As we approach the celebration of Jesus' post-resurrection ascension this week, I have been thinking about the way this would have affected both Jesus and his disciples. Beyond what we obviously have in our texts, what would they have had to say to each other? The relationship between Jesus and the various disciples was more than simply that of student and teacher. Through their time together, they became friends, even family.
Surely they would have had more to say to one another than a blessing and a command to share what they have learned. Even Yoda had more to say to Luke than "When gone am I, the last of the Jedi will you be. Pass on what you have learned." What other words or wishes would have passed between them?
Recently, a new song from Mumford and Sons has caught my ear. In this song, "Beloved," the songwriter is reflecting on his experience of being in the room when his grandmother had passed away. He is reflecting on that sense of loss, the grief that comes when someone you love dies.
Encountering the Body: The Power of Love
Often when we think about the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, we think about the appearances to the disciples that had already been following Jesus in life. And over the last few weeks, it is exactly these appearances that we have been exploring together. However, the power of Jesus' love for the world is that his love was not limited only to those who had already been his followers. Nor is his love limited to perfect people. Today,we explore the call of a totally surprising disciple who encounters the body of the risen Jesus in more ways than one (see Acts 9:1-9, 17-20).
Encountering the Body: In the Flesh
As we have traveled through this Easter season, I have focused on the appearances of the resurrected Jesus to his various followers, the disciples' encounters with the risen body of Christ. We've seen the female followers discover the empty tomb and Mary Magdalene's subsequent encounter with Jesus in the garden. We've seen the appearance to the inner circle of male disciples on subsequent weeks as they hid with their fears and their doubts behind locked doors. And we've seen a glimpse of how the crucifixion and resurrection affected a pair of followers that were not in the inner circle.
These encounters mostly follow a similar pattern. Jesus appears to his followers, there is some recognition of his physical presence (holding on to him, touching his wounds, sharing food), often there is a sharing of some sort of message, and then a command or impulse to share that message.
This week, we return to the group of disciples we are more familiar with (see John 21:1-19). These are members of the inner circle, the male disciples that were closest to Jesus, sometimes referred to as the Twelve. Though not all of them are present, we do find Peter, James, John, Thomas, Nathanael, and a couple of unnamed others.
Apparently they are still trying to figure out what the appearances of Jesus are supposed to mean for them. The gospel writer tells us this is the third appearance to these men, so we can guess we are at least a week out from that first Easter morning when the women discovered the empty tomb and Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. Later that same day, Jesus appeared to the previously unknown followers on their journey back to Emmaus, and then, that evening, Jesus appeared to his inner circle as they hid in Jerusalem; well, all of them except Thomas. A week later, he again appeared to the men and Thomas was present. So we can safely assume that this appearance follows the one that included Thomas.
These encounters mostly follow a similar pattern. Jesus appears to his followers, there is some recognition of his physical presence (holding on to him, touching his wounds, sharing food), often there is a sharing of some sort of message, and then a command or impulse to share that message.
This week, we return to the group of disciples we are more familiar with (see John 21:1-19). These are members of the inner circle, the male disciples that were closest to Jesus, sometimes referred to as the Twelve. Though not all of them are present, we do find Peter, James, John, Thomas, Nathanael, and a couple of unnamed others.
Apparently they are still trying to figure out what the appearances of Jesus are supposed to mean for them. The gospel writer tells us this is the third appearance to these men, so we can guess we are at least a week out from that first Easter morning when the women discovered the empty tomb and Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. Later that same day, Jesus appeared to the previously unknown followers on their journey back to Emmaus, and then, that evening, Jesus appeared to his inner circle as they hid in Jerusalem; well, all of them except Thomas. A week later, he again appeared to the men and Thomas was present. So we can safely assume that this appearance follows the one that included Thomas.
