thing to note, the link with Genesis and John. Now we had mentioned many, many links with Adam, the side of the Lord Jesus Christ being riven, Adam’s side being opened to provide a bride, the Lord Jesus Christ having a seamless garment, Adam having a garment with many seams, all of that. But I want you to think, first of all, of this. What we come to in John chapter 20, where we read is a garden and a woman and a gardener. So that’s John 20. That’s Genesis chapter three. A garden, a woman, and a gardener. But it’s so different in this garden. This woman is loyal. This woman is faithful. This woman does not seek in any way to undermine leadership. And she willingly bows to the one who is her Lord. And so we see the wonderful contrast with the Gospel of John, and rather with Genesis, and the picture of the garden. I want to just send in my remarks about three things.

[5:50] Mary Magdalene, her history, her heart, and her honor. So it would be very easy to remember her history, her heart, and her honor. As far as her history is concerned, we know three things. She was demon-possessed, she was delivered, and she from that moment on became a devoted follower and servant of the Lord Jesus. Now, we read that she had seven demons. The Lord Jesus cast out of her seven demons. Now, we have no idea and can’t speculate what form that demon possession took. In some instances, demon possession, for example, was marked by the ability to be a seer, a foreteller of the future. Acts chapter 16, and the woman who was delivered by Paul on that occasion, she had brought her masters much gain by her soothsaying. So demon possession there led to the ability to foretell the future. But then, of course, you have the madman of Gadara who was possessed by legion, and he didn’t foretell the future. He literally destroyed himself and everyone else he could find. So the violent as well as the prophetic or prognosticators, whatever it may be, demon possession took different forms in different individuals.

[7:04] It’s interesting that the very first place we find Mary Magdalene mentioned is in Acts chapter two. She was among the women who ministered unto him. She appears suddenly out of nowhere. However, just suggesting, just suggesting to you that the woman at the end of chapter seven, who comes in and to Simon the Pharisee’s house and anoints his feet, watches them with her tears, kisses them, anoints them with oil. I wonder, could that have been Mary Magdalene in her appreciation for the Lord Jesus? From that moment on, she’s going to devotedly follow him and minister to him. But that’s as far as we know of her history. And we can possibly suggest that she was the woman of chapter 7. And then, of course, we see her in Luke chapter 8 as the one devoted, serving the Lord Jesus. She was delivered. We’re not told exactly when she was delivered. We know she was satanically oppressed. We know that she was demon-possessed. And while none of us likely were demon-possessed, although some of my parents may have thought so.

[8:06] You’ll understand that all of us have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness, from the authority of darkness into the kingdom of the son of his love. So we’ve all had a deliverance. We’ve all been delivered from satanic power. One of the great aspects of redemption, Luke at Colossians chapter one tells us, giving thanks unto the father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the authority of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the son of his love. So one aspect of redemption is that we have been transferred out of one kingdom into another. We’ve crossed the line never to go back. So we are reminded just like Mary, we have all been delivered. She then began to serve. So I want to talk to you then about her devotion. She ministered. Prior to the cross, all we know is that she and other women ministered of their substance to the Lord. They enabled the Lord and his disciples to carry on their ministry and enabled the Lord Jesus to serve others and carry on as he did as we read of him in the Gospels. But then the next place we find her standing at the cross, identified with the cross, standing there with likely three other women and John. The disciples had fled.

[9:20] Some had cowered in fear. Here are women standing by the cross, devoted to a crucified Savior. We next find her following the body to the tomb. Interesting, the cortege that followed Christ. It’s interesting that the most despicable people on earth usually have a half dozen or a dozen people following their burial. The Lord Jesus had Nicodemus, Joseph, and two women. That was the funeral person that he had. In devotion, she’s there following the body. Then we’re told that she watched where the body was laid. She knew exactly where the tomb was. So there’d be no, all of this is of course to give credence and to give validity to her account of the resurrection. She knew the tomb he was in and we find her then first at the tomb in the morning, more devoted than the disciples, more concerned than the disciples. We don’t know. She came with women who brought spices and ointments.

