Now let’s look at another Psalm, which perhaps could be something that Jesus also prayed after He was resurrected, before then He ascended to the Father. Maybe He prayed this prayer also that night. Let’s come to Psalm 57, and let’s begin in verse 5. “Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Thy glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst where of they are fallen themselves” (Psa. 57:5-6). And that’s a good description of the crucifixion. Though they came after Him and killed Him, what did they do? They dug a pit and they fell in it. And that pit was literally executed in 70 A.D. with the destruction of the temple and the dispersion of the Jews.

Verse 7, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:…” Now you see, Jesus didn’t waver at all. Now sometimes we may waver. So we have got to come to the same attitude that Jesus had, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed.” That you have the kind of belief and the kind of faith that is there permanently in you. Not vacillating because of men. Not doubting because of lack of faith. But believing God, believing His word, and having your heart fixed that nothing can turn you back from God. And of course, Christ had do that. Yes. Absolutely.

“…I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.” Isn’t that interesting. What is death accounted like? But asleep. So here He’s awake. “I will praise Thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto Thee among the nations. For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds. Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let Thy glory be above all the earth” (vs. 9-11). And isn’t that what Jesus prayed? “Restore to Me the glory I had with You before the world existed.” Quite a tremendous thing.

Now let’s come to John 20, and again I’m going to read out of my translation. And let’s see what happened after they came to the tomb. Let’s see how the events took place, and just exactly how these things occurred. John 20.

Now when the women came to the tomb early in the morning, we find this. Let’s come back to the book of Mark. Let’s come to Mark 16:2. Let’s go ahead and cover this. The women came back. They were carrying the spices. They were going to go ahead and take care the body. They were wondering who was going to roll stone away from the tomb, and so forth. So here’s Mark's account, beginning in verse 2 of Mark 16 (AT, p. 336).

“And very early on the first day of the weeks,…” Now that’s a literal translation, because this is the first day of counting the weeks toward Pentecost. And in the Greek, it is plural. “…At the rising of the sun, they were coming to the tomb; and they were asking themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ For it was a massive stone. But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. And after entering the tomb, they saw a young man…” Who was an angel, no doubt, who had rolled away the stone. “…Sitting on the right, clothed in a white robe; and they were very frightened. But he said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. You are seeking Jesus the Nazarene, Who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here… But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him, as He said to you.’ And they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them; and they did not say anything to anyone, because they were afraid” (Mark 16:2-8, AT, p. 336-337). I imagine they were. I imagine that it was just like total electricity in their body because of what had happened.

Now let’s look at the account of Mary Magdalene in John 20. Now let’s go there. It says in the first verse, while it was yet dark Mary Magdalene went out and she was going to the tomb. Well, as she was going to the tomb, it was getting light. So it was very, very early. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 2. She came and found that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. “Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’ As a result, Peter and the other disciple…” Now this other disciple was John. “…Went out and came to the tomb. Now the two ran together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and he stooped down and saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not enter. Then Simon Peter came following him, and he went into the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin that had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had come to the tomb first, also went in and saw these things; and he believed” Very interesting. It didn’t say that Peter believed. John believed. “For they did not yet understand the scripture which decreed that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their home” (John 20:2-10, AT, p. 336-337).

Now let’s examine this and see what this tells us. This is a very interesting thing. Remember, Jesus’ body was wrapped with that linen. Much like you would say a mummy is wrapped. Now they saw the linen cloths lying. Now I assume that that means that they saw the cloths still wrapped in the same shape as Jesus’ body, only with no body in it. And with no body in it, it probably, with the weight of the spice and everything, fell down together. That would show that He was resurrected right out of it. Now then, we have something else. We have the head napkin, which was on His head, was folded up and placed by itself in another place. Now this tells us very clearly that Jesus was alive. Because napkins don’t fold themselves. We all know that.