Encountering the Body: At the Table
As we continue through the Easter season, I am continuing to explore the various encounters that the disciples had with the risen body of Jesus and the ways in which they were empowered and renewed by that experience for the continuing mission that Jesus had set before them. Today I step outside of this year's lectionary readings to look at some less famous disciples who are journeying home to Emmaus that first Easter day (see Luke 24:13-35)
* * *
On Easter morning, we heard the story of Mary Magdalene and the other women discovering the empty tomb that first Easter. Unsure what it could mean at first, Mary then encountered the risen Christ in the garden. The resurrection was a source of joy and the inauguration of a new mission.
Two weeks ago, we heard the story of the doubtful disciples, the male apostles who were hiding in a room in the midst of fear and doubts. But Jesus broke into their lives, and they had a life changing encounter with the risen Christ as well.
Today we get a glimpse of some other disciples, ones that have not been named before in the story, but ones that had obviously been part of the crowds that were following Jesus. This particular story is only fleshed out here in Luke’s gospel. In this gospel, this story takes place between the discovery of the empty tomb and Jesus’ appearance to the hiding apostles later that same day.
We catch a glimpse here of how these events affected those that weren’t in the inner circle. These two disciples are not part of the Twelve, and only one of them is actually given a name. But that does not make their encounter with Jesus any less important. In fact, I think that makes this story even more relatable. While there may be those that identify with Mary Magdalene or Thomas or Peter, there are probably many more that identify with the unnamed masses that humbly followed Jesus without accolade or prestige.
At any rate, these two are walking the seven miles or more back home to the community of Emmaus (though I am pretty sure I didn’t do seven miles on my Walk). They are downcast, saddened by everything that had happened. They had been excited when they heard Jesus speak. They had been excited by the new life he was calling them into, a new way of being in relationship with God and with one another. But now he’s dead. I guess life just returns to the way things were.
And then Jesus shows up. The story suggests he just happened to walk upon them on their journey, for there is no mention of a sudden appearance. The text simply says that he “arrived and joined them on their journey.” While the gospel of John doesn’t tell us why Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus until he said her name, Luke does tell us that these two disciples were “prevented from recognizing him.”
But as before there is no mention of how they were prevented from recognizing Jesus. Perhaps, like Doctor Who, he had regenerated into a new body so that his companions could not immediately recognize him. Perhaps, like Superman, he was wearing glasses that kept him from being recognized for who he really is. Or perhaps, as two disciples that were not in the inner circle, they had never actually seen him up close before. Since they obviously aren’t expecting to see him they are unable to recognize him for who he is.
And while it may be fun to play the “what if” game, the specific detail of how is not nearly as important as the rest of the story.
When he questions them about what is going on, they explain to him their grief. They tell him about the love and excitement that had been building in them and then the way their hopes had been dashed by the crucifixion. Then they mention the story the women had told about the empty tomb. We are left assuming they had left not long after since we only hear of the women’s story and Peter’s confirmation that the tomb is empty. And seeing as the actual location of their hometown is anywhere from 7-20 miles from Jerusalem -- depending on which text fragment we are reading from and how the distance was being measured -- for them to arrive home before the evening meal would have meant an early start, particularly with such heavy hearts.
And then Jesus straight up calls them fools.
Perhaps this is unsurprising given the number of times Jesus has to tell his followers they are not understanding all he has been telling them. After their time with him, all his stories, even his references to his death, the disciples were still caught off guard, still not sure what to make of these things.
And then Jesus very patiently explains it all to them again. The new world he was bringing about was always going to challenge the status quo. The things he was teaching, his challenges to the religious and political authorities, were always going to lead to his death. And the resurrection was always going to point to God’s love and a promise of new life.
I can imagine them as this story begins to draw to a close walking slowly along the road in front of their home, wanting to go inside but not quite ready for the conversation to end. I’m sure some of you have had this experience. You have somewhere else to be, but you don’t really want to interrupt what is going on.
As Jesus keeps moving as if to continue along the road, they invite him inside instead. It is almost evening, the day is done. Come in and take a load off.
