Our Lord Jesus Made Like Unto His Brethren by the Suffering of Death

When Mary Magdalene got a view of her risen Lord, many things changed for her and for all Believers.

His resurrection takes away all the bitterness we would feel had our sins destroyed Him forever. Now we can shout the Victory, for He is risen!

The Lord Jesus told Mary Magdalene to tell His brethren that He would ascend unto His Father and God. How blessed that, after His brethren abandoned Him, He is still eager to own them as such!

But Christ owns His people as His near kin - no longer as mere servants, or even friends, but now Brethren! Indeed, He made it clear in other places that His spiritual people are closer to him than flesh and blood! There is an intertwining of interests between us that rivals that of blood relations.

He is our Prince and our Savior, but now He is our Elder Brother also! Oh the wonder that we are related in such a way to the King of Glory! This is the wonder of the incarnation.

Christ's identity of His people as His Brethren is sealed forever by His death at Calvary. It is the proof that He is really made like us, even sharing in that mark of shame that separates us from God - death as the punishment for our guiltiness. He has been made to suffer death for us, and for our sins. Therefore, He is not ashamed to call us brethren!

Jesus proclaims at once His close relation with us, and His impending Glory at God's right hand. Now we can say there is one substantially like us, our own flesh and blood, in the Glory of God forever!

And none of this sunders our relationship with Him - the death, the resurrection, the exaltation. For one day, we will be raised like Him and made like Him, brethren for all eternity!