HE+ Opened Their EYES ...

Resurrection Season

Day 12

of the 40 Days 

The LORD Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA

spent with His+ Disciples,

in His+ Glorified Body,

AFTER HIS+ RESURRECTION !

+  +  +

Knowing that M'SHIKHA+

being raised from the dead 

dieth no more;

Death 

hath no more dominion  

over HIM+.

Romans 6: 9

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How

Did HE+ Open Their Eyes ?

 And it came to pass,

as HE+ sat at meat with them,

 HE+ took bread,  and blessed it,

and brake,  and gave to them.

 

And their eyes were opened,

and they knew HIM+ !

 and HE+ vanished

out of their sight.

Luke 24: 30-31, 

The men of the Company of Y'SHU+, walking to Emmaus

 

Let us notice what Y'SHU+ did to open their spiritual eyes.

• HE+ sat with them.

• HE+ took Bread.

• HE+ blessed it.

• HE+ brake it.

• HE+ gave it to them.

HE+ instituted the Bread and Wine as His+ Body and Blood during the Last Passover meal HE+ kept with His+ Disciples.

That unleavened Bread was His+ Body, broken for us.

And when HE+ had given thanks,

HE+ brake it, and said,

 

Take, eat: this is My+ Body,

Which is broken for you:

this do in remembrance of ME+.

I Corinthians 11:24

 

How do WE

open the spiritual eyes

of those around us ?

We must do the same thing for others

which Our LORD did for us. 

 

• We must be with them ... in some way, making some kind of contact with them.

• We take BREAD with us... that is , the Body of our LORD Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA. This is not BREAD from wheat, but HE+ that lives within us, goes along with us in our contact.

 

HE+ is THE  Bread+ of Life

and HIM+ we take with us to share.

• We ask HIM+ to bless --- to sanctify and multiply --- this, His+ Bread of Life, that accompanies us wherever we go... and with whomever we are around.

• We break this Bread+ that lives within us.

  How ? 

• We go the second mile, we take the lowest seat, we turn the other cheek, we render good for evil. We share the Truth in love. ( Love is not "love" without Truth .) In short, we pick up our Cross also, and die daily.

• And in so doing, we GIVE others the Bread+ of Life, the broken Body of our LORD M'SHIKHA+.

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In any situation, people will give Followers of Y'SHU+ their attention WHEN they see them turn the other cheek, WHEN they see them go the second mile, WHEN they actually witness someone returning good for evil. The witness of the Broken Bread+, the Broken Body of the M'SHIKHA+ , goes forth.

That kind of witness speaks

LOUDER THAN WORDS.

For some, it will draw them to HIM+. For others, it will cause them to ponder why someone turned the other cheek when he did not have to.

That may chase some people away, but it will bother them in one way or another the rest of their life; they will not forget it because it is incomprehensible to them.

But the natural man receiveth not the things

of the SPIRIT of GOD:

 

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.

I Corinthians 2:14

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We "open" the spiritual eyes of others when we WALK like Y'SHU+ walked, laying down His+ rights, His+ Life , for the unrighteous ... such as we were and sometimes still are.

He that saith he abideth in HIM+

ought himself also so to walk,

even as HE+ walked.

1 John 2:6,

Courtesy of Bible Gateway.com

When we lay down our “rights”, when we refuse to retaliate in order to obey Y'SHU+, and follow His+ example, the Witness for HIM+ goes forth.

It is the LOUDEST witness we can give. It is also the SUREST witness we can give; there is no doctrine that can refute it.

There is no confusion about Whom+ we follow... when we do that. Others know immediately that we are NOT of the world.

Immediately, their eyes are opened to this one Truth:  There is something DIFFERENT about us. 

WHAT is it that makes us different ?

It is Who+ we follow.

 

Then Y'SHU+ said unto them,

Verily, verily, I+  say unto you,

Moses gave you not that bread from Heaven;

but My+  FATHER giveth you

the true Bread from Heaven.

For the BREAD+ of GOD is HE+

which cometh down from Heaven,

and giveth life unto the world.

Then said they unto HIM+, LORD,

evermore give us this bread.

And Y'SHU+ said unto them,

I+  am

the BREAD+ of Life:

HE+ that cometh to ME+

shall never hunger;

and HE+ that believeth on ME+

shall never thirst.

John 6: 32-35

Scriptures courtesy of Bible Gateway.com

+  +  +

Their EYES Were HOLDEN ...

