Our New Life In Christ – The Heaven Life

During the Easter season, many sermons are preached on the Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross. It is important to emphasize the significance of Christ’s death for our sins. And it is equally important to emphasize the significance of His resurrection.

There is no resurrection without crucifixion, and the crucifixion without the resurrection is meaningless. Both Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection are intrinsically tied together.

Romans 5:10 (ESV)
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

So, this week our devotional thoughts will be a celebration of our new life in Christ. To do this, we are going to look at eight sayings of Jesus after His resurrection. Each of these sayings explains one blessed aspect of our new life with Christ.

1. The Heaven Life

John 20:17 (ESV)
“…’I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

John 20:11–18 (ESV)
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. 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.” 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.

On a side note, this is one of the strongest evidences of the truth of the resurrection. In Jesus’ day, no man would use a woman to convey a spiritual truth to men.

Jesus was not quick to reveal himself in his glorified body. But, by the very way he said Mary’s name, she realized it was him. Jesus told Mary to share the things that He had told her. And what had He told her? That He was tangibly alive and that, though He did not use the word “heaven,” that was His destiny: to be with His Father on the heavenly throne.

What a wonderful reminder that had to be for His followers that there is a heaven life to look forward to! When the shock of the new reality that Jesus is alive settled, I’m sure they must have remembered Jesus’ words…

John 14:1–3 (ESV)
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.