[10:20] But she gave her all. One of the great examples of devotion in the Old Testament is a man named Jonathan. Everything he had, his royal robe, his sword, his bow, everything laid at the feet of David when he came up out of the Valley of Elah as a victor. His right to the throne, that was his kingly robe. His skill and ability, his bow and his sword, everything laid at David’s feet to be used by him. Here is a woman, and she is giving everything over for him for his glory and honor, her history. Something about her heart.

[10:56] As I mentioned already, in her devotion, she is first to the tomb. Before the disciples, before others, she comes to the tomb and finds the stone rolled away. Now, this woman was so occupied with Christ. She sees two angels. They don’t attract her attention. I mean, most of us, if we knew we were looking at angels, we’d have a great conversation. Not this woman. Something is greater than angels. Something is more important than angels. She wants to find the Christ, my Lord.

[11:28] She comes and again we’ve mentioned in contrast to Eve she’s faithful she’s devoted she’s sincere she owns him as her Lord. There are five individuals in scripture who call the Lord Jesus Christ my Lord. Only five, interesting where they you have David in the Old Testament right before Christ David ever came the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand so before ever he came, David owned him as Lord, my Lord. The next one, of course, is Elizabeth to Mary with the babe in the womb. Allow me to use the term reverently, the fetus growing in the womb. From whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord comes? So she owned the babe in the womb was her Lord. Then you’ve got Mary here, assuming him dead. She still thinks he is dead. And she’s owning the one who is dead is my Lord. Then you have Thomas at the end of this chapter my Lord and my God seeing him in resurrection and of course the fifth one is the Apostle Paul, he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. So before his birth at his birth, at his conception in the womb, as he is thinking he is dead in resurrection, in glory all of these individuals own his absolute supremacy and lordship My Lord. So we see her devotion, a heart that was occupied with Christ.

[12:58] He is moving here as the great high priest.

[13:04] You know what the first words the Lord Jesus Christ ever spoke in resurrection glory? We read them here. Woman, why weepest thou? A resurrected, glorified saint, interested, concerned with the tears of a woman in the garden.

[13:27] I said that the link with Psalm 23 is not accidental. It’s giving us some insight into what our shepherd is like right now. He’s interested in the tears of his people. He’s interested in the grief and the sorrows and the burdens and the cares, the tragedies and the unexplained issues of life that cause us to wonder at times. All of that comes for his attention, his concern, his care. Woman, why weepest thou? Imagine one resurrected in glory and honor, now just caring for a widow, rather a woman and her tears on this occasion. Three great statements punctuate the epistle to the Hebrews relative to the priesthood of Christ. He is able to sympathize. He is able to succor. He is able to save.

[14:16] Now, sometimes he saves us out of the trial. If he doesn’t do that, he may sucker us in the trial, giving us strength and grace. If he doesn’t do that, he sympathizes with us in the trial. So we have a high priest. You have a high priest. You have someone at God’s right hand who cares, who is able to sympathize, able to succor, able to save from every trial. So we’re reminded here of this high priest and his care and his suitability for every need. Of course, Hebrews reminds us that in the days of his flesh, he offered up strong cryings and tears. He knew what it was to endure trial. He knew what it was to shed tears. He knew what it was to face tremendous suffering, tremendous disdain, reproach, and shame. All of that he knew that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest. So we’re reminded here, we’re getting a glimpse and insight into his high priestly ministry in his dealings with Mary here in the garden.

[15:19] Think of the concern she expressed. Now, we don’t know anything about Mary’s physical appearance, physical stature, but she tells the man she thinks is the gardener, tell me where you’ve laid him and I’ll take him, I’ll carry him away. She’s not thinking of herself, not thinking of her limitations, such is her devotion to Christ. She overlooks all of her own limitations, all of her physical inability. She’s just set on trying to be able to serve and honor the Lord Jesus Christ in the way she could.

[15:50] Let me talk to you about her honor. We see her heart, absolutely devoted to Christ. Heart devotion to what she felt, what she knew was a dead Christ, a crucified dead Christ in it somewhere, his body lying somewhere else. She didn’t care. He was still her Lord and she still was devoted, still loved and still cared and would serve him any way she could. So it’s a challenge to us in our devotion. But then I want you to think about her honor that was given to her. Now, here’s where we come to what we’ve been mainly dealing with this week, the Lord Jesus changing relationships.