Day 9

of the 40 Days

of the Resurrection Season

 

when The RISEN LORD Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA

appeared to His+ Company of believers

in His+ Risen, Glorified Body

which could never die again.

 

Their Eyes Were Holden ...

 

The men walking to Emmaus had a problem: their eyes were holden and they could not recognize The RISEN Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA.

 

  But their eyes were holden

that they should not know HIM+.

Luke 24:16

 

The men, one named Cleopas, were of the Company who followed Y'SHU+ and who were with the band of disciples gathered together the First Day of the week. They were present when the women reported that they had seen an Angel who told them HE+ had risen from the dead and was ALIVE !

 

 HE+ is not here, but is risen:

remember how HE+ spake unto you

when HE+ was yet in Galilee,

 

Saying,

The SON+ of Man must be delivered

into the hands of sinful men,

and be crucified,

and the third day rise again.

 

And they remembered His+ words,

 

And returned from the sepulchre,

and told all these things unto the eleven,

and to all the rest.

 

It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna,

and Mary the mother of James,

and other women that were with them,

which told these things unto the apostles.

 

And their words seemed to them

as idle tales,

and they believed them not.

Luke 24: 6-11

 

The two men were present when Peter ran to the tomb and found it empty and reported back to the Company of believers.

 

 Then arose Peter,

and ran unto the sepulchre;

 

and stooping down,

he beheld the linen clothes

laid by themselves,

 

and departed,

wondering in himself

at that which was come to pass.

Luke 24:12

 

Then, these two followers of Y'SHU+ embarked on a journey to Emmaus, a village about 7 miles away. As they walked, The RISEN M'SHIKHA+ drew near and joined Himself+ to them ... but they did not recognize HIM+ !

 

It was fully day, for the women and Peter had come and gone from the sepulchre and reported back to the Company about their findings ... likely, with a storm of discussion... which would have given time for the sun to rise.

 

As the men walked in daylight with the unrecognized but RISEN LORD, HE+ asked them what manner of things were they discussing as they walked, being sad ?

 

After Cleopas exclaimed his surprise that this "stranger" was unaware of what had happened at the Passover, the two men expounded to HIM+ the events of the Crucifixion plus the reports of the Empty Tomb. It was the third day since all these terrible things happened.  

 

The surprising response of this "stranger" to their explanations was:

 

O fools,

and slow of heart to believe all

that the prophets have spoken:

 

Ought not The M'SHIKHA+

to have suffered these things,

and to enter into His+ glory?

Luke 24:25-26

 

Then HE+ expounded to them the Scriptures from Moses and all the prophets concerning the M'SHIKHA+, Himself+.

 

However, their eyes were still holden ... and they yet did NOT recognize The RISEN LORD being with them and talking to them.

 

Do we recognize HIM+ 

when HE+ is among us today...

 

or are our eyes so fixated

on knowing ABOUT HIM+

that we do not discern

His+ Presence ?

 

Are our eyes so fixed on the things of this world...

 

that we cannot discern His+ Voice

from other voices...

especially the voice

of our own troubles

and concerns ?

 

When The RISEN LORD called these two serious-minded and sad believers "FOOLS !" , it was a stern rebuke, one of the hardest rebukes HE+ spoke in the New Testament.

 

Un-belief ,

even when in grief, sadness, and confusion,

earned these two believers

HIS+ stern rebuke

for their stubbornness.

 

+  +  +  

 

We do not know WHY they refused to believe the report that HE+ had risen from the dead and was ALIVE and had indeed appeared to the women, whom they all scoffed at. We can only surmise that they were still in shock and heart-broken.

 

That was no excuse,

according to

The LORD'S up-braiding !

 Yet, in His+ great mercy and kindness, The RISEN Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA opened their eyes at the Breaking of Bread, His+ Body.

 

What "eyes" ? 

 

HE+ opened the eyes

of their hearts

so they could "see"

with their spirit

 

WHO+ HE+ was,

The LIVING LORD 

Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA

standing there among them

... all that time.

+  +  + 

 

DEAR LORD Y'SHU+,

 

Open my eyes that I may see YOU+ instead of the things that crowd YOU+ out of my vision.

 

Open my eyes that I may see YOU+ instead of my troubles and concerns that loom so large.

 

Help me to stop focusing upon this temporary world and its crushing and certain evil and rather, let me see YOUR+ hand fulfilling prophecy for YOUR+ soon return.