They go inside and eventually sit down to share some food together. As they do, Jesus takes bread, offers a blessing, breaks the bread, and offers it to them. It doesn’t tell us what words he used or if there was anything said beyond the blessing, but the words and the actions would have recalled for the disciples the Last Supper when Jesus had performed exactly the same actions. And in that moment, they recognize him for who he is. As soon as they do, Jesus disappears.
Can you just imagine the excitement they felt in that moment? The stories are true. They recognize that their hearts had been burning within them as Jesus had been talking with them, though we Methodists might prefer to say their hearts were strangely warmed. They suddenly knew beyond any doubt that God loved them and that all Jesus had taught them was true.
And then these two, who had just walked at least 7 miles in the heat of the day, dejected and feeling lost because of Jesus’ death, jumped up from the table and immediately returned to Jerusalem. If the timeline presented here is to be believed, they returned in time to be present when Jesus appeared to the apostles in hiding. A journey that had likely taken them much of the day, a journey that ended shortly before evening, is now completed in what is likely a matter of only an hour or two, arriving back in Jerusalem that same evening.
Their encounter with the body of the risen Christ gave them the excitement and energy to run miles to share the good news with others. They were bursting with energy, unable to delay even the night to go out and share this news with others.
This is the joy of the encounter with the risen body of Jesus. It empowers and emboldens us. We can’t hold it in, can’t wait to share it. And like these two disciples, we can have this same encounter. Just as they recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread, we too repeat this experience, sharing bread at the table together.
When we come to the table we not only remember Jesus in the sense of remembering the entirety of his life death and resurrection, of remembering all the times he sat at table with his followers and others. But we re-member the body of Jesus. We are the continuing body of Jesus still at work in the world. When we come together at the table, we are Jesus’ hands and feet, his arms and legs. The body is put back together when we gather. This is also what it means to re-member Christ. It is also one of the ways that Christ’s body becomes visible again in the world.
The two block quotes originally appeared in a paper written for the class “Liturgy and Ethics.” Vince McGlothin-Eller, “Encountering the Body: The Presence of the Risen Christ as Call to Discipleship” (essay, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, 2010), 27-28.
* * *
On Easter morning, we heard the story of Mary Magdalene and the other women discovering the empty tomb that first Easter. Unsure what it could mean at first, Mary then encountered the risen Christ in the garden. The resurrection was a source of joy and the inauguration of a new mission.
Two weeks ago, we heard the story of the doubtful disciples, the male apostles who were hiding in a room in the midst of fear and doubts. But Jesus broke into their lives, and they had a life changing encounter with the risen Christ as well.
Today we get a glimpse of some other disciples, ones that have not been named before in the story, but ones that had obviously been part of the crowds that were following Jesus. This particular story is only fleshed out here in Luke’s gospel. In this gospel, this story takes place between the discovery of the empty tomb and Jesus’ appearance to the hiding apostles later that same day.
We catch a glimpse here of how these events affected those that weren’t in the inner circle. These two disciples are not part of the Twelve, and only one of them is actually given a name. But that does not make their encounter with Jesus any less important. In fact, I think that makes this story even more relatable. While there may be those that identify with Mary Magdalene or Thomas or Peter, there are probably many more that identify with the unnamed masses that humbly followed Jesus without accolade or prestige.
At any rate, these two are walking the seven miles or more back home to the community of Emmaus (though I am pretty sure I didn’t do seven miles on my Walk). They are downcast, saddened by everything that had happened. They had been excited when they heard Jesus speak. They had been excited by the new life he was calling them into, a new way of being in relationship with God and with one another. But now he’s dead. I guess life just returns to the way things were.
And then Jesus shows up. The story suggests he just happened to walk upon them on their journey, for there is no mention of a sudden appearance. The text simply says that he “arrived and joined them on their journey.” While the gospel of John doesn’t tell us why Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus until he said her name, Luke does tell us that these two disciples were “prevented from recognizing him.”