Now, another thing: this tells us that they didn’t steal the body away. Now why? Because if they had stolen the body away, they just would have picked it up and carried it all wrapped up and with the napkin still on His head. So this is a tremendous witness and proof that Jesus rose from the dead, and that’s why the apostle John, when he saw it, believed it because he connected the two together, that this couldn’t happen by someone stealing the body away. There had to be a resurrection. And so yes, there was. So, boy that was something.

So they went away to their home. But Mary Magdalene stayed there. Because she still was wondering, what happened to the body of Jesus? She really didn’t understand. So, let’s continue on, verse 11. “But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white who were sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid” (vs. 11-12). Now that’s interesting. This tells us that the cloths, again, verifies that the cloths that He was wrapped in, were still in the form that He was wrapped in, because one of the angels was where the head was, and the other one was where the feet were. Now then, if it weren’t that way, you wouldn’t be able to tell the head from the foot, would you? No. If Jesus took all the wrappings off and just wrapped them up and a big ball, you wouldn’t be able to tell head from feet would you? So this again is a verification that there were the cloths there. Now this is a great mystery, you know. This is because of the power of God with His spirit, and the resurrection. And so this is a tremendous thing.

Now continuing on, “And they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’” Well, that’s quite a thing. So, of course, by this time Jesus returned to the tomb. And then He appeared to Mary. Now let’s pick it up here and let’s continue on in verse 14, and see what happens here. “And after saying these things, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Thinking that it was the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ Turning around, she said to Him, ‘Rabboni’; that is to say, ‘Teacher.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Do not touch Me, because I have not yet ascended to My Father…’” (vs. 13-17, p. 337 –338).

So here, on the Wave Sheaf Offering, Christ has to ascend to the Father. He has to ascend to be accepted as that perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. So He said, verse 17, “‘Don’t touch Me… But go to My brethren…’” Now listen to this. I want you to understand that our relationship with God the Father is exactly the same as the relationship that Jesus Christ had. I mean, do you understand how important that is? Do you grasp the significance of that? Do you really let it sink into your mind the greatness of what God has called you to? Now listen to these words: “…I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”

Now just as an aside, maybe this will help you understand why God hates hierarchy, where men place themselves between the brethren of God and God the Father. Listen - the whole book of Hebrews, as we’re going to see, shows that we have direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ any time. Tremendous relationship with God. Let me read that again. “‘…My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Now I don’t know about you, but that makes chills go up and down my spine, that God would put us in this kind of relationship with Him, that we can call, “Abba, Father,” and He hears us. And He answers our prayers, and He loves us, and He cares for us. Just as He loved Jesus, He loves us. And that’s why He’s provided the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, so we can be justified and in right standing with God the Father in heaven above. The greatest thing that could happen in your life is that very thing in this physical life. Nothing greater can be.

Now maybe that will help you and inspire you to understand why prayer is so important; why study is so important. Because you have a relationship with the Sovereign of the universe, God the Father with Jesus Christ at His right hand, and as our High Priest. And Who are working with you, and preparing you, and molding you, and creating Christ in you, and creating the character of God in you through the power of His Holy Spirit, to have the fruits of the Holy Spirit, so that when it comes time for you to die, then when you are resurrected you will be as Christ is. And so this is the whole hope of God’s word. The whole hope of our calling. Now that’s very profound. We need to understand that brethren. That is something! It is awesome!

There is - let me just say this: There is nothing greater in your physical life that you are now living than your relationship with God the Father, than your relationship because of what Christ has done for you in dying for your sins and being resurrected to be your High Priest and your older brother. He calls us “Brethren”. That’s something. That is amazing!

Now what we need to do is go back to Leviticus 23:10-11. Now let’s read it here. Now I’ve got in the Harmony, I’ve got the translation by Everett Fox from The Schocken Bible: Volume One – The Five Books of Moses. And the way he translates it, I think, is very profound. Because it reflects the type of Christ as being the first of the first fruits. And this is important. Now, what they were to do when they entered into the land, verse 10, “Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, and you harvest its harvest,…”

Now there’s one minister out there who says, “Well, they didn’t do this. They didn’t eat of the crop until the second year they were there. They didn’t wave the wave sheaf offering until the second year they were there, because the Canaanites planted the harvest, and they couldn’t possibly use that because that is ‘unholy’ wheat.” Well, it really doesn’t matter who harvested it, because God gave it to them.