[16:31] Remember that he changed the relationship with his mother from a natural to a spiritual relationship, changed the relationship with the woman at the well from an unsatisfying relationship to a satisfying relationship. Six husbands or five husbands, one man, never satisfied, water of life will satisfy her now forever. The woman at the taken in adultery in chapter eight, the Lord Jesus Christ said, they’re go and sin no more. So he brought her into a sanctified relationship.

[17:00] And we’ve skipped over the two sisters, Mary and Martha, who thought if he had just been here, he could have saved their brother from death. He is going to show them he’s far greater than that, able to bring him out from the tomb, able to raise him from the dead. And then of course there is the supper, In the home, and Mary takes the pound of ointment and spikenard and anoints his feet, kisses them and so on, wipes them, all of that. So the Lord Jesus Christ there is shown to be more worthy than her brother. She could have used that ointment for her brother at his burial. More worthy than herself. She could have used it for herself. But she has saved it for the Lord Jesus, who is significant and special in her life. Then at the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ, again, the sixth woman is his mother again, Mary, at the cross. And the relationship he had with her, caring for her, likely responsible for her well-being, if indeed Joseph had died and she was a widow, now that’s going to be exchanged and given over to John to care for, and she will have a very supportive and secure relationship for the rest of her life with John. Let me just mention one thing about that before we leave John. And just as a help to younger believers, these are small indications of the absolute inspiration of Scripture.

[18:15] If I were John and I got Mary home in the home and we’re sitting out over a cup of tea or whatever, we’re drinking together. First thing I would ask Mary is, what was it like raising a perfect child? What was it like having a child that never disobeyed? Having a child that never said no? Having a child that never got its anger up? What was it like having a child like that? I know some of you have had those and it’s to your credit, the Lord bless you. But I think I would have asked Mary all those questions. And yet, John never records one detail about the life of the Lord Jesus prior to what we have in John chapter 1. Of course, he tells us of eternal being, but he never goes into any details about his childhood. Luke does that. John doesn’t. So the Spirit of God was controlling what he was writing, evidently and very, very definitely. So those are things that help us appreciate the very, very definite character and of inspiration in the Word of God. So let me talk to you then about her honor. First of all, her perception. She thought he was the gardener. Again, I’ve linked this with Genesis 3, but more than that, there is a sense in which he is the gardener of our souls.

[19:30] Both Isaiah and Jeremiah speak about our souls being like watered gardens, full of fragrance rare, we sing. He is the gardener who knows how to pull weeds. Now, the first thing he’s going to do is pull the weeds of ignorance. The disciples knew not, they didn’t believe yet. He’s going to have to deal with that weed. Here, he’s going to deal with another weed altogether, the need of needless worry and watching, the weed of unbelief, the weed of arrogance in Thomas, the weed of self-centeredness in Peter. He’s pulling weeds constantly. You remember the lovely illustration, Proverbs 24. Where he says he learned a lesson. He went by the field of the slothful and was overrun with weeds. The wall was broken down. The weeds were growing.

[20:22] That garden needed a wall, first of all, because what was outside the wall had come inside the garden now because the wall had gone down. So it needed the wall rebuilt. It needed watering. It needed weeding. It needed working. Reminds us, if your soul and my soul is going to be a well-watered garden, there needs to be a wall.

[20:43] Limits, separation. There needs to be watering. The Spirit of God needs to be work done, pulling weeds and recognizing what is hindering growth, what is contrary to God. Would you like your soul really to be a garden for God, fragrant, giving him pleasure, giving him delight as the fruit of the spirit is developed in our lives and all of that? So we’re reminded of that here. He is the gardener of our souls and he is able to indeed produce well-watered gardens by those who submit to him. So he was a gardener and he’s gonna pull weeds and all of the incidences that follow here in John 20 and in John chapter 21. As well, just notice with me as well that the Lord Jesus was standing and she didn’t recognize him. Now that’s interesting because in John’s gospel, we mentioned last evening, postures of the Lord Jesus. Wherever the Lord Jesus is found standing, he’s not recognized. Go back to chapter one. There stands one among you whom you know not. Okay? Okay, chapter 21, the Lord Jesus standing on the shore. The disciples knew not it was Jesus.

