A Higher Plane

11/4/2015

Mark 16.19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. – St. Peter

I’m not sure why Peter is made out to be the Gatekeeper of Heaven; there must be some tradition that says so… When Peter’s Gospel was written, apparently the last 11 verses seem to be in question as to whether or not they were part of the original text. I don’t know. I’m not sure. But this I do know, gatekeeper or not, Peter saw things in heaven that the rest of us just have to take by faith: Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God… St. Pete must have known something.

I can imagine the eyes of those who witnessed the Great Servant King enter His eternal courts, ascend the throne, and take His seat. I can imagine the awe, the honor, and the cheering as the Overcoming God overcame, and took His place to rule and reign forever. Jesus ascended from His place of servant (Philippians 2) to that of Majesty. Wow.

The very next verse in Mark 16 says: And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. (v. 20) The plan was unfolding and the Church had begun. The Church is not a building, It’s a people doing what the Master has commanded, and working with Him to see it done. That’s living at a higher plane.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he wrote: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10.31) That is living at a higher plane: it is living according to the bidding of the King. That would be Jesus, and He commands at this moment from His glorious throne. Peter knew all that and saw all that. Peter, the lowly fisherman, saw the goodness and glory of God.

Again, I’m not sure why Peter has been relegated to the Doorman of Heaven because the Scripture indicates he is one of the 24 elders in the throne room of John’s Revelation. I think Peter has better things to do than guard the gate of Heaven.

God took Peter to a higher plane of living. God took Peter, with all of his faults and failings and turned him into a herald of the Good News. I’m not sure I believe that his reward for all that was standing at the gate. Peter was transformed into a child of the Living God and he now rules in Heaven alongside the Great Servant King. That is the promise for all who believe. That is a higher plane of life for God’s children.

Jesus did what He set out to do and He did it in complete submission to the Father’s leading. As believers, you and I are called to nothing less – we are to do as Jesus did and follow the path to glory listening to, and carrying out, the Father’s wishes. Like Father, like Son, like child. Peter, the fisherman who became the Fisher of Men, saw all this and lives in God’s glorious throne room at this moment.

Our goal is to join him in that higher plane.

Lord, take me higher. Take me to that place of listening intently, and then doing completely. Take me this day to the next step toward that Higher Plane – Amen.