Heavenly Raised Physical Bodies Have Physical and Spiritual Qualities
An all-creatures Bible Message

Heavenly Raised Physical Bodies Have Physical and Spiritual Qualities
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
4 May 2014
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

Mark 11:15-18
Luke 24:13–53
Romans 10:17
1 Peter 1:17–23

Last week we talked about the fact that our heavenly raised physical bodies seem to have both physical and spiritual qualities.
 
This is somewhat like light, which has both wave (wave length) and particle (photon) qualities; but unlike the heavenly raised physical bodies, it cannot appear and disappear, and pass through walls.
 
Today we are going to look at an example of how our heavenly raised physical bodies are manifested here on earth through Jesus’ appearance during His visitation to the two men on the road to Emmaus, and to a group gathered afterwards.
 
Let’s see what took place as recorded in Luke 24:13-53 on the day that Jesus was raised from death.

13. And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
 
14. And they were conversing with each other about all these things which had taken place.
 
15. And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus Himself approached, and began traveling with them.

Jesus spiritually appeared to them for it was after His resurrection, and they could see His body.

16. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

This appears to be the same thing that happened to Mary in the garden, and she didn’t recognize Jesus until He began to talk to her in a personal way, calling her by name, because heavenly raised physical bodies have both physical and spiritual qualities, and apparently don’t look as they did when they were physically alive.

17. And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad.
 
18. And one of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"

Then Jesus responds in a way that’s geared to both test their faith and strengthen it.

19. And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,
 
20. and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.

Let’s pause here for a moment and consider what we are told in Mark 11:15-18, for it gives us a better understanding of why the chief priests and rulers wanted to kill Jesus.

15. And they [Jesus and His disciples] came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were buying and selling [animals for sacrifice] in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves [also for sacrifice];
 
16. and He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple.

Jesus had shut down the priests’ very lucrative business of animal sacrifice, and they were very upset.

17. And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a robbers' den."

This statement was meant mostly for the priests and religious leaders, because they knew and understood the true meaning of the scriptures, but their love of money was more important to them than the heavenly will of God.
 
These religious leaders understood that Jesus was calling them robbers and sinners against God’s will, and they wanted to stop Jesus instead of repenting and doing the will of God by ending their sacrificial cult.

18. And the chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for all the multitude was astonished at His teaching.
NASB

We believe that this is the major reason why they conspired with the Roman leaders to kill Jesus, and to desire to harm any other living being is evil and totally against God’s heavenly will.
 
The lay people had much more faith than the religious leaders and, unfortunately, we have seen this problem in many churches today.
 
This brings us back to the conversation between Jesus and the men on the road to Emmaus; listen to the men respond to Jesus’ question to them.

21. "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.
 
22. "But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,
 
23. and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive.
 
24. "And some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."

From what these travelers are saying, we can see their lack of faith and understanding, as well as their desire to believe.
 
So how does Jesus respond?

25. And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
 
26. "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"

In other words, Jesus is telling them that what He could not accomplish here on earth in His physical body, He can now accomplish in His spiritual body and from the heavenly realm.

27. And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
 
28. And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He would go farther.
 
29. And they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." And He went in to stay with them.
 
30. And it came about that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.
 
31. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

Jesus vanished because their doubt had disappeared and they truly believed, and His vanishing from their site is also proof that His body and all other heavenly raised physical bodies have both physical and spiritual qualities.
 
These heavenly raised physical bodies are transformed into the heavenly realm of God, and why we said that rising from death is both physical and spiritual.
 
We believe that this applies to all the animals as well.

32. And they said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"

This is exactly what we are told in Romans 10:17…

17. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
NASB

And, the same thing can happen to anyone, today, if they are willing, just as these two men were willing; for we have Jesus’ word printed on the pages of our Bibles.

33. And they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,
 
34. saying, "The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon."
 
35. And they began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
 
36. And while they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst.

This is another example that heavenly raised physical bodies have physical and spiritual qualities, as the appearing of Jesus proves.

37. But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

Fear enters into our lives only when we have a loss of heavenly faith and love.
 
We might be startled at such a sudden appearance, but we should be filled with joy and praise for being able to see such a heavenly event.

38. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
 
39. "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."

Jesus is showing them His physical side of His heavenly transformed body.
 
This is another reason why we believe that rising from death involves both the physical and spiritual.
 
Jesus materialized in front of them, which is a spiritual event, and now He tells them to touch His body to see that it is real, which is a physical event.
 
Therefore, we have to conclude that a body rising from death transforms the body into both a physical and spiritual part of our heavenly being.

40. [And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.]

The brackets around this verse indicate that this verse was not found in some of the earliest manuscripts, which indicates that it could have been added at a later date.

41. And while they still could not believe it for joy and were marveling, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 
 
42. And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish;

Remember that broiled fish came from a once living being, which makes this offering a part of this corrupted world, and not a part of the heavenly will of God. 
 
Besides this, in those days they had no refrigeration, and they didn’t have any fresh fish in Jerusalem, and that would be required to make broiled fish,  because it would take more than a day to get there; their only way to preserve fish was to salt it and dry it.

43. and He took it and ate it before them.

This verse is totally counter to the compassionate life that Jesus led, for no other verse in the Bible says that Jesus ate any flesh.
 
Furthermore, He never ate the bread he broke for the two men, so this is one of the few Bible verses that we have some reservations about fully believing.
 
But this is immaterial to what Jesus spoke about next.

44. Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 
 
45. Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
 
46. and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day;

This quote is not from the Hebrew text; the only place where it appears is in the book of Luke.

47. and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Even though what is being said is true, this verse also is not found in the Hebrew text.

48. "You are witnesses of these things.
 
49. "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 
 
50. And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
 
51. And it came about that while He was blessing them, He parted from them.

This in another instance where Jesus demonstrates that heavenly raised physical bodies have physical and spiritual qualities, for He had to have passed through the wall or roof when He appeared and departed from the dwelling.

52. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
 
53. and were continually in the temple, praising God.
NASB

These people have been spiritually changed, as is evident by their dedication.
 
They have been born again by the Spirit of God.
 
Now let’s take a look at 1 Peter 1:17-23, and what he says about this spiritual change that can take place here on earth, if we are willing.
 
And a vital part of this willingness is our desire to live in the heavenly will of God here on earth, which means that we are willing to do everything in our power to free creation from its present corruption, including the elimination of all human caused pain, suffering, and death that we are able to do, for none of these things exist in heaven.
 
This is also true in our relationships with all other human beings and all the animals.

17. And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth;

This is part of our living in the heavenly will of God that Jesus taught us.

18. knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
 
19. but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

This is only for those who have truly repented, and been born again.

20. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
 
21. who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
 
22. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
 
23. for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.
NASB

This is our hope and prayer.
 
This is the most important thing we can do, for this is why Jesus came.
 
We can and should be spiritually changed.
 
We can and should be born again.
 
We can and should help free creation, which includes every other human being and all the animals, from the corruption to which it has been subjected by this evil world.
 
Like Jesus, we can one day rise into heaven with our heavenly raised physical bodies that have been spiritually changed.
 
Amen.

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