Daniel 12 and John 20 juxtaposed to each other.
And one key word sings: RISE.
But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise[i] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” Daniel 12 NIV
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake…those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens…those who lead many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever.”
Awake and Shine like Stars forever and ever.
One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” Daniel 12 NIV
“astonishing…”
My heart awakes.
13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” Daniel 12 NIV
“You will rest…then… you will rise”
RISE.
9 For as yet they did not [b]know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. John 20 NKJV
“He must rise.”
RISE
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to [c]Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the [d]disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. John 20 NKJV
I have frequently pondered the joyful astonishment in this section of John 20. The quick recognition. The beloved realization.
“I am ascending….”
Lord, there is so much grief, sorrow, and loss in this world and in this life. Yet, in You, we rise. Holy Spirit, only You can make resurrection life real and tangible to me; to all those who are lost; to Your people who suffer; to me who can be wrapped in the whirlwind of the world. Your truth is astonishing. You are astonishing. Joy, gladness, everlasting life, goodness- is utterly astonishing. Astonish me, Lord. I love You. Help my life to reflect You and my love for You. Amen.
Rebecca (offeringsbecca)
Sixty-six books in a year 