 

I want to know YOU+, O my LORD Y'SHU+, not simply know things about YOU+.

 

Be THOU+ my vision, O LORD Y'SHU+, I pray,

 

for YOU+ have risen from the dead

and YOU+ are LORD. 

Every knee shall bow,

every tongue confess

that Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA is LORD !

 

Amen and amen,

and thankfully so !

+  +  +

30 DAYS ... And Counting.... in this Glorious RESURRECTION Season..

Today is DAY 30 of the  "40 days and nights"  Our Risen LORD Y'SHU+ haM'SHIKHA spent with His+ Disciples, coming and going among them, teaching them those things concerning the Kingdom of GOD, opening unto them the Scriptures concerning HIMSELF+. 

Can we just IMAGINE how filled with JOY and HOPE His+ followers were... those same ones who had heard HIM+ teach, who had walked with HIM+ daily, and who saw HIM+ die ?  

Forty Days and Nights are a LONG TIME  for our Resurrected LORD Y'SHU+ to spend here on earth, appearing at will behind closed and locked doors,   disappearing at will , and even eating...  to the awe of His+ Disciples. 

We have only come to Day 30 yet from the Glorious Resurrection Day,  counting down to ASCENSION DAY.    Here is a laud with which to worship Our Risen LORD: 

A  SONG to The LAMB+

(Revelation 4:11, 5: 9-10, 13 )

 

Splendor and honor 

and kingly power

are YOURS by Right, 

O LORD our GOD,

 

For You created 

everything that is,

and by Your will 

they were created

and have their being;  

 

And Yours by right, 

O LAMB+ that was slain, 

for with Your Blood 

You have redeemed for GOD ,

from every family, languages, people, and nation,

a Kingdom of Priests 

to serve our GOD.

 

 And so,   

to HIM 

Who sits upon the Throne

and to  

The M'SHIKHA+ the LAMB+,

be worship and praise,

dominion and splendor, 

for ever and for evermore. 

(BCP , Morning Prayer II, pg 93-94)   

RESURRECTION ! Season ~ Day 10 Meditations ~ John 10:17

I+ have not yet ASCENDED to My+ FATHER

RESURRECTION SEASON 

~ Day 10, Meditations

[ The Resurrection Season was not limited to Resurrection Sunday. It lasted until Ascension Day.  This Resurrection "season" was the 40 days and 40 nights the Resurrected LORD Y'SHU+ ha M'SHIKHA  spent with His+ disciples--- in His+ glorified body ---, teaching them things and opening their understanding unto the Scriptures  which told about HIM+. 

These Scriptures, of course, were the Prophets and Patriarchs and Psalms found in the Old Covenant because ... the New had not yet been written. ]

John 20:17

Y'SHU+ said unto her [ Mary Magdalene ],

Touch ME+ not;

for I+ am not yet ascended

to My+ FATHER:

but go to My+ brethren,

and say unto them,

I+ ascend

unto My+ FATHER,

and your FATHER;

and to My+ GOD,

and your GOD.

+  +  +

MEDITATION

There was a lot of movement ... A LOT of movement... going on between earth and Heaven during the days of His+ immediate Resurrection.

In this passage, we see the Resurrected Y'SHU+ meeting one of the Sisters of their company who came to the tomb bringing spices for His+ proper burial. 

She was over-joyed to see HIM+ ! 

We will be too.

However, notice what HE+ told her: 

"... I+ have

NOT YET ASCENDED

to My+ FATHER ... "

So, Our LORD Y'SHU+ had just arrived --- supernaturally --- from Hades / Sheol  back to the grave and supernaturally re-entered His+ Body --- now glorified via Power from on High --- and was en route to the Heavenly realm to present Himself+ to His+ Heavenly FATHER ! 

HE+ had not yet returned unto His+ Heavenly FATHER when HE+ encountered this Christian sister outside of the tomb.

Notice this: The Apostle John's account focuses only on one of the three women who went early to the tomb to bring spices. THIS WOMAN, Mary Magdelene, was told "not to touch HIM+. "   

The account in Matthew 28:1-9 mentions only two women ( Mary Magdelene and the other Mary )... and when HE+ met THEM, THEY ( notice the plural ) held HIM+ by the feet !

In Luke 24:10, three women are mentioned by name. This account has Joanna included in the women who followed HIM+ from Galilee. 

