2 Cor.5:16 ...even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him so no longer. John 20:14 When she said these things, she turned backward and beheld Jesus standing there, yet she did not know that it was Jesus. (15) Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She, supposing that He was the gardener, 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 Hebrew, Rabboni! (which means Teacher). (18) Mary the Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, I have seen the Lord...
It is strange that when she [Mary the Magdalene] turned and saw Jesus, the One whom she had seen and followed for years, she could not recognize Him. The reason that she did not know the Lord at all, even though she knew Him so well before, was because the Son of God who had been in the flesh had been crucified on the cross and resurrected. The body which she desired to see was gone. All those who knew Him according to the flesh did not know Him any longer after His resurrection. He was no longer the Lord Jesus in the flesh but the Lord Jesus in the Spirit. She could no longer know Him by the same means that she did when she knew Him in the flesh. Formerly, her eyes could identify Him. Her eyes had not changed, but they could not identify the Lord Jesus anymore. She had not changed, but Jesus of Nazareth had changed. Mary was still the same Mary, but Jesus of Nazareth had risen from the dead. Her ears, eyes, and understanding had now become useless. According to the old ways it was possible to know the earthly Lord Jesus in the flesh. But it was no longer possible to know the resurrected, spiritual, and heavenly Lord Jesus, who now lived in the Spirit. Because the Lord had changed, there had to be a change on Mary's part before she could know the changed Jesus. She had to have a new revelation before she could have a fresh knowledge of the Lord. It is strange that as soon as the Lord mentioned her name, Mary recognized the Lord. This calling of her name by the Lord is a kind of revelation. What is a revelation? A revelation is not the Lord standing there and saying, "I am Jesus." A revelation is when a person suddenly and inexplicably comes to know the Lord. The Lord did not say anything to her; all He did was call her name, and she became clear within. She received inward knowledge. This is the meaning of a revelation. Revelation does not come through the ears, the eyes, or any other power of perception. Revelation is a mysterious thing; it is a knowledge beyond the power of comprehension of the ears and eyes. It is a mysterious kind of knowledge. This is revelation.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, pp. 1-3. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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