Christ the Person of Salvation,
The first person to see Jesus after His Resurrection was Mary Magdalene, one He had saved and cast out seven devils, Mar_16:9 "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."
An understanding of Christ and His work is needed in this present time; mankind is in sin and in need of Salvation. And the only way of eternal life is given in the scriptures. John 20:29 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:30" And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:" John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name".
It is significant that He appeared to her first, John 20:15-17, "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, 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". He came to save sinners.
He is now the Resurrected Saviour offered to mankind
The Resurrection started the accession – He was saying I am ascending, He was letting Mary Magdalene know He was the same Jesus that had forgiven her sins but she would no more see Him as before, for He must ascend to the Father and send the Holy Spirit. A change in His ministry had taken place: that she would now live by faith and not by sight. She would not know Him any more as in His earthly flesh but as her resurrected Saviour. He is now the Resurrected Saviour offered to mankind, "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: "
"My brethren" "…. but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." After His death and resurrection, He said, "my brethren". He came to be One liken to us as the Son of Man, For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. We are identified with Him in His death, burial and resurrection, For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:" - Romans 5:15 "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. "…abounded unto many" that is anyone who will believe they are one of the many. That is anyone who is able say, from the testimony of scripture and the finished work of Christ, He is my Saviour. (Or who is able to believe from the testimony of scripture and the finished work of Christ He is my Saviour)
Only through Christ can we say, "My Father." Until we are born again we are not of the LORD, John 8:41 "Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. John 8:42 "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me". John 8:43 "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word." John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:45 "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not" For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
We are Made One with Him, Heb 2:9-18
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. It is impossible in the natural realm to think that God Himself would die for man the sinner but this He did in Christ The Son of Man, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain - The Leader as being The Way: He said I am the Way… Same as Author in Heb. 12:2 "…Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…"- of their salvation perfect through sufferings. He is the beginning and the ending, 1 Cor. 1:30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, For both he that sanctifieth -That is Christ who Sanctified us - and they who are sanctified are all of one : for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, - them brethren are those who believed He sanctified them. The Son of God identified with humanity as the Son of Man, Heb. 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he (Christ) also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb 2:15. [1]As Christ's death is our death, so His resurrection is our resurrection; "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
Your faith is imputed for righteousness, Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
He is the Bread of Eternal Life, Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. And He did give it. 1 Cor. 11:24 – 26 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. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
You must believe on Him for eternal life. It is not a matter of how much faith or the right kind of faith. It just means your faith. In other words, you believe on Him with the faith you have. It is not a form or a prayer or a commitment you make it is the Person of Christ you believe.
[1] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 308). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
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