John 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
When Jesus told Nathanael that he would see Heaven open and Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man, it did not mean a special entry to Heaven but a promise that he would rise and, on Judgment Day, enter Heaven.
Others were also confirmed entry into Heaven on Judgment Day, and these include the criminal who was crucified on Jesus’ right hand. People mistake that he was promised entry to Paradise/Heaven ‘that same day’ since translators mistakenly put it as ‘today’. If we read the context of their discussion, he told Jesus that the day He comes in glory, not to forget him, and to this Jesus told him that day (referring to the day He comes in glory) he will be with Him in Paradise/Heaven. The word ‘to day’ in Greek has 3 renderings: this day, that day and which day. If we look at the context of their discussion and knowing that Jesus Himself, after resurrection on the third day, did not allow anyone to touch Him, saying He had not yet risen to the Father, but in the evening after His walk in the wilderness He did allow Thomas to touch Him. His sacrifice ended after His resurrection and completing the walk through the wilderness.
We also have people like the woman with an issue of blood, whom Jesus said, ‘be whole’; they were confirmed entry to Heaven. The term ‘be whole’ meant more than being healed in the physical body. Mark records Jesus told her to ‘be whole’ after she had already received her healing.
It was their unshakable faith in the Lord that got them a confirmed entry to Heaven. Do we have that level of faith to confess the Lord Jesus Christ in all situations, including when the situation is not favourable?
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. You are God who understands only one language, the language of faith. Lord, we pray we realise that only faith saves us, for it makes available Your abundant grace. Lord, we pray we have faith like a mustard seed, faith without doubt…
We make this prayer in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
John 1:47-49
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Luke 23:42-43
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
John 20:17 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.
Mark 5:25-34
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in [her] body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.