Good morning … Great is His Faithfulness …
The Gospel According St. John 20:1-10
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So, she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying and the napkin, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
20:1: THE FIRST DAY OF WEEK is Sunday, or also Lord’s Day … This is a Christian tradition of remembrance and does not replace the Sabbath, but competes it … Saturday remains the Sabbath, and the blessed day on which Christ rested in the tomb, just as He rested when He completed the creation of the universe – (Genesis 2:2) … Because of the Resurrection, Sunday is also known in the Church as the eighth day, and which also symbolizes eternity, a day without end …
20:2: John does not mention the other myrrh bearing women – (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10), Mary’ use of WE indicate they were present …
20:3-8: Note the response of both Peter and John – (THE OTHER DISCIPLE) is revealing each one’s disposition … John reaching the tomb FIRST is showing us his faith is lofty and full of understanding, and was the first to have BELIEVED – (v. 8) … Peter’s faith is more direct and bolder, this is revealed by his immediate entrance INTO THE TOMB – (v. 6) …
20:7: John gives good details on THE LINEN CLOTHS, and this confirms the Resurrection, for it thieves had taken away Christ’s body as Mary initially thought – (v. 2), they would not have taken the time to strip the body, nor to fold and place each piece carefully and separately …
20:9: THE SCRIPTURE had foretold Christ could not remain DEAD – (Psalm 15 (16):10) …
Psalm 15 (16):10: For You will not abandon my soul to Hades Nor allow Your Holy One to see corruption …
Psalm 48.3,1
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding. Verse: Hear this all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 2:8-12
BRETHREN, see to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
2:8: (Orthodox Study Bible): it says: THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD- include – (1): The basic elements of matter; (2): the laws that regulate the universe, including those conditioning fallen human life, such as death, sin, the flesh, and the Mosaic Law; (3): the spirits whom use conditions to oppose Christ and are at the core of the pagan cults and systems of knowledge; and (4): human traditions opposed to God’s tradition …
2:9, 10: (John 1:14): And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Christ is both fully man and fully God- He fulfills human nature, and all the levels of being submit to Him …
The Gospel According to Luke 2:20-21, 40-52
At that time, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
2:17-20: THE SHEPHERDS: are also images of the bishops and presbyters of the Church, who proclaim Christ to all and to the whole world!!!
2:21: CHRIST HAS COME: to perfectly fulfill the Law, He receives CIRCUMCISION under the Law see (Luke 1:59) In the Orthodox Church, it is ancient tradition to NAME a child EIGHT DAYS after birth with a special blessing!!!
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he isa new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new...
I forgot to mention that Jesus being lost for three days symbolizes His rest in the tomb after His crucifixion on the cross …
Happy New Year …
In Christ love Jared W Campbell
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