Today’s reading: Num 15:1–41, John 20:1–31, Ps 16:1–11

Today’s theme: The breath of life

There are lots of good lessons today, including the nature of the bodily resurrection – Jesus, the glory of the resurrection body as well as the breath of life, who is God the Holy Spirit, the one who makes us alive from the dead and anew in Christ.

Numbers 15:1–41

God’s heart for all people

For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD. Numbers 15:15 (ESV)

God shows His intent and heart towards all people, and this points toward God’s universal standard, solution and the one new man spoken of in Eph 2:15.

Do not neglect salvation

And the LORD said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” Numbers 15:35 (ESV)

God takes sin seriously. Hebrews 10:28-29 states that if those who intentionally broke the law of Moses were put to death, how can we escape if we reject the Son of God?

Pull on God’s word

And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. Numbers 15:39 (ESV)

This is what the woman with the issue of blood (Matt 9:20) knew when she reached out and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. We should reach out and pull on God’s commandments rather than following our own hearts in the flesh.

John 20:1–31

Why we gather to worship on Sunday

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. John 20:1 (ESV)

Jesus rose on the first day of the week which is a Sunday. This is why since the earliest church in the book of Acts, through to today, we worship not on the Sabbath day but on Sunday, in honour and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection body of Jesus

Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. John 20:14 (ESV)

Others in the Gospel accounts also have trouble recognising Jesus, which shows this is not an isolated event due to her grief, or tears clouding her eyes.

Instead these accounts of non recognition give weight to the fact of the supernatural Resurrection of Jesus, rather than His body being temporarily revived, as proposed in the swoon theory.

In the OT Moses was not recognisable after being in the glory of God, angels would also mask themselves as men. Paul also instructs us concerning the difference in the Resurrection body, in Cor 15:35-50.

The breath of life

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22 (ESV)

Jesus breathing on the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit, reminds us of God breathing into Adam to make him alive.

Jesus’ very breathing is a miracle as He was actually dead. Breath is a sign of life and Jesus by breathing out, points to the fact that He is alive by the Holy Spirit and calls us to live and serve by the Spirit.

Without the Holy Spirit we are still dead in sin, we are a new creation in Christ only by the life and power of the Holy Spirit who is God.

Psalm 16:1–11

Scripture fulfilled

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. Psalm 16:10 (ESV)

We see the fulfilment of this in today’s reading with the Resurrection of Jesus.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 20