Just as Jesus had prophesied, He was dead and in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights, from just before sunset on Wednesday, to just around sunset on the Sabbath day. (Matthew 12:39-40)

In the evening after the first Holy Day of Unleavened Bread on Thursday, while Jesus had been in His tomb for one day, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices and ointments.

Upon the second day that Jesus was in His tomb, on Friday they mixed and prepared the spices and ointments to embalm Jesus. (Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56) 

Then they rested on the weekly Sabbath day, during the Days of Unleavened Bread, according to God's 4th Commandment. (Luke 23:56)

Around the end of the Sabbath day, God our Father then performed a wondrous miracle, by restoring Jesus Christ back to life from death. He caused another earthquake and then commanded a great angel roll back the heavy stone in front of Jesus tomb, so He could walk out.

The strong Roman centurion guards outside the tomb, were shocked and terrified to death, because the angel's appearance was like lightning with clothing white as snow.  (Matthew 28:2-4)

Jesus Christ was now resurrected to life again, but before Jesus left His tomb, He neatly folded the linen napkin shroud that had been on His head and left it in a separate place in the tomb, to His fallen linen body shrouds. (John 20:7)

"Jesus being the very First of the Firstfruits to be resurrected to life again, is very exciting for us to consider", says Grandad. 

"You see, it is so encouraging for us to realise God our Father raised Jesus from the dead to life again. Since our Father did that for Jesus His Son, so shall God resurrect many faithful human sons and daughters like us, into the Family of God, to live for eternity.

Isn't that wonderful to think about?"  (1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Corinthians 15:23, James 1:18, Revelation 14:4)

"Yes, it is thrilling to think about", says Nanna.

"Christ's resurrection to life again, and being restored to the glory He previously had as God with God His Father from eternity, also fulfilled the ancient prophetic symbolism of the Wave Sheaf Offering, during the Days of Unleavened Bread." (Leviticus 23:10-15)

Early, just before the Sunday dawn the two Marys came to Jesus tomb, with their prepared spices to embalm Jesus with these lovely smelling aromatic oils. They were wondering to themselves, "who will roll back the huge stone", so we can enter to do the embalming. (Mark 16:2-5, Luke 24:1-2, John 20:1-2)

Can you imagine their surprise, when they arrived, to see that the huge stone to Jesus tomb had been rolled back already, and there were no soldiers there? 

When they rushed into the tomb they were met inside by an angel who said: "Don't be afraid. I know you are seeking Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come and see the place where the Lord Himself was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples. He is already going before you into Galilee, and you will see Him." (Matthew 28:5-8)

So the women rushed out of the tomb and told Peter and John that Jesus was not in His tomb. They were very shocked and ran to the tomb. John was there first, just ahead of Peter and they both noticed the linen cloths Jesus had been wrapped in, were lying there, but His head napkin shroud was all folded neatly and lying separately from the other linen cloths. (John 20:2-10)

This reminded them of Jesus personal thoughtfulness for manners and loving care.

They felt stunned and amazed at what had happened, and left to walk home, but Mary Magdalene stayed, standing outside the tomb, weeping. As she turned her sad head to look into the tomb again, she saw two angels in white, who were sitting on the burial plinth, one where Jesus head had been and one where Jesus feet had been laid.

The Angels said to her kindly: "Woman, why are you weeping?"

Mary said: "Because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid Him."

Then she turned around and saw a man standing near her, but Mary did not know at first that it was Jesus. She thought it might have been the gardener. So, she said: "Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

Jesus simply replied to her in His well known tone of voice: "Mary".

Startled, she turned to him and said: "Rabboni", which means 'Teacher'.

Jesus said to her: "Do not touch Me, because I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brethren and tell them I am ascending to My Father and your Father and My God and your God." (John 20:11-18)

So, Jesus fulfilled the symbolism of the "wave sheaf offering".

Just as the High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem was waving the "wave sheaf" omar of barley, so Jesus was presenting Himself as the First of the Firstfruits to his Father in heaven.

Meantime, Mary Magdalene was so excited, she rushed to tell the disciples she had seen Jesus.

The Roman soldiers who had been keeping watch on Jesus tomb, were paid a big bribe by the chief priests to say: "tell everyone that His disciples came by night and stole Him while you were sleeping." (Matthew 28:11-15)

Later that day, after Jesus had presented Himself to our Father in Heaven, Jesus came back down to Earth and began walking beside two disciples. One of them was named Cleopas, as they were walking towards Emmaus, which is nearly 8 miles (12km) from Jerusalem.

At first they did not recognize Jesus, but when He began to break bread at a late afternoon snack with them, their eyes were opened and they clearly saw it was Jesus, with them. Jesus then disappeared and these two disciples were so excited, they rushed to tell the disciples in Jerusalem, how they had been with Jesus and said: "In truth the Lord has risen!" (Luke 24:13-35, Mark 16:12-13)

Now, just as they were telling these things, suddenly Jesus Himself stood in their midst and said: "Peace be to you."  They were thrilled and shocked at the same time in their feelings, hardly believing what they were seeing with their own eyes.