[21:53] Everywhere he’s standing, he’s not recognized, unknown. Here again, he’s not recognized. She was so overwhelmed with her grief. Now, whether it was that or just the fact that her eyes were holden for a moment that she couldn’t recognize him, perhaps her grief was overcoming her. And we learn a lesson.

[22:10] She did not recognize him until she turned from her grief. Now many times when we are in trial we get so occupied with our grief and our problems we fail to turn. You recall that Abraham turned to find the ram caught in the thicket, the Lord Jesus turned to look upon Peter when Peter was denying him in the high priest’s court. But different individuals had to turn. Moses had to turn aside and see this sight, the burning bush. We become so occupied, so obsessed with different things. Sometimes our problems, our grief, wondering why has the Lord done this? Why this trial? Why this burden? Why do I have it? We fail to turn and see the Lord is there all the time. He’s with us. So we’re reminded here that she didn’t recognize him at first, and she had to turn to see him. Certainly this woman was not spot on doctrinally but she was head of the class as far as devotion was concerned her heart was there. So I want to talk to you then about this new relationship that she is going to be charged with.

[23:25] The Lord Jesus Christ tells her, touch me not, don’t detain me. Now, it’s not the idea that he didn’t want to be touched because you recall later on, he says, touch me and see. A spirit hath not flesh and bone as you see me have. So it isn’t that there was something going with this touching her. She wanted to detain him. She wanted to keep him in the same relationship she had while he was here alive on earth prior to the cross. I want you just to be the same. Do you know that we are infinitely blessed by the fact that Christ has ascended and gone back to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. There has become infinite blessing to us. Put another way, we are far superiorly blessed by a risen ascended Christ than if he were here with us on earth today. If he had stayed on earth, I should say. If he had stayed on earth, never ascended, never occupied his place at God’s right hand, we would be much the poorer for it in all of the life that we enjoy now. There are four times in the epistle to Hebrews where we are reminded of a risen, seated, enthroned Christ.

[24:36] Interesting that Hebrews only once mentions his resurrection. Chapter 13, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep. It’s the only mention of resurrection, but his ascension, his glory, his enthronement, four different times. What is interesting is this. In all of those different times he ushered himself in. That means he on his own volition, walked into the throne room of God and sat himself down at God’s right hand.

[25:08] None of us would go into the Oval Office and sit ourselves down, right? I mean, first of all, if I’ve ever had an invitation, we do so very hesitantly, very gingerly, very apologetic. The Lord Jesus just walks right into heaven, into the throne room of heaven, sat himself down at God’s right hand, owned by God. So just mention these four different times. Chapter 1 of Hebrews. You recall how Hebrews begins. When he had by himself made purgation for sin, he sat down at the right hand of God from henceforth and so on.

[25:41] Hebrews chapter one tells us, first of all, here is the sovereign fit to reign. He sat himself down at God’s right hand. He has God’s final word, God’s finished work, the one who created the world. Now he comes and sits down at God’s right hand. He is fit to reign. He is the one who will one day take the authority, the reins of government and rule this world for God. He’s fit. Then you come to chapter number six, or rather chapter number eight, and we find he has sat down. This is the chief thing I want to tell you, Paul says. Here’s the chief principle I want to leave with you. We have such a high priest sat down on the right hand of the majesty of the throne on high. What’s he dealing with there? The covenant and all the blessings we have. Every blessing we have is guaranteed by the fact there is a man who was here, went to a cross, was buried, rose again, ascendedis at God’s right hand, and his presence there is the absolute guarantee that God is going to fulfill every part of his promises to us and all the covenant blessings. Now, I know covenant made with Israel, primarily we have come into the spiritual blessings of that covenant and all those blessings are guaranteed to us. From their sins and iniquities, I’ll remember no more. A new heart I will give them. We’ve come into the good of that now, the spiritual blessing of it, all because he has ascended and seated at God’s right hand enthroned there.