In The Apostle John's account, HE+ gave her an obedience to perform: she was to carry a message to the disciples, an IMPORTANT message.

HE+ called them BRETHREN. HE+ told them HE+ was ascending to their FATHER and GOD... which was HIS+ FATHER and GOD !

HE+ reminded His+ followers that they remained  His+ FAMILY.  HE+ had told them much earlier that those who obeyed were "in the Family."

Matthew 12:47-50 ( See also Mark 3:31-35 and Luke 8: 19-21 )

Then one said unto HIM+,

Behold, Thy+ mother and

Thy+ brethren stand without,

desiring to speak with THEE+.

But HE+ answered

and said unto him that told HIM+,

Who is My+ mother?

and who are My+ brethren?

And HE+ stretched forth

His+ Hand toward His+ disciples,

and said,

Behold

My+ mother and My+ brethren!

For whosoever shall do the Will

of My+ FATHER

WHO is in Heaven,

the same is

My+ brother,

and sister,

and mother.

+  +  +

  

From Tertullian*** ~ "Against Praxeas" ( See notes below the quote).

“   Y'SHU+ saith unto her,

“Touch ME+ not,

for I+ am not yet ascended to My+ FATHER;

but go to My+ brethren” ...

(and even in this HE+ proves Himself+ to be the SON+; for if HE+ had been The FATHER, HE+ would have called them His+ children, (instead of His+ brethren),

... “and say unto them,

I+ ascend unto

My+ FATHER and your FATHER,

and to My+ GOD and your GOD.”

Now, does this mean, I+ ascend as The FATHER to The FATHER, and as GOD to GOD?

Or as The SON+ to The FATHER, and as the WORD+ to GOD?

Wherefore also does this Gospel, at its very termination, intimate that these things were ever written, if it be not, to use its own words,

“that ye might believe

that Y'SHU+ ha M'SHIKHA

is the SON+ of GOD?”

 ...   ...   ...

For these things certainly are NOT written that you may believe that Y'SHU+ ha M'SHIKHA   is The FATHER, but The SON+. ”

~ end of Tertullian’s quote.

+  +  +

*** Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3., Tertullian, Part Second, # 7 Against Praxeas, chapter 25, page 621, from the edition: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., Peabody, MA, 2nd printing, June 1995. 

***  Tertullian was a Christian apologist from Carthage, North Africa, c. 160-230. He wrote in Latin.

**** Praxeas taught the heresy that it was The FATHER Who descended into the virgin, was born and put to death, etc. , in an un-balanced effort to unify The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT, making the three as one person instead of one essence or substance.  See footnote #1, chapter 1, pg. 597.   In contrast, the Early Christians said that The FATHER sent His+ Eternal WORD+, the SON+,  to become human flesh for the suffering of death in order to redeem the human race. The FATHER did not leave Heaven.

+  +  +

LET US PRAY...

HOLY FATHER of Our LORD Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA and of us... yes, Our dear, Heavenly FATHER also...

We come to THEE through the Victorious Name of Thy SON+ Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA, Who+ loved us and gave His+ Life for us. 

Thank YOU for the Resurrection Victory YOU gave as a commandment to YOUR SON+ Y'SHU+ in WHOM+ YOU were well pleased. YOU gave HIM+ the authority to lay down His+ Life and the authority to take IT+ again... as a commandment.

O LORD, the M'SHIKHA+, we have been born anew into Thy+ Royal Family.  Help us so to walk in obedience that we may REMAIN in Thy+ Family , both now and forever.

Increase our faith. Help us to trust that Resurrection Power is there to keep us when lay down our Self, our lives unto THEE+. Help us to trust that same Resurrection Power that promises we will NOT be destroyed if we walk as YOU+ walked on earth, as an obedient SON+.

Help us not to fear embracing meekness, humbleness, and lowliness, knowing that YOU+, O LORD, have walked the valley of humiliation first and came forth VICTORIOUS.

Help us to embrace the humility of heart that is required of Thy+ Brethren, O LORD, the M'SHIKHA+.

Then, we will know Thy+ Peace, as Thy+ Resurrection Power descends upon the meek and lowly of heart.

Yes, LORD, we want to be called "Thy+ Brethren" ... both here and in the Heavenlies.

In the glorious Name of our Resurrected LORD Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA ... Whom+ death could not conquer and hell could not hold... we pray. Amen.

+  +  +