But as before there is no mention of how they were prevented from recognizing Jesus. Perhaps, like Doctor Who, he had regenerated into a new body so that his companions could not immediately recognize him. Perhaps, like Superman, he was wearing glasses that kept him from being recognized for who he really is. Or perhaps, as two disciples that were not in the inner circle, they had never actually seen him up close before. Since they obviously aren’t expecting to see him they are unable to recognize him for who he is.
And while it may be fun to play the “what if” game, the specific detail of how is not nearly as important as the rest of the story.
When he questions them about what is going on, they explain to him their grief. They tell him about the love and excitement that had been building in them and then the way their hopes had been dashed by the crucifixion. Then they mention the story the women had told about the empty tomb. We are left assuming they had left not long after since we only hear of the women’s story and Peter’s confirmation that the tomb is empty. And seeing as the actual location of their hometown is anywhere from 7-20 miles from Jerusalem -- depending on which text fragment we are reading from and how the distance was being measured -- for them to arrive home before the evening meal would have meant an early start, particularly with such heavy hearts.
And then Jesus straight up calls them fools.
Perhaps this is unsurprising given the number of times Jesus has to tell his followers they are not understanding all he has been telling them. After their time with him, all his stories, even his references to his death, the disciples were still caught off guard, still not sure what to make of these things.
And then Jesus very patiently explains it all to them again. The new world he was bringing about was always going to challenge the status quo. The things he was teaching, his challenges to the religious and political authorities, were always going to lead to his death. And the resurrection was always going to point to God’s love and a promise of new life.
I can imagine them as this story begins to draw to a close walking slowly along the road in front of their home, wanting to go inside but not quite ready for the conversation to end. I’m sure some of you have had this experience. You have somewhere else to be, but you don’t really want to interrupt what is going on.
As Jesus keeps moving as if to continue along the road, they invite him inside instead. It is almost evening, the day is done. Come in and take a load off.
They go inside and eventually sit down to share some food together. As they do, Jesus takes bread, offers a blessing, breaks the bread, and offers it to them. It doesn’t tell us what words he used or if there was anything said beyond the blessing, but the words and the actions would have recalled for the disciples the Last Supper when Jesus had performed exactly the same actions. And in that moment, they recognize him for who he is. As soon as they do, Jesus disappears.
Can you just imagine the excitement they felt in that moment? The stories are true. They recognize that their hearts had been burning within them as Jesus had been talking with them, though we Methodists might prefer to say their hearts were strangely warmed. They suddenly knew beyond any doubt that God loved them and that all Jesus had taught them was true.
And then these two, who had just walked at least 7 miles in the heat of the day, dejected and feeling lost because of Jesus’ death, jumped up from the table and immediately returned to Jerusalem. If the timeline presented here is to be believed, they returned in time to be present when Jesus appeared to the apostles in hiding. A journey that had likely taken them much of the day, a journey that ended shortly before evening, is now completed in what is likely a matter of only an hour or two, arriving back in Jerusalem that same evening.
Their encounter with the body of the risen Christ gave them the excitement and energy to run miles to share the good news with others. They were bursting with energy, unable to delay even the night to go out and share this news with others.
This is the joy of the encounter with the risen body of Jesus. It empowers and emboldens us. We can’t hold it in, can’t wait to share it. And like these two disciples, we can have this same encounter. Just as they recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread, we too repeat this experience, sharing bread at the table together.
When we come to the table we not only remember Jesus in the sense of remembering the entirety of his life death and resurrection, of remembering all the times he sat at table with his followers and others. But we re-member the body of Jesus. We are the continuing body of Jesus still at work in the world. When we come together at the table, we are Jesus’ hands and feet, his arms and legs. The body is put back together when we gather. This is also what it means to re-member Christ. It is also one of the ways that Christ’s body becomes visible again in the world.
As we pray in the Great Thanksgiving when we celebrate Holy Communion, "Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and [the cup]. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood" (The United Methodist Hymnal, 10).
So when we gather together at Christ’s table, the body of Jesus is both present in the bread and the cup and in the community gathered to worship.