[26:59] Chapter 10 tells us that he sat down, not the idea never to rise again, but sat down forever at God’s right hand. The idea that he never will rise up to do that work of salvation again tells us the work is finished, a completed work, an exceptional high priest, the eternal rest he gives, efficacious sacrifice. So the man at God’s right hand who is seated on the throne, he’s there as proof the work is done, that your salvation and mine is complete. Nothing can ever touch it. Hebrews speaks of an eternal salvation, an eternal redemption, an eternal inheritance, an eternal covenant.

[27:37] You can’t get much more than that. All because he is seated at God’s right hand. And then in chapter 12, that chapter that complements chapter 11 of the long list of heroes of faith, reminded of Lord Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of a life of faith, who now has endured the cross, despised the shame, sat down at God’s right hand. What’s he telling us there?

[28:01] All the heroes of Hebrews 11, great men, lovely, and women as well. But there’s one who eclipsed them all. Not a moment of faith, not an act of faith, but a life of faith, constantly. He willingly endured the cross. Now, when it says he despised the shame, it’s not that he hated it. He thought little of it. Despising the shame is the idea of not counting it very, very much because of what would come from it. Because he was able to sit down at God’s right hand, God is reminding us there is compensation for a life of faithfulness. There is compensation for faithfulness and suffering and being faithful to the will of God. He has sat down at God’s right hand, the perfect example of a life of faith, the prospect that enabled him, the price he paid, all of that there. He is the one who sits at God’s right hand. Because of that, now Hebrews opens up to us other things as well. Chapter 10, having therefore brethren boldness for an entrance into the holiness by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh. Because the Lord Jesus Christ took flesh into heaven inside the veil the veil is not the flesh the veil is that tabernacle separating separation he took flesh within the veil a real man in heaven that means you and i can move freely in the sanctuary above.

[29:21] I know we lose sight of it. I lose sight of it. I’m sure you do as well. But when you bow your knee by your bedside, or when you gather together on the Lord’s Day morning, you are not remembering the Lord here in this hall in Midland Park. This is not our sanctuary. Our sanctuary is in heaven.

[29:40] It’s because he’s there that’s become our sanctuary. I have to confess to you, I had an electrician. This is a long before my son-in-law was able to do these things. He was looking at our hall and looking at something that had to be fixed. And he says, let me see your sanctuary. And I should have told them, our sanctuary. I can’t show you it. It’s above. It’s not here. But you understand. I knew what he meant. But anyway, when you bow your knees, you are actually in the presence of God. Now, I know we can hardly begin to grasp the reality of that. We become so accustomed just going through the motions. But when you bow your knee, you are in the presence of your father because he has made it possible for us to enter because he brought flesh, a man in heaven. So a man in heaven has given me absolute freedom to move within the presence of God. A man in heaven taking a body into heaven assures my future. He brought a body into heaven. He’s gonna bring other bodies into heaven someday. All of that is assured by a living man in heaven who’s there now for us. But come back with me now to what the Lord Jesus Christ says. In chapter 10, there as he speaks, or rather in chapter 20, as he speaks to Mary, he says, touch me not, I have not yet ascended to my father. Go to my father, go to my brethren, I ascend to my father and your father, my God and your God.

[31:06] The Lord Jesus Christ gives Mary Magdalene the honor of being an apostle to the apostles. She has a message to bring to them. Now, we may not think this message is so great. I would take it this is the first time the Lord Jesus Christ clearly indicates, the fatherhood of God for all believers. Now, I know he spoke, for example, in the Sermon on the Mount, other places, you know, your father in heaven knows you have need of these things. More of a general idea. And of course, when you come to the nation of Israel, no one in Israel ever spoke of God as my father. He was a father of the nation. No one ever spoke of him as being my father. But the unique relationship that now exists between believers and God in heaven, ushered in by the resurrection and ascension of Christ. I ascend to my father and your father. As a result of my ascension, spirit of God will come, gifts poured out, but also this, this wonderful relationship individually. My father, your father, my God, your God. So let me just mention a few things. The fatherhood of God, I enjoy an established relationship. I enjoy an established relationship with the Father in heaven.

