Don't Cling To Me

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Stop Clinging? – Why???

1. Why forbidden?

a. nature so new, fresh - could be defiled easily?

b. nature so new, fresh - would zap her dead (fly zapper)

2. Clue is in the nature of her clinging

a. Greek = “fastened to, hold tight, adhere to, she wouldn’t let go”

b. Jesus didn’t mind being touched, but she simply wouldn’t let go”

3. Need to let go, I have not yet ascended

B. Had She Kept On Clinging…

1. Jesus couldn’t sit down at Father’s right hand where He intercedes

(1 Jn) “if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous”

2. Jesus couldn’t got to heaven to prepare a place for us

(Jn 14:2-3) “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

3. Jesus couldn’t have sent the “Another Helper”, the Holy Spirit

(Jn 14:16-17, 26) “the Father…will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever … the Holy Spirit will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

II. THIS TEXT CAME TO ME IN SEWARD, ALASKA – ON A TOUR OF “EXIT GLACIER”

A. Park Ranger - “People focus on negative – of what we’re losing in receding glaciers. I like to focus on the positive – new growth that’s happening in its wake”

B. New Growth Examples

1. Simple moss – to - Small grasses & seedlings – to - small bush & trees

2. Larger trees – to - forests – to - animals

C. The Glaciers Will Go Away – Can’t Stop It

1. Can photograph, appreciate, celebrate – but can’t hold onto them

2. Nothing you can do to stop the course of nature

3. Appreciate new life & new growth & good things happening in it’s wake

D. Jesus Said, “Don’t Cling To Me”

1. There’s good things that can happen in my leaving

a. intercession

b. heaven prepared

c. H.S. will come

2. Love me, have good memories, celebrate my life & sacrifice

3. But you must not hold onto me – you cannot stop what must happen

4. Let go of me. Open your eyes and arms to the good things to come

III. MY BIBLE SAYS THAT THERE ARE ONLY A FEW THINGS THAT ARE FOREVER – THAT ARE WORTH CLINGING TO – THAT CANNOT AND WILL “NOT PASS AWAY”

A. The Kingdom Of God (Daniel 7:14)

B. The Word Of God (Matthew 24:35) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Says this 5 times)

C. The Love Of God - agape love (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

IV. INVITATION