But notice this. It says, “…you harvest its harvest…” Showing that, yes, it was in the very first year that they crossed, right after they crossed the Jordan River, there they had it. Ok? You can read that in Joshua 5. Continuing now, verse 10, “…you are to bring the premier sheaf of your harvest to the priest.” That is, the first of the first fruits, and it is the “premier.” Meaning, “the principal one,” or “the first one”. In the Greek, this would come from protos, meaning “the primary one”. And of course, that has direct reference to Christ. “And he shall elevate the sheaf…for you…” Not just wave it, but elevate it. Because then, that’s symbolic of the resurrection: rising to heaven. “…[And] elevate the sheaf before the presence of YHWH, for acceptance for you; on the morrow of the Sabbath the priest is to elevate it.”

Now this means on the first day of the week during the feast of unleavened bread. That’s when it was to be waived. This is symbolic of Christ, Who on that first day of the week after He was resurrected on the Sabbath, then He appeared to Mary Magdalene first, and said, “Don’t touch Me. For I have not yet ascended to My Father, and to your Father and to My God, and to your God. But you go tell the disciples that I’m alive (John 20:17, paraphrased).” So Mary Magdalene went and did that.

Now then, let’s come to 1 Corinthians 15:20, and let’s understand something very important here. And that is that not only is Christ the firstfruits, we’re going to also see little later on He is also the firstborn. Now let’s pick it up beginning in verse 20. “But now has Christ been raised from the dead; He has become the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruit; then, at His coming, those who are Christ’s” (1 Cor. 15:20-23, AT). So He is the firstfruit.

Now let’s come to Colossians 1, and let’s understand that He is the firstborn from among the dead. Now let’s read it here beginning in verse 16. “Because by Him were all things created…” Isn’t that something? Our Creator did this, didn’t He? Amazing thing. That always leaves me in awe and amazement when I think about that. “Because by Him were all things created, the things in heaven and the things upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they be thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all, and by Him all things subsist” (Col. 1:16-17, AT). Now in the first chapter of Hebrews, it says that He upholds all things by the word of His power.

Now continuing on here in Colossians, verse 18, “And He is the Head of the body, the church; Who is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, that in all things He might hold the preeminence.” Now that’s quite a thing. Now as we also saw on the first holy day, we are called the church of the firstborn.

Now let’s come to Romans 8:29, and let’s see something also important, which shows that we are in a family relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. But also, that we are in a special relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, in relationship to the rest of the world. You see we are the elect of God. We are the called of God. You know, let that sink in. We haven’t been called to some ne’er-do-well, stupid religion, run by men, to try and control your lives, and take your money, and take your lands, and make a mess out of your life! That’s happened too many times. And that’s why the Worldwide Church of God does not exist. He said, “Away with it!” Because He wants contact with each one of us directly, and individually.

The minister’s job is to teach you how to worship God, teach you how to have a relationship with Him. Not run your life for you. You learn from God. You run your life. Let Christ control it. Be led of the Holy Spirit. That’s what’s important. Because we’re going to be in a family relationship. Listen - Christ can do much more for you through the power of the Holy Spirit than any minister telling you what to do. Now, that doesn’t mean that you don’t need some advice from time to time. Listen - Romans 8:29… now let’s go back to verse 28. I do this quite often. But let’s go back to verse 28.