[32:17] He’s given me the spirit of sonship. We’ve been indwelt by the spirit of his son. John writes, truly our fellowship is with the father and with his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. And then Jude reminds us we’re sanctified by the father. So here’s a relationship I’m able to enjoy all because Christ has ascended and he has announced, don’t detain me. Our relationship is gonna be different now. It’s no longer a relationship of a servant and someone you serve, but I am now going to ascend into heaven and you will have a totally new relationship with divine persons. You will have a father personal interest in you, a personal father. So he established a relationship that I enjoy. Think of the enjoyment of the blessings that we have because he is our father. He is our father. Now you can, it’s hard to begin yet enumerating them. Just mention a few, for example. First of all, Ephesians three and one, Ephesians one and three rather, who’s blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ. Now, don’t gloss over that too quickly. What that is actually saying is that because of Christ and his relationship established now as our father, he is able to bless us with every blessing, the infinite heart of God, the infinite wisdom of God could ever give to human beings.

[33:37] That means no big surprises when you get to heaven. God has given us every blessing he can give us. Now, we haven’t entered into them all yet. We don’t appreciate them all yet. We don’t live in the good of them all yet. But he’s given us every blessing he could possibly give. Nothing’s been held back. Nothing is somehow in reserve if we’re good boys and good girls. Remember that we stand on God’s mercy and grace every step of life. Never do we merit anything. And so we’re reminded then of the enjoyment of the blessings we have. 2 Corinthians 6, recall after Paul enjoins the believers, come out from among them, be separate, touch not the unclean thing and all the unequal yokes that he speaks of there. Then God says, I will be a father unto them. They will be my sons and daughters. What’s he saying?

[34:21] Anything that an individual sacrifices out of devotion and faithfulness to God, God will compensate, compensate. Now it doesn’t mean he’ll compensate in the same currency that you lost. For example, you may give up a lucrative position in a job somewhere so that you can be close to an assembly. You can be a help in the assembly. You may give up a promotion because it’s going to take too much of your time and you want to give more of your time to the Lord. It doesn’t mean the Lord’s going to give you money as a compensation, but he will compensate. It may be with opening truth to you. It may be opening doors of usefulness for you, whatever it may be. God will always compensate. So we’re reminded there, he will be a father unto you and you will be my sons and daughters. Then again, 2 Thessalonians chapter two, reminds us he has loved us with an everlasting love and as well through consolation and good hope. 1 Peter has begun to sing unto a living hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead. So you go on and on. The relationship that’s established, the enjoyment of blessings that we have, the experience of liberty. Paul reminds us that in one spirit, we both have access to the Father. Access to the Father. I don’t even have access to the mayor of my town, much less the governor or the president, okay? We’ve got access to the father, liberty to enter because of Christ because of an enthroned living man in heaven of course.

[35:48] Giving thanks unto the Father who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Our Father, the fatherhood of God, embraces the fact he has made us absolutely fit for his presence eternally.

[36:03] No apology, no brushing up needed, nothing needed to change us other than the right transformation at the rapture. But you’ll understand, we are already fit for God’s presence. He’s made us meet. So the fatherhood of God has brought us tremendous blessings. The ascendancy and enthronement of Christ has brought us incredible blessings. Think of all that comes to us because Christ is enthroned. Remember he said that he could not send the Holy Spirit unless he went himself and ascended. Ephesians chapter four reminds us, as a risen head, as the glorified head of the church, he’s received gifts to give. So your very ability, your usefulness for God, whatever little role God has given each of us to do is fruit of the ascended Christ, of the glorified ascended Christ. God has enthroned him, given him the highest place above. So we’re reminded then of all of this, this new relationship we have with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. But as well, along with the fact that he says, detain me not, I’ve not yet ascended, which he had to do to my Father and your Father, my God and your God, there’s the implication here of a new brotherhood being formed. Now he’s made that clear earlier in chapter 17, but also here now he’s reinforcing it. You will be brothers and sisters together. My God and your God, my Father, your Father, or you’re part of a family. So that brings me then to family responsibilities.

