Until The Son of Man Has Risen

Having received over the past two days, references, living evidence from Jesus Himself and His faithful, loyal and obedient servants, we turn to some very curious words which Jesus spoke to three of His disciples before His Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.

These three disciples were Peter, James and John, who accompanied Jesus when He went to be transfigured.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9: 9

Jesus spoke about His Resurrection on several occasions. In speaking about His Rising from the dead, we must realize and understand that He is also speaking about His Rising from the earth, back into heaven. Just as there is no death for the Son of Man without Him being raised from the dead, so too it is unarguable and indisputably so, that He will rise and return to heaven, after He has been raised from the grave.

Let’s receive more from this instruction given by Jesus to the Three. From among the Twelve, Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them up, as they ascended a very high mountain, where they were all alone. It is there, on that very high, faraway place that Jesus was transfigured before their mesmerized eyes. What did the Three see? What did they hear? What really were they made to witness there on that very high mountain? Whatever it was, they were instructed by their Master to be non-telling witnesses, until the appointed and appropriate time.

Doesn’t your mind go back to other disciples, disciples of John, who were made witnesses to truth about Jesus by Jesus Himself, but who were instructed by Jesus to go and tell? Go back and report to John what you hear and see. Matthew 11: 4. What did they hear and see? These disciples of John heard and saw miracles – supernatural works of Jesus – taking place before their amazed eyes. They saw Jesus in action as blind people received sight, lame people walked, lepers were cured, dead people were raised, and the poor were able to hear the Good News preached to them. Jesus wanted them to see His works more than they wanted to see them. Jesus specifically and deliberately made them firsthand witnesses.

Pause for a moment here and listen to what the Spirit is saying to you, and revealing to you, right now. Yes, Jesus is lifting the spirits of these disciples of John, their master who is now in prison. He is lifting the level of knowledge of Himself in these disciples. It is perfectly true that John taught his disciples and others about Jesus, the Promised Messiah. He even pointed Jesus out to them, so that these disciples have knowledge about Jesus. But today is different, Jesus has given them ascension or ‘ascended them’ in personal teaching, testimony and telling. Indeed, in this still moment, as we too are being made witnesses to our Lord’s revealing, through the Holy Spirit, we accept His uplifting, however He wishes to so do.

As we continue tomorrow, we are even more submissive to the Spirit’s promptings.