An Innocent act...

[irishman]

of love almost destroyed redemption for all men. I believe that there were several attempts in Scripture to destroy the the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. One such that the Lord showed me, is in the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verse 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." I have posted this before on OB in devotion form, but it is so ironic that I thought to share it again here.

Christ had risen from the dead, and had to present the atoning blood to the Father at the Mercy seat. If human hands would have touched him then, I believe that the sacrifice would have been polluted. Mary, in an act of love and great joy, sought to hug Jesus, or to fall at his feet and cling to Him; Though she did it in innocence, it is amazing that an act of love almost destroyed the one time sacrifice for all mankind. Satan is surely a wily character.

Can we come up with a few other attempts to destroy the holy line, thereby destroying the once-for-all sacrifice?

[HappyChristian]

When Herod sent soldiers to kill the children from birth to two years of age in hopes of wiping out the King for whom the wise men sought.

[irishman]

yes, that's another one. There are also a few in the Old testament, starting right off with Cain killing Abel, at least I believe it was the first attempt.

[HappyChristian]

Hmmm - never thought of that! Good one.

[irishman]

Hmmm - never thought of that! Good one.

I was more amazed at the last attempt, after the resurrection! You'd think the devil would have admitted defeat by then...he just never gives up!

I sort of think that the "sons of God" (Gen. 6:1-5) marrying the daughters of men, was another attempt to wipe out the Holy line. Edited July 15, 2010 by irishman

[HappyChristian]

I was more amazed at the last attempt, after the resurrection! You'd think the devil would have admitted defeat by then...he just never gives up!

I sort of think that the "sons of God" (Gen. 6:1-5) marrying the daughters of men, was another attempt to wipe out the Holy line.

I never even thought of the point you brought up with Mary. Interesting indeed.

How about the time Jesus was teaching and was on the edge of the hill - they wanted to take Him then, but He just walked right through the crowd and away. I sometimes wonder if some of them didn't think about pushing Him off the hill.

[Salyan]

How about King Saul throwing his spear at David to try to kill him?

[irishman]

...Or the temptation in the wilderness. The time the devil tried to get Jesus to jump off a cliff!

Yeah, I never thought about Saul trying to kill David, that would have messed things up pretty good too!

Uhh, happy, I hope that was a typo when you wrote to "Mary"!!

[DennisD]

...Or the temptation in the wilderness. The time the devil tried to get Jesus to jump off a cliff!

Yeah, I never thought about Saul trying to kill David, that would have messed things up pretty good too!

Uhh, happy, I hope that was a typo when you wrote to "Mary"!!

She didn't call you Mary, said "with Mary" in regards to your statement on Mary in your first post.

[HappyChristian]

...Or the temptation in the wilderness. The time the devil tried to get Jesus to jump off a cliff!

Yeah, I never thought about Saul trying to kill David, that would have messed things up pretty good too!

Uhh, happy, I hope that was a typo when you wrote to "Mary"!!

I didn't write it to Mary, sorry. I was referring to your OP - I never thought of Mary's almost touching Christ as a way to destroy redemption. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[irishman]

oh, sorry, My name is Marty, so I thought you were referring to me, and left out the "T".
Sorry, my mistake.

[Seth Doty]

Christ had risen from the dead, and had to present the atoning blood to the Father at the Mercy seat. If human hands would have touched him then, I believe that the sacrifice would have been polluted. Mary, in an act of love and great joy, sought to hug Jesus, or to fall at his feet and cling to Him; Though she did it in innocence, it is amazing that an act of love almost destroyed the one time sacrifice for all mankind. Satan is surely a wily character.

How does that thought relate to Matthew 15:16-20? How could God's holiness possibly be polluted by man(or in this case a woman)? I am inclined to think the reason Jesus did not want her to touch him till after he had ascended to the father may have been more for Mary's personal protection against the holiness of God than for the protection of the purity of Christs sacrificed blood in the fathers eyes. He did have his glorified body then and I wonder if until the blood was officially offered in heaven and accepted by the father as the permanent covering for a believers sins if judgement might not have broken forth on anyone who touched a holy Christ in his glorified body no matter what their reason was. Hebrews 12:18-24 which contrasts the smoking mount that literally burned when exposed to the pure holiness of God to the access we have through Christs blood comes to mind as do all the old testament temple laws where Gods holiness would break forth even upon the priests and result in their death if they violated the temple laws designed to protect them. Christs blood is what stands between us and God's holiness now, if it wasn't yet actually presented and accepted in heaven at that point I would think the dangerousness of imperfect man being directly in contact with God's holiness would still be there. Just some alternate thoughts, scripture does not specifically say why Mary couldn't touch him till after he ascended to the father so I suppose that leaves it open to interpretation.

[irishman]

How does that thought relate to Matthew 15:16-20? How could God's holiness possibly be polluted by man(or in this case a woman)? I am inclined to think the reason Jesus did not want her to touch him till after he had ascended to the father may have been more for Mary's personal protection against the holiness of God than for the protection of the purity of Christs sacrificed blood in the fathers eyes. He did have his glorified body then and I wonder if until the blood was officially offered in heaven and accepted by the father as the permanent covering for a believers sins if judgement might not have broken forth on anyone who touched a holy Christ in his glorified body no matter what their reason was. Hebrews 12:18-24 which contrasts the smoking mount that literally burned when exposed to the pure holiness of God to the access we have through Christs blood comes to mind as do all the old testament temple laws where Gods holiness would break forth even upon the priests and result in their death if they violated the temple laws designed to protect them. Christs blood is what stands between us and God's holiness now, if it wasn't yet actually presented and accepted in heaven at that point I would think the dangerousness of imperfect man being directly in contact with God's holiness would still be there. Just some alternate thoughts, scripture does not specifically say why Mary couldn't touch him till after he ascended to the father so I suppose that leaves it open to interpretation.

I like your avatar!
Good thoughts seth-doty, I never really saw it that way before. I was thinking more of the purified and glorified body of Christ, which had to remain in that state until the blood was presented. Man's flesh would mar the perfection of it, as touching him with unholy hands.

[John81]

How does that thought relate to Matthew 15:16-20? How could God's holiness possibly be polluted by man(or in this case a woman)? I am inclined to think the reason Jesus did not want her to touch him till after he had ascended to the father may have been more for Mary's personal protection against the holiness of God than for the protection of the purity of Christs sacrificed blood in the fathers eyes. He did have his glorified body then and I wonder if until the blood was officially offered in heaven and accepted by the father as the permanent covering for a believers sins if judgement might not have broken forth on anyone who touched a holy Christ in his glorified body no matter what their reason was. Hebrews 12:18-24 which contrasts the smoking mount that literally burned when exposed to the pure holiness of God to the access we have through Christs blood comes to mind as do all the old testament temple laws where Gods holiness would break forth even upon the priests and result in their death if they violated the temple laws designed to protect them. Christs blood is what stands between us and God's holiness now, if it wasn't yet actually presented and accepted in heaven at that point I would think the dangerousness of imperfect man being directly in contact with God's holiness would still be there. Just some alternate thoughts, scripture does not specifically say why Mary couldn't touch him till after he ascended to the father so I suppose that leaves it open to interpretation.

Great to read a post from you again!

[HappyChristian]

Good thoughts, Seth. And I agree - it's good to hear from you!