To Conceive - Hebrews 11:11

Hebrews 11:11 ESV 

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

By faith we receive power from the Holy Spirit and are given the ability to conceive, though we are dead. He is faithful to His promise and His word is always true. 

We are born again and given spirit form and life. We enter and stand in His presence as sons and daughters. 

Who can conceive such a marvelous thing? Almighty God. 

Who can perform such a marvelous thing? Almighty God. 

Believe and conceive. 

Apart From Us - Hebrews 11:39-40

Hebrews 11:39-40 ESV 

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

They gave witness through their faith in God without receiving what was promised. We give witness to that same faith and are sealed with the Holy Spirit to confirm the promise of the inheritance that awaits. Our faith will find the reward promised by God: our perfection. 

The Greek word translated as "provided" means something planned and provisioned beforehand, or predestined, for those who believe God. We will all receive perfection together. 

Said To Them - John 20:2

John 20:2 ESV 

John 20:2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 

Why does John tell us that Mary runs to Peter and the beloved disciple?

Peter may symbolize the remnant of Israel that will come believe in The Lord. He was the apostle to the Jews, the servant of God. It is Peter that would receive the command from Jesus to feed His sheep. His sheep will witness to the world, the tribes sealed in Revelation followed by a multitude without number coming out of the great tribulation. 

John may symbolize those who first believe in Christ, His resurrection and grace. He became the beloved disciple, even as Christ loves the church. To him is given the gospel of divine love and the revelation of the end times. The Greek word for "beloved" is the word for brotherly love, of personal affection. This appropriate for all sons and daughters of God. 

Who is the disciple whom Jesus loves? You and me. 

Still Dark - John 20:1

John 20:1 ESV 

​Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

The light of the world had not yet risen to make the victory over darkness apparent. Though still dark, Christ had left the darkness of the tomb behind.

Darkness remains today though the light has risen and shines on the world. The stone has been rolled away, but many choose to remain in the tomb of death than walk out into the light. 

The Greek word translated as "stone" could be used in reference to a millstone. This could remind us of the millstone of sin around each of our necks that is rolled away by the resurrection of Christ. 

God separates the light from the darkness and calls the light good. 

Why does this first appearance come to Mary? It may be the same reason the angels announced the birth of the Savior to the shepherds. He has come to the lowly and the meek of the world. The word took the humble form of man and delivers its glorious message to the humble of man. This takes place today. Those that arrive at the end of themselves are able to see beyond themselves. The light and truth of God come into view and begin to shape us in the image of God. We enter the light because He is the light. 

Power To Conceive - Hebrews 11:11

Heb. 11:11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 

Faith preceded power. The child of promise is conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, as promised by the one Who is faithful. 

Like Sarah, we are given the power of the Holy Spirit when we receive that faithful one. When we place our faith in Christ, we participate with the Spirit in conceiving a son of God, for such is our walk with God until we are able to eat from the tree of life. 

He has prepared a table for us though we walk in the land of the shadow of death. 

Their Hour - John 16:1-3

John 16:1-3 ESV 

​“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

The daily examples of this prophesy are in the news. The killing serves their god, but not God Almighty. This is their hour. The day of the Lord is yet to come. Their hour will come to an end. 

Satan will be loosed for a little while, then thrown into the lake of fire. 

Land Of Promise - Hebrews 11:8-10

Hebrews 11:8-10 ESV 

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

We are called out just as Abraham and told that we will receive an inheritance. We live in these tents of flesh as we await our incorruptible bodies based on the foundation of the word of God. This is the land of promise, the good earth formed by the hand of God.