Remember this: “And we know that all things…” Now I want you to underscore that: “all things”. Everything. Even the trials and difficulties that you go through. “…Work together for good to them that love God,…” That’s why the love of God is the most important thing. “…To them who are the called according to His purpose.” Which you have been. “For [Because those] whom He did foreknow,…” And he knows us, doesn’t He? Because He’s the heart-knowing God. Yes. “…He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son,…” Now, read Revelation 1 and see what He looks like. “…That He [that is, Christ] might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:28-29, KJV). So that’s why we’re the church of the firstborn. Christ is the first of the firstborn. We’re the firstborn church, He’s the first of the firstfruits, and we are the firstfruits.

Now notice, here is a promise, an absolute promise from God. “Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified [which we are through Christ]: and whom He justified, them He also glorified” (vs. 30). Because God is looking at you as how you’re going to be when you are resurrected and a glorified spirit being. That’s what the imputed righteousness of Christ is all about. Now let’s also understand something else. We have already been glorified a little bit. Because we have the Holy Spirit in us by begettal. That is a little bit of glorification. So these things are profound, brethren. This is something. This is an amazing thing. What God has done is just absolutely an amazing, an amazing thing.

Now let’s see about the ascension of Christ. Because He said that He would go to the Father. Now, I’m going to do some reading out of the Harmony, because sometimes when things are written, it’s written in such a way that it can say more and have a greater impact. So I’m going to begin reading on page 333 about His ascension. And here, we again look at some of the things that maybe Christ was thinking when He was ascending. And I wonder what that felt like. You know, one day we’re going to ascend, and we’ll know what that feels like.

Now: “As He was ascending to the Father, Jesus must have been filled with great joy and anticipation. He would see the Father face to face for the first time since He had become a pinpoint of life when He divested Himself of His power and glory as God to be born of the virgin Mary. Again, the Psalms help us comprehend some of the thoughts and feelings that Jesus may have experienced as He looked forward to being reunited with the Father.”

Now let’s turn to Psalm 63, let’s begin in verse 1. “O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.” Yes, and to see the power and glory of God the Father again. “Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.” (Psa. 63:1-3, KJV). And I think that’s quite appropriate for the ascension of Christ.

Now let’s also understand something here. There is a Psalm which shows how Christ entered, when He came up to the sea of glass and was received by the angels before He was received of the Father. Now let’s come to Psalm 24. “The earth is the LORD’S, and fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,…” Now this here is… is this Psalm 15? Anyway, I’ve got it here. “…Nor sworn deceitfully.” Christ was the perfect one. “He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psa. 24:1-5, KJV). And remember, Jesus cried with tears and strong supplications to the Father Who was able to save Him.

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. [He was victorious over human nature, and sin, and Satan the devil, and death]. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory” (Psa. 24:7-10, KJV). That must have been something.

“What a magnificent scene of splendor and glory that Jesus saw when He entered through the everlasting gates of heaven! As He stood on the sea of glass, He saw the resplendent glory and awesome majesty of God the Father seated on His throne with the heavenly host round about. The apostle John, the one whom Jesus loved, saw a vision of God’s throne and recorded it in the book of Revelation” (Harmony of the Gospels, p. 333).

And here’s what he wrote. Let’s come to Revelation 4:1. “After these things I looked, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard was as if a trumpet were speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what things must take place after these things.’ And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one was sitting on the throne. And He Who was sitting was in appearance like a jasper stone and a sardius stone: and a rainbow was around the throne, like an emerald in its appearance” (p. 333).

“And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments; and they had on their heads golden crowns. And proceeding out from the throne were lightnings and thunders and voices; and seven lamps of fire, which are the seven Spirits of God, were burning before the throne; and before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And before the throne and around the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind; and the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature was like a calf, and the third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. And each of the four living creatures had six wings respectively; and around and within they were full eyes; and day and night they ceased not saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come.’

“And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives into the ages of eternity, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who sits on the throne; and they worship Him Who lives into the ages of eternity, and cast their crowns down before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are You, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: because You did create all things, and for Your will they were created and exist’” (Rev. 4:1 –11, AT, Harmony of the Gospels, p. 334).

