I am reaching out to Jewish believers because the gentile church is divided on the subject of John 20:17.
Did Jesus accend to heaven directly following his conversation with Mary, or was He simply referring to 40 days later.
I know there are a number of members of Messianic Judaism who God has given greater understanding of such matters that He has revealed in ALL of Scripture.
Thank you.
Grafted in
Bill
Shalom Bill,
@daq has given you some very good context from which to draw some relevant conclusions. I would like to contribute in the same fashion, if I may.
Historical context is a must, if one wants to understand what was really occurring at that precious point in time. Another place you may wish to further your inquiry might be here =>
Passover While this may not help in requiting your desire to answer you original query, context is everything and will help to build a bigger picture. However, understanding the Zadok calendar and how it dovetails with the Passover account will. It is not for the faint at heart, but you strike me a the bold sort, so take a look at the excellent work
@daq has provided in that thread.
In your inquiry here, you made mention of the two angels and Yeshua's burial garments. Let's focus in on those two things and see where that takes us. And since you inquired about the resurrection account from John 20 first, I will begin there:
John 20:1-18
20:1 Now 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. 2 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.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
It is evidenced that something occurred with Yeshua's
burial garments and that
Angels were somehow involved. We will soon read that they brought Him garments to change into because we will read that the Risen Messiah is
fully clothed and we must assume that again, the
Angels were involved. But hold on. The why has yet to be addressed.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
This is an interesting observation; "but she did not know that it was Jesus." We can only presume she did not look him in the face. But considering the context, it should be no surprise.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
It is not surprising that a pious woman in that culture and circumstance, would not look into the face of someone she supposed was a non-related adult male in an unsupervised and informal setting. But she did suppose him to be a gardener. Why? His attire perhaps?
Late Second Temple period Jerusalem society was very stratified with the Herodians, the Hasmoneans and the Pharisees occupying the top three strata. Outside here were also merchants, professionals such as scribes - and skilled craftsmen who were a notch or two above the agrarian herdsmen-farmers and general laborers.
The 'gardener' in question could have been something like a landscape architect in that hierarchy, not to be confused with a general laborer that dug in the dirt and watered plants. From their exchange, Mary presumed this gardener to have the authority to have bodies moved - not a trivial matter in that society.
My research indicates that gardeners would wear white linen garments for two purposes; 1.) to protect them from the sun and heat and 2.) to indicate their administrative authority and distinguish them from the lowly workers and field hands. If I find that reference again, I'll post it for you. Anyway...
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
So here we have the Risen Messiah and He declares that He must soon ascend to the Father. We must presume that to be in the Third Heaven. The title, "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" is not religious hyperbole. Nor is the declaration that no man may approach the Father except through Him. It is understood that He is our High Priest in Heaven, no? Then you should also know that the Cohen Gadol, the High Priest, must not be defiled before entering the Most Holy Place. I'm also sure that you remember that the earthly Temple is a replica of the actual Temple in the heavenlies.
At this point we know that He is going to ascend to the Father and that He may not be defiled by contact with anyone or anything ritually unclean. Later, and not long after, we will read that He allows His chosen to touch Him. So we must presume that He made that journey in the intermediate.
To recap,
- He is Risen.
- Angel have brought Him garments
- He declares that He must ascend to the Father
- Soon after these events, He appears to His chosen and allows them to touch Him.
So what does a High Priest
wear to minister before the Father? Interestingly enough, it is a set of
finely woven white linen garments without seams. I have read several accounts describing these garments with minor discrepancies. Generally speaking, this account should be sufficient for our purposes here. All you have to do is an internet search for 'priestly undergarments'. You will find sources from Josephus, to the Temple Institute, to My Jewish Learning.
So let's talk about priestly undergarments:
These garments are founded with breeches that extend from the knees to the waist and cinched with a drawstring. Worn over the breeches is a white long-sleeved linen vestment that covers the priest from the ankles to wrist to the neck. This vestment is secured to the torso with a four-finger wide white linen sash that is reportedly highly adorned and embroidered for most occasions.
However, there is an exception. That would be a simple white sash worn on the day of Atonement. Some accounts hold that each successive wrap of the sash is tied in the front, thereby making seven successive knots from the chest down to the waist and with the last knot, the remaining sash simply hangs down in the front. The fourth and final addition to the priestly undergarments is a white linen turban. The similarities to the gardener are striking.
There are those that might protest that Messiah would have to wear the ephah, breast plate, mitre, etc. But I'm not sure that is true. It is not how He is depicted in the Revelation account. I'm sure the Father would recognize His Son. Sure, The Son was there to accomplish something under the covenant. But let us not forget that He is The Word! He didn't simply represent the people under the covenant. He is the Word made flesh! He IS the Covenant and the only One found worthy to loose it's Seals!
So I conclude that He did in fact both ascend and return after making atonement for His chosen. His blood was indeed sprinkled on the lintel and door post of the same portal between life and death that Adam crossed through after sinning against the Father those many years ago. He therefor fulfilled the terms of the ancient threshold covenant represented in the Passover story. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
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