RESURRECTION SUNDAY-1

52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."

Our text reveals the determination of our Saviour to do that for which He came --- Namely, to die as required, and be raised, as often promised. ". . . Be received up" is obviously a reference to what transpired as recorded in Acts 1:9 : "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up: and a cloud received him out of their sight."

We should be mindful that His death, burial, and resurrection were often alluded to; but this aspect is not spoken of so often. It is a crowning evidence that as the risen Saviour, He was also accepted into the presence of His Father in heaven.

Paul, who was not as yet converted to the Gospel, some almost 30 years later he tells Timothy what he knew by inspiration, and the testimony of eyewitnesses. It is recorded in I Timothy 3:16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, ...believed on in the world, received up into glory."

The writer of Hebrews (Paul, I think) speaks of ".....Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, dispising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2).

After the cross, and after the tomb, there is the resurrection and a bit later the ascension into heaven --- And then He is "...at the right hand of the throne of God." Triumphant? Yes! Worthy of our praise? Yes! Then do not withold it! DDH.