And brethren, we’re part of the greatest will of God. Called, chosen, selected, justified, glorified, that we also can share the same thing that Jesus did. That one day we are going to appear before the throne of God the Father. One day we’re going to see Him just like Jesus Christ saw Him. But Christ had to be the firstfruit. Christ had to be the first one, because He had to come to be our High Priest, to propitiate our sins; to send the Holy Spirit, to lead us, to guide us, to prosper His word. To build His church. Tremendous thing.

“This was the scene that Jesus saw as He walked forward to present Himself to the Father as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He was the first of the firstfruits and the firstborn from the dead. As He walked on the sea of glass toward the Father sitting on His throne, the angels, the twenty-four elders and God the Father could see on His body the scars of the lashes that He had received when He was beaten with a cat-of-nine tails which tore open His flesh. They could see the scars in His hands and feet where the soldiers had nailed Him to the cross. When the Father’s beloved Son greeted His Father, They must have opened their arms and embraced each other in profound love and tears of joy. Thus Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was accepted by God the Father on the Wave Sheaf Day” (Harmony the Gospels, page 334).

“After He was accepted of the Father, Jesus was selected to open the seven seals. He and He alone was qualified, because He had overcome all. The apostle John saw this tremendous scene in a vision and recorded it for us.” And here’s what it says, beginning in Revelation 5. “And at the right hand of Him Who sits on the throne I saw a book, written within and on the back, which had been sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals of it?’ And no one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth had the power to open the book, or to look inside it. And I [John] was weeping greatly because no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, or to look inside it.

“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion Who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and is able to open the book, and to lose the seven seals of it.’ And I saw, and behold, before the throne and the four living creatures, and before the elders, was standing a Lamb that looked as if it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,…” And those are the churches. “…Which are the seven Spirits of God that have been sent into all the earth; and He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him Who sits on the throne.”

“And when He took the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having harps and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they were singing a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to open its seals; because You were slain, and did redeems us to God by Your own blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and did make us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth.’” And brethren, keep that always in mind. That’s where everything is headed to.

Now continuing, “And I saw, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the voices of the living creatures and the elders, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,…” On this day that Christ was accepted, “…‘Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessing.’ And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and those that are on the sea, and all the things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing, and honor, and glory, and sovereignty into the ages of eternity.’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’” (Rev. 5:1-12, AT, Harmony of the Gospels, p. 334 –335).

And so what a day that was. What an absolute marvelous day. And brethren, we are the result of that. And we are going to be a part of that. Now let me just conclude with this: “This is the glory and majesty that Jesus Christ received when He was accepted by God the Father as the Savior and Redeemer of mankind on the Wave Sheaf Day. Jesus had overcome sin in the flesh and gained complete victory over death, opening the way for the redemption and salvation of all mankind through faith in Him. Now He lives in eternal glory, as the first of many sons of God who will be resurrected at His second coming to share His eternal glory and immortality. Those who are Jesus Christ’s are now being perfected through the love, grace and power of God the Father” (Harmony of the Gospels, p. 335).

So let Christ work in you. Let this feast of Unleavened Bread be a powerful turning point in your life, that you can have a greater spiritual relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. That you can understand more fully what Christ has done for you. That you can be inspired to do the will of God, inspired to love God, inspired to believe God. Let Christ be in you. Then you are perfectly unleavened. And you stand before God righteous and pure. Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

“They will be granted the identical spiritual existence that the Father and Son have. They will be the sons and daughters of God the Father, and the brethren of Jesus Christ. Jesus shared human existence with mankind in order to become the sin offering for the world, so that all who believe in Him may ultimately share His eternal existence and glory in the Family of God throughout the ages of eternity” (Harmony of the Gospels,p. 335).

And so brethren, when we have the Passover in the middle of the week and then we have the Sabbath and then the Wave Sheaf Offering day in the same sequence as it was during the week when Christ was crucified it has great meaning for us. So continue to have a great feast. We’re only halfway through.