Resurrection Morning
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"Jesus said to her, 'Mary' ... Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:16-17) |
Jesus said "Go to my brothers ..."
He didn't say 
or 
A few chapters earlier in John 15:14-15, Jesus had called his disciples "friends."
But on that first resurrection morning, he didn't call them friends.
He called them brothers
He acknowledged them as family; and to emphasise the point, reminded them that they shared the same father.
He said, 
This family relationship was sealed by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Hebrews 2:11 says "Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers."
The Son of God calls us brothers. He left the glory of heaven and came to share our humanity. He lived amongst us, experienced our sorrows and struggled with temptation just as we do.
He humbled himself in this way so that he could be our brother.
He endured the cross to to bring salvation to his brothers and make them holy.
- As brothers we share the same father.
- As brothers we share the same inheritance. We are co-heirs with Christ of a glorious inheritance.
Romans 8:29 describes Jesus as our elder brother. He is "the firstborn amongst many brothers". He is the firstborn of a "great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language." Rev 7:9
What amazing grace ...
... that on the resurrection morning the risen Christ, the Holy Son of God, called the disciples his brothers.
Every believer shares that same intimate family relationship.
"Jesus is not ashamed to call [us] brothers" Heb 2:11
