17 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.’” John 21:17 NIV
The angel said it first to those looking for Jesus in His tomb, “He is not here, He is risen!.” Then like a perfectly executed baton handoff in a relay race the angel said, “NOW, YOU GO AND TELL that He is risen.” In the book of Matthew, it records that the women went immediately to share the message with great fear and joy.
Many today will speak that wonderful message to those we love. Some will hear it repeated in song and preaching in churches. Some have advertised it on radio, tv and other social media. Some will send out text to friends literally all over the world. Praise the Lord for the privilege to share the good news again and again that Jesus over came death for us.
BUT that is only half of the message. Most will ask, “Okay, He rose again. What difference does that make for me?”
Jesus statement in our verse today reveals the shift that occurs because and by his resurrection…a heavenly adoption change in our relationships. Listen to Jesus words…”Go to my brothers”. Jesus is our Lord and Savior, yet He says that we are now his brother (and sisters). All the promises that were available to Jesus from His Father are now available to us as His siblings. Paul said we are coheirs with Christ. This is a reality because the resurrected Jesus called us members of the same family.
Jesus also told them that God was their Father. The penalty of sin had been removed that was blocking the connectedness to God. We no longer have to hide in fear like Adam did because of his sin. Jesus has removed the barrier of shame so we have open access to our loving heavenly Father. Oh the joy of being the recipient of unconditional love from the very core of Father, God.
Happy Easter, Jesus is risen, He is now my brother and God is my Father! It doesn’t have quite the same jingle as your Hallmark card, but it includes the “whole good news message”. Go and tell.
Blessings Love y’all