"My Father and Your Father"

​The resurrection of Jesus is hugely significant. In simple terms it proves that everything Jesus said about himself is true. It proves he is the Son of God, it proves he has power over sin and death and it shows us that we have a Saviour.
 
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17 NIV)
 
In this moment everything changed. 
 
During Jesus’ life the disciples had begun to understand that he was the Son of God. But where did that leave them (and us)? Now, in the garden, Jesus talks to Mary and tells her that God is his Father AND he is also ourFather. We have the same relationship with God as Jesus has. The desire of the Father's heart that we read about in Jeremiah 3:19 is fully satisfied. We can call him Father because that's who he is.  
 
Jesus’ death and resurrection make it possible for us to know that everything he’d talked about whilst alive is now ours. We can take up the right and live as children of God (John 1:12). We can experience the same love Jesus experienced (John 17:26). 
 
The new life of the Spirit is one of Sonship. The requirements of the Law have been fully satisfied and our relationship with God has been restored back to His original intention: to live in relationship with him. 
 
Yes, the cross is terrible but it was the way for us to come home. It had to precede this glorious revelation of the resurrection morning.