Jesus showed them his hands and his feet where the nails had been driven through. One disciple named Thomas was not there with them and when they told him later that they had seen Jesus, Thomas did not believe them. (Luke 24:36-48, John 20:24-25)

Eight days later, the disciples were gathered together again and Thomas was with them.  Jesus suddenly appeared again and asked Thomas to put his finger in Christ's scars in His hands, feet and side where the spear had been thrust. Thomas was so startled and choked in surprise that all he could say was: "My Lord and my God."

The disciples knew Jesus Christ is God along with God our Father. This is the "true God". (1 John 5:20)

Later, on different occasions besides being seen by the Apostle Peter, and the other 11 Apostles, Jesus was seen by over 500 brethren at once. After that he was seen by His half-brother James and all of the other Apostles. (1 Corinthians 15:4-7, Matthew 28:16-17)

On one occasion Jesus cooked some fish and fresh baked bread in the hot coals of a fire on the beach, while the disciples were fishing offshore on the Lake of Galilee. He called out to them: "Do you have any food?" They answered: "No!" So, Jesus said: "Cast the net to the right side of the ship, and you shall find some."

"And do you know what happened then, our child?" says Grandad. "They cast their net on the right side of the boat, like Jesus told them, and guess what? There were so many fish in the net, that they didn't have the strength to haul the net in."

Then the Apostle John realised realised it was Jesus on the shore. Peter was so happy, he jumped off the ship and swam ashore to Jesus.

The rest of the disciples brought the ship to shore, dragging the huge net full of fish with them.

Jesus fed them with the beautiful meal of fish and bread He had baked in the hot coals of the fire.

After they had enjoyed a wonderful meal and talk, Jesus said to Peter: "Do you love (agape) Me more than these?"

"Agape" says Nanna, "is the beautiful Greek word that means 'unconditional total outgoing concern and love for God and our fellow human beings'. Paul describe this greatest height, breadth and depth of love in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7."

Peter suddenly remembered how he had denied Jesus, in His time of torture before being crucified.

So, Peter choked a little bit and said: "Yes Lord you know I love (phileo) you."

"Phileo" says Grandad, is also a nice Greek word which means "brotherly love", but it is not as great a wonderful, unselfish love as "agape" is, because agape is the kind of deep love that God has for us, as Nanna described."

Jesus asked Peter again: "Peter, do you love (agape) Me?"

Again, the only level of love Peter could honestly bring himself to express to Jesus was "phileo", brotherly love, as he replied: "Yes Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you."

Jesus then persisted the third time, but this time Jesus wisely and deliberately lowered the level of love to "phileo", brotherly love, when He asked Peter: "Peter, do you love (phileo) me?"

Peter was now feeling deeply grieved that he had denied Jesus, three times, as he heard Jesus ask him the third time, but now lowering the level of love to "phileo" and not the deeper love of "agape".

So, Peter, feeling very emotional, could still only honestly say that he felt "phileo" for Jesus, as he replied: "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love (phileo) you."

Jesus encouraged Peter to take care of all the brethren in the Church, like as if he was a good shepherd looking after sheep and their lambs.

"Now, our child, there is something we can discover about Peter towards the end of his life, that many Christian people have never realised", says Grandad.

"Do you know what that is?

Well, it is very exciting and very encouraging for all of us, when we come to see it, and understand it, and live by it!

What am I talking about, I hear you ask?

It is the fact that at the end of Peter's life, in his 2 epistles of 1 Peter and 2 Peter, that Peter shows he had finally developed that great and deep level of "Agape" love for God and for fellow human beings, way above the level of "Phileo" love that he held in the past."

"So True!" says Nanna. "It is very exciting to see the deeper level of spiritual maturity that Peter had finally reached towards the end of his life, as we examine these 6 verses where "agape" is expressed by Peter 7 times, as the kind of Godly love we all need to develop.

Here are those "agape" verses in 1 Peter and 2 Peter, that are so important for us today, as a guide to develop "agape" in our lives":

1. 1 Peter 1:8  whom having not seen you love (agape). Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

2. 1 Peter 1:22  Since you have purified your lives in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren (philadelphia), love (agape) one another fervently with a pure heart,

3. 1 Peter 2:17  Honor all people. Love (agape) the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

4. 1 Peter 3:10  For he that will love (agape) life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

5. 1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent love (agape) among yourselves: for love (agape) shall cover the multitude of sins.

6. 2 Peter 1:7  to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love (agape).

"Agape, unselfish totally unconditional outgoing love for God and human beings is worth thinking about, isn't it?" says Grandad.

"Better still. Worth praying these inspired verses of Peter, on our knees, and asking God to help us develop this Godly level of Agape love, as Peter did in his life …don't you think?

Yes, I believe we are all agreed on this Godly "agape" love, aren't we?

May God bless us all in living "agape" love, in our lives, now."

 

To be continued in Chapter 22...