Celestial Concerns

Before Christ's crucifixion there were a few years of His going around and performing miracles, talking to the masses of people who gathered around Him and talking and teaching His twelve apostles what they were to do and how best to do it. During this time not much was written
about Jesus Christ. That stands to reason. They were listening and learning from His every word.

Then there was the crucifixion. And Jesus Christ's appearing to His apostles as a heavenly being. The first coming as it were. He was alive and talking to them even though a couple days ago He was dead. This was a watershed event in the apostles life. They then realized, for the first time, that they would never die. Jesus had shown them just exactly what He had been talking about all the time.

Then they began writing about His life, what He had said and what He had done without any fear of dying. Sure, many of them knew that they would die a temporary death down here on earth, but they knew about everlasting life now because of Jesus. They were not afraid.

And Christianity was born. The desciples travelled around the known world and spread the gospel according to Christ with a fire in their belly. They had written as much as they could remember about Jesus. It became something brand new. They did an exceedingly good job getting Christianity started. They were confident of their reward to come.

That's only half the story. After Christ was risen from the grave, the first person He saw was Mary Magdalene. Why in the world would some of the first words out of His mouth be, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father..." What does that mean? Why could she not touch Him? What if she had? What if she could have? John 20:17

This is a real mystery. He continues, "...I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." He says "ascend" twice in that brief meeting with Mary.

He is going up to somewhere for a homecoming celebration. It certainly wasn't earth.