[37:22] This new relationship imposes responsibility and obligations upon me. Over 34 times, I think that’s a pretty accurate number.

[37:35] Over 34 times there are one another statements in the New Testament. Fourteen of them are love one another. Four in John, the Gospel of John, in the upper room, the remainder, I think, in John’s epistles. Love one another. That’s not the only one. We are told to provoke one another. Now, some of us are very good at that, but the literal meaning is to stir each other up to good works and to encourage each other. So we are to provoke one another. We are to exhort one another, comfort one another, edify one another, honor one another, serve one another. So I have tremendous obligation to every believer with whom I have a relationship. So now, how are you doing with loving one another? You say, well, people don’t love me. The amazing thing about love is love never looks for love.

[38:30] Love is always unidirectional, at least the agape love of God. And the love that we’re enjoying to have, always in a new direction, always something that goes out, never looking for anything in return. So the moment I say no one loves me, I am really showing that I fail to love. I’m looking for something rather than willing to give. So how are you doing with loving one another? That means that we mentioned that already, seeking each other’s blessing, seeking each other’s welfare, seeking to advance each other’s spiritual life. What about edifying one another? What about edifying one another?

[39:04] Ever, maybe I guess I’m mainly talking now to older believers, ever hone in on a young family, a young couple, or even a young believer unmarried? And how can I help? How can I encourage them? How can I strengthen them? They are living in a world that those of us who are now retired and older have no idea what it’s like. The things that were hardly spoken about in school at cafeteria tables, whispered about, are now the subject of open conversation and boasting. Who scored this weekend? Okay. And what new drug are you using? Just normal conversation. Part of the everyday subject matter in school. They are faced with temptation beyond explanation. They are faced with sexual temptation, moral temptation, drug temptation, alcohol temptation. All of that is just rampant, open, obvious in all of the schools. Now, I know if you go to a Christian school, homeschooled, you’re preserved in some measure. Not totally, but in some measure.

[40:18] They are facing tremendous pressure. Young people need encouragement, need edification, need to be helped in their Christian life. And they don’t get that just coming and listening to sermons like I’m giving you. They need personal one-on-one attention. So edifying others, being a help to them, exhorting one another, encouraging one another. The ministry of encouragement is something desperately needed. We all need encouragement because everything is so discouraging. Life is discouraging. Our own personal lives can get very discouraging at times. Family life can be discouraging.

[40:53] So anyone here interested in taking up the ministry of encouragement, not flattery, not a matter of flattering people, not a matter of saying what’s not true, not a matter of giving trophies to everybody who plays in the game. There are still winners, there are still losers, but there is the ability to try to encourage with words that lift people up instead of dragging them down. The apostle Paul, perhaps the greatest evangelist ever lived, he needed encouragement. And he says about a man named Onesiphorus, He was like a breath of fresh air to me. He sought me out very diligently. The stench and squalor of the prison in Rome, not in his hired house, but when he was imprisoned in Rome, in the Mamertine prison.

[41:39] Its filth, its conditions were legendary, yet he sought them out. Had there was no directory to find them, he would have to go from hole to hole, literally, they were in holes in the ground, hole to hole to find the apostle Paul. And he encouraged them in some way. Tremendous ministry to be able to make an encouragement of the people of God. And on and on you could go with all that is required, all that is mentioned of loving one another and so on. So we all have a responsibility. Part of what the Lord Jesus Christ revealed and his ascension. Part of the new relationship he’s establishing with Mary Magdalene is the fact that she now will have a heavenly father who will care for her individually, but as well, she has a brotherhood, a family that needs to be attended to. And each one of us have a responsibility, one to the other, to be a help and encouragement in our spiritual lives. Mary Magdalene, relationship changed. A relationship that we have come into the good of as well. We have a gardener who cares for our souls. We have a shepherd who cares for us as well. We have a Lord whom we worship. All of that. And we have one who has linked us with a father and with one another so that we might serve and honor him in our lives. Trust God will bless his word and encourage us all in light of the divine truth we have looked at. Shall we pray?

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