Easter 3B Resurrection Life Given to All

Resurrection Life Given to All

In chapter 24 of the Gospel of Luke we get the Day of Resurrection in Five Scenes. To make any sense of our text, Luke 24:36b-48, which is scene 4, a review of the first three scenes is instructive. As he encounters his followers who are described as grieving, disbelieving, astounded, startled, terrified and still wondering about each report and experience, Jesus addresses one and all as he reminds them how he had opened their hearts to the scriptures.

Scene One: A group of women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, go to the tomb only to find it empty except for two men “in dazzling clothes” who announce that Jesus is alive. They remember he had told them that he would rise again on the third day. They go tell the news to “the eleven” and “all the rest,” who dismiss it as an “idle tale” – or “women’s trinkets” in the Greek – and did not believe them. Unlike the women, they do not “remember” the scriptures he had opened to them. They could not remember what he had taught them about their future mission, which, we learn later, is to be “witnesses of these things.” But the women remember, share the news and already embrace the mission.

Scene Two: Peter goes to look for himself, and stooping over to look into the tomb he sees that it is just as the women had described. Except by now the men in “dazzling clothes” are no longer there. Peter goes home. We are told he is amazed, but like the rest, he does not remember.

Scene Three: Two of “all the rest,” one named Cleopas, the other unnamed, are walking home from Jerusalem. The Risen Jesus joins them on the way, but “their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” He asks, “What’s going on?” “Are you the only one who does not know the things that have taken place in Jerusalem the last few days?” Playing along, Jesus says, “What things?” They speak of his trial and execution, their hopes that he would redeem Israel, and that this morning some women astounded them with the crazy news that his tomb was empty and that they had had a “vision of angels” who told them Jesus was alive. “Oh, how foolish you are,” says Jesus, “and slow to believe what the prophets have declared! All this was necessary!” He then “opens the scriptures to them,” beginning with Moses and all the prophets. Resurrection life begins with remembering and knowing “the scriptures” of Moses, the prophets, and Jesus.  

As they reach their home in Emmaus, Jesus plans to keep going, but they convince him to stay and have supper. He agrees, and at the table he “takes, blesses and breaks the bread, and gives it to them.” Just as he had done at supper with them on Thursday. Just as he had done when feeding the 5,000. To take, bless, break and give away is the pattern of his life. Suddenly they recognize him. Just as suddenly he disappears. “Were not our hearts burning as he opened the scriptures to us on the road!” To study the scriptures with Jesus sets your heart on fire!

Scene Four: The two hurry back to Jerusalem where they find the eleven “and their companions”- that is, com=with; pan=bread; i.e., “those with whom you share bread.” The two from Emmaus tell them what happened on the road, and how he had been “made known in the breaking of the bread.” While they are talking about all this “Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” Startled and terrified they think it is a ghost! “Why are you scared and why do you not believe – here look at my hands and feet! Touch me and see! No ghost has flesh and bones as you see I have!” And while they were still wondering and disbelieving, he adds, “I haven’t had a thing to eat since supper on Thursday. Have you anything here to eat?” They give him a piece of broiled fish which he eats in their presence. Ghosts don’t eat fish! But the Risen Lord eats bread and fish – just like the 5,000 had not so long ago.

Jesus then proceeds to open their minds to understand the scriptures, that everything about him in the “Law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” It is written that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. “You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so, stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” To live into resurrection, one needs to be open to the scriptures and engaged with the mission: to proclaim repentance, forgiveness of sins, and the love of God to all people everywhere!

Scene Five: Jesus takes them out to Bethany where he blesses them, he ascends into heaven, and they return to Jerusalem with great joy! “And they were continually in the temple blessing God.” From here the story will be continued in Volume Two: The Book of the Acts of the Apostles!

Like most of us this past year of the Pandemic, civil unrest, endless shootings, the loss of so many lives, they all had been through a very difficult time. They had reason to be terrified and afraid. They had no idea what to expect next. It must have seemed as if life as they once knew it was over. Their hope for freedom and redemption with Jesus seemed to end on the cross. But then their hearts and minds are opened to read the scriptures in new and empowering ways. Along with that, they are given new hope and a new mission – a new life: to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’s name “to all nations” – to everyone, everywhere. They are to be witnesses of all these things – to tell the story, to share the news that God forgives you, God loves you. Just the way you are! We all can begin again! We all can have new life. Lives were changed forever – as were all those to whom they began to bear witness to the power of Jesus’s name. Because the eleven and their companions finally embraced the mission as the women had at the dawn of that new day, we are here to let our minds be opened and our hearts set on fire!

We all can and will begin again. We all can and will have new life again. Our hearts will be set on fire when we allow the scriptures to be opened to us, beginning with Moses, the prophets and the psalms! We can all learn how to take, bless, break and give away Jesus’s power and love to everyone we meet, to everyone everywhere. As we live through the most difficult of times, there will always be resurrection life on the other side if we embrace the mission like the women did from the beginning. The meaning of resurrection for us all is forever inextricably linked not only to the study of scripture, but with our engagement with the mission. It turns out that the meaning and experience of resurrection is not to be found historical research and scientific scrutiny. As his companions find out on the road from Jerusalem to “all the nations,” the presence of the Risen Lord is always with them in new and different ways. There is no need to ask what form his presence might take. Engagement with the message of repentance and forgiveness, and God’s love no matter what, hope is restored. And the world has never been the same. Once they were terrified and hiding, now they were raised to new life themselves! Their hearts and minds were opened. Their hearts were set on fire. This is what resurrection looks like for all who study the scriptures and engage with the mission.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

And so are we! And so are we!