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‘He is risen!’ – Part 9

By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide
18 June 2017   |   4:18 am
Nobody knows the beginning of God nor the end of God. Therefore, note very carefully, the terms anno Domini (AD) and before Christ (BC) are used to label or number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

Nobody knows the beginning of God nor the end of God. Therefore, note very carefully, the terms anno Domini (AD) and before Christ (BC) are used to label or number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The term anno Domini is Medieval Latin, which means in the year of the Lord but is often translated as in the year of our Lord.

The term anno Domini is occasionally set out more fully as anno Domini nostril Iesu (or Jesu) Christi (“in the year of Our Lord Jesus Christ”).

This calendar era is based on the traditionally reckoned year of the conception or birth of Jesus of Nazareth, with AD counting years from the start of this epoch, and BC denoting years before the start of the era. There is no year zero in this scheme, so the year AD1 immediately follows the year 1BC. Note carefully, there is truly nothing like “Before Christ” because Jesus Christ is the eternal God who existed before He chose to reveal Himself to us in the pages of the Bible. Hence within the limited knowledge of man who coined the word BC, the real understanding of BC is before the eternal God emerged on earth as the God-man who came to dwell among us “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14). No mortal can truly calculate the dates from the time God started to exist in heaven to the time He arrived on earth.

Since Jesus Christ existed before he appeared on earth and before Genesis 1:1, nobody can truly define Jesus’ history. John the apostle said: “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (Jn 21:25)
30“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30,31)

To understand the life and mission of Jesus more fully, all we need to do is study the Gospels. John tells us that His Gospel records only a few of the many events in Jesus’ life on earth. But the gospel includes everything we need to know to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, through whom we receive eternal life.

Where did Jesus come from and where did He return after His resurrection?
Jesus came from heaven and returned to heaven
At this point it is critical to address some misconceptions about where Jesus came from and where He returned to after His resurrection and ascension. Jesus Himself told us He came down from heaven (Jn 6:33;38,51,58). Indeed this claim that He came from heaven was one of the reasons the Jews labeled him a blasphemer. They simply saw Him as “the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know.” How is it then that He says, “I have come down from heaven?” (Jn 6:42)

Where did Jesus return to after His resurrection and ascension?
Jesus said: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (Jn 14:2) “My Father’s house.” This phrase clearly refers to heaven, as Jesus is going there (after His death, resurrection and ascension) to prepare a place for us (Mat 6:9; cf. Ps 33:13-14; Is 63:15).

Email:mercyolumide2004@yahoo.co.ukMobile: +234 803 344 6614; +234 808 123 7987.

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