When God looks at me, He sees Jesus!

Have you ever been reading through the Bible when a verse "jumps off the page"? I mean, it causes you to stop immediately, reflect and say, "WHOA! That's amazing!!!"

I just happened to me again!

As I read through John 20, I came to the part where Mary Magdalene was at the tomb and saw Jesus. (By the way, God goes out of His way to show the value He places upon women in the Bible. One of the many ways He does so was by making it clear that a woman was the first one to see the resurrected Jesus and tell others about it [John 20:11-18].)

Well, as Mary Magdalene recognizes the resurrected Jesus for the first time at the tomb, she apparently gave Him a big hug or fell at His feet and embraced his feet in worship. This was a worshiper who was overwhelmed that her revered Teacher ("Rabonni!") was alive!

So, Jesus told her to let go and then He said something else. He said that He was heading back to Heaven soon to be with His Father and His God.

Yet, He didn't say it quite like that. He said it in a way that made it clear that followers of Jesus have no less access to God than Jesus does. When God looks at us, who have submitted to the authority of Jesus over our lives, He smiles just as much as when He looks at His Son.

I LOVE the following phrase: "and your"!

John 20:17 (New Living Translation)

"'Don't cling to me,' Jesus said, 'for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." ' "

The mystery of our incredible relationship with God (that we cannot possibly fathom in this life) is tied up in the words "in Christ" that is found so often in Ephesians chapters 1 and 2. Because we are saved and "in Christ," we have more privileges and worth than we could ever possibly imagine.

Hey, are you a follower of Jesus? If so, you've got some amazing things that are true of you! Live up to it! Act like who you are!