Next-Level Relationship
April 11, 2023
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:16-18
In this first appearance of the risen Lord we hear Jesus give Mary a very special message for his disciples. It is comforting to see how lovingly he speaks of them despite their failure three days prior in his hour of need. He is ready to go forward and further with them. The plan has not changed, in fact it is ready to go into a much higher gear.
Jesus’ words here are so very interesting. Note that he refers to them as ‘my brothers’ and is at pains to use the word ‘your’. “I am going to my father and YOUR father, my God and YOUR God.” He is sending the disciples a key message in this cryptic statement, emphasizing a shift in the status of their relationship with God and therefore with Him. Something profound had taken place in the last few days.
Previously in conversations with the disciples Jesus spoke of ‘the Father’ or ‘my Father’. Now He reveals that the Cross and the Resurrection have effected something marvellous. They have now become sons of God and ‘joint heirs’ with Him… ‘my father and your father’
What the blood of bulls and goats could not do, the blood of Jesus accomplishes (Heb 10:4). Jesus’ perfect sacrifice did not only cleanse our sin but gave us his righteousness putting us in right relationship with God---permanently. It accomplished our adoption as sons and daughters. We are in the family, back home where we belong. We now relate to God as Jesus does. Jesus is our ‘elder brother’ whose generosity in paying our debt opened the door for his brothers and sisters to enjoy the relationship he has with the Father.
God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Gal 4:5-7 )
Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. (Heb 2:11)
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” —(Rom 8:29)
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. (Rom 8:15-17)
After the strange events of Passion Week would life just ‘go back to normal’? The disciples may have been thinking so as they processed their disappointment, but Mary’s message from Jesus would indicate otherwise. No more normal. When the transcendent touches us there is no going back. They had entered a new reality without even knowing it, and that would change the course of their lives.
What about us? Easter weekend is over. Is it back to business as usual? Surely not. As sons and daughters of God there is still much to explore in this next-level relationship and much to do in His name.
Dahlia Fraser
