I’m Not There Yet: Transitioning

Text:

John 20:11-18:

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

 

Theme:

I’m Not There Yet_Transitioning

 

Introduction:

• The Gospel According to John is the fourth of the synoptic Gospels and was written by the Apostle John.  Some believed that it was to fill the gaps left by the first three gospels, but no concrete evidence makes this universally true.  However, it does in a unique and genuine way divulge the depth of the relationship between God and the Son AND the relationship between the believer and the Godhead.
  • The Gospel of John, which houses our text, serves as a special closing to the set of Gospels that tell the good news of Jesus Christ.
    • Matthew gives a detailed depiction of the history of Jesus’ life
    • Mark gives Jesus’ life as depicted by Peter’s accounts
    • Luke gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as God’s Son who was a man – the humanity of Jesus
    • However, John gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as the man who was God’s Son – the Divinity of Jesus
      • John sums up his intent in writing the Gospel in John 20:31 when he says, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
    • In this the 20^th chapter of the Gospel according to Saint John we find Mary after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
      • She was crying outside of the empty tomb
      • Two angels addressed her to question why she was weeping
      • Mary explained that it was because of the loss of Jesus, the Christ
      • When she turned around from the angels…there stood Jesus…but she did not know
      • Jesus spoke her name which awakened her to realization that it was Jesus
      • Mary exclaimed RABBONI or Master to acknowledge knowing Jesus and turned to reach to Him
      • At this point Jesus did what He had never done before…
        • He did not let her touch Him!
          • The woman with the issue of blood…got to touch Him
          • The children wanting to sit with Jesus…got to touch Him
          • Thomas who doubted the message of the disciples God…got to touch Him
        • Mary did not get to touch Him…
          • Why? …Jesus said because He had not yet ascended to the Father
            • ONE à Jesus was no longer JUST a MAN … He was His resurrected self
            • TWO à Jesus was not yet back at the right hand of God … HE was not yet His FULLY DIVINE self
              • Jesus was TRANSITIONING from God-Man to God-Son
                • Jesus was TRANSITIONING from Earth to Heaven
              • Why was Thomas allowed to touch Jesus at this point and not Mary?
                • Thomas was allowed to touch what was yet human…WOUNDS
                • Mary was not allowed to touch what was essentially Divine…HIS GLORY
              • The concept of Transitioning is a real biblical state that is critical to our understanding our own salvation. It is simple.  We just have to acknowledge and embrace the fact that…
                • I’m Not There Yet

 

Body:

• Let us first acknowledge the impact of this world on the concept of transitioning.
  • >>>Transitioning from one gender to another gender
    • People of our day and age have acted on the desire to….
      • Become the gender that they feel that they truly are
      • Physically conform their social and psychological gender affiliation
      • Make a change from what is not comfortable to what is comfort
    • In summary, MEN have chosen to become WOMEN and WOMEN have chosen to become MEN
    • We have knowingly or unknowingly seen people who are transitioning from one gender to another.
      • Everything isn’t perfect. Things from yesterday exist in the context of things from tomorrow.
    • Let us then recognize the biblical significance of transitioning.
      • >>>Transitioning from childhood to adulthood…Christian maturity
        • 1Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
          • The Bible requires that we be AS a child but not to BE a child…
            • Mark 10:15, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
          • We gotta grow up!!!
        • We have knowingly or unknowingly seen people who are transitioning from childhood to adulthood.
          • Everything isn’t perfect. Things from yesterday exist in the context of things from tomorrow.
        • >>>Transitioning in context of Marriage…two become one
          • The ordinance of marriage holds as a primary principle the concept of ONENESS
            • The two individuals must submit to become a new ONE that takes them both to another level of love and devotion
          • We have knowingly or unknowingly seen people who are transitioning from singleness to marriage.
            • Everything isn’t perfect. Things from yesterday exist in the context of things from tomorrow.
          • >>>Transitioning from sin to righteousness…Christian conversion
            • Once we accept Jesus, the Christ, as our Savior, we begin the process of conversion from a sinful existence to a righteous existence
              • The flesh is identified by SIN.
              • The spirit is identified by RIGHTEOUSNESS
            • As Job said in Job 36:3, “I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.”
              • We go from all flesh to all Spirit of God
                • We never make it to ALL Spirit of God but we strive to be
              • We go from identification by sinful flesh to identification by the God in me!
            • We have knowingly or unknowingly seen people who are transitioning from sin to righteousness.
              • Everything isn’t perfect. Things from yesterday exist in the context of things from tomorrow.
            • >>>Transitioning to life eternal…in the twinkling of an eye
              • The bible teaches us that we will at some time transition from this world to the eternal existence in God.
                • 1Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
              • This transition is associated with Salvation
              • This transition is associated with Deliverance
              • This transition is associated with Heaven
                • When I see Jesus…AMEN!!!!!!!

 

Conclusion:

• But through it all, I am actually happy to say…I’m Not There Yet!
  • You may find that I make mistakes along the way. But know that…
    • I’m Not There Yet
  • I may not always be so happy about my struggle. But know that…
    • I’m Not There Yet
  • I may not always exude prosperity. But know that…
    • I’m Not There Yet
  • I know I need God’s grace and mercy as I press my way. But know that…
    • I’m Not There Yet
  • Even though I can feel the glory of being there. I know that…
    • I’m Not There Yet
  • In this transition I need God’s…
    • Grace
    • Mercy
    • Understanding
    • Love
    • Power
    • Provision
    • Peace
    • Blessed Assurance
      • Cause…
        • I am gonna make it!!!!!!
          • But….
            • I’m Not There Yet

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