How are we transformed by that encounter with the body of Jesus?
How is our world transformed by their encounter with the body of Jesus that is this worshiping community?
Our worship life suggests that it is also true for us -- the body of Jesus becomes known to us when we share food. When we share in the Holy Meal, we become aware of the body of Jesus and our place as a part of that body.
Perhaps for some, simply sharing the story of Jesus is enough. But if we want people excited, if we want to see them energized and empowered the way we have seen with the disciples over the past few weeks, we need to offer them more than stories. We need to offer them an encounter with the body of the risen Jesus.
Perhaps just as it was for Cleopas and the other disciple in this story, it is still the same today. If Jesus is recognized in the act of sharing food, perhaps we best help others recognize Christ by offering them food. Sometimes this takes place at the table during worship, and sometimes this may take palce in other ways.
As we continue through this week, I want you to think about your own experiences at Christ’s table. Have you encountered Jesus when the community gathers together for Holy Communion?
Have you recognized Jesus other times we gather with others at a table for a meal?
Or maybe you have had the experience of encountering Jesus as you have served food to a stranger?
Whatever the case, know that Jesus waits to have an encounter with each of us. And just as the disciples were excited by their encounter and sent forth with a new mission, we, too, are emboldened by our encounter with Christ and sent out in mission, that through us, others may encounter the living body of Jesus and know God’s love.
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So when we gather together at Christ’s table, the body of Jesus is both present in the bread and the cup and in the community gathered to worship.
How are we transformed by that encounter with the body of Jesus?
How is our world transformed by their encounter with the body of Jesus that is this worshiping community?
When we encounter the risen Christ, our lives are transformed for the better. Not in the sense that everything will now be easy in life. In fact, quite often the contrary. Instead, our encounter with [Jesus] forms us for the betterment of all, not our individual selves. For most of us, this encounter with [Jesus] takes place in [worship]. It is when we gather at the table that we become aware of [Jesus], whether we recognize Christ in the bread and the cup or in the other faces sharing the worshiping space with us. [Jesus] is present and alive. (McGlothin-Eller, 27)The really awesome thing about this is that as we become more and more aware of Jesus present here with us at the table in worship, we start to recognize Jesus present with us when we gather at other tables for other meals. Cleopas and the other disciple were not sitting down to share in worship with Jesus; they were sitting down to share food. The body of Jesus became known to them in the sharing of food.
Our worship life suggests that it is also true for us -- the body of Jesus becomes known to us when we share food. When we share in the Holy Meal, we become aware of the body of Jesus and our place as a part of that body.
Once we recognize the risen [Jesus] in our midst and our place in the body of Christ, we can begin to hope that others will recognize that body. Once we have encountered the risen [body of Jesus], what is our reaction to the call that is placed on us? Part of what it means to be the body of Christ is that we serve others as [Jesus] did during his life on earth. But what does it mean to serve? ...I have wondered before what it would mean to think about serving the church in the same way that we serve [Holy Communion]. When we think of serving [Holy Communion], we think about providing the bread and the cup to someone else. We think of offering them the body and blood of [Jesus]. What if we also offered the church as the body of [Jesus]to the world? What would it mean to serve the body of [Jesus] in that way? (McGlothin-Eller, 28)What would it mean to offer the church, the body of the risen Jesus, to the rest of the world? How else do we help people have an encounter with the body of Christ if we do not first offer it to them?
Perhaps for some, simply sharing the story of Jesus is enough. But if we want people excited, if we want to see them energized and empowered the way we have seen with the disciples over the past few weeks, we need to offer them more than stories. We need to offer them an encounter with the body of the risen Jesus.
Perhaps just as it was for Cleopas and the other disciple in this story, it is still the same today. If Jesus is recognized in the act of sharing food, perhaps we best help others recognize Christ by offering them food. Sometimes this takes place at the table during worship, and sometimes this may take palce in other ways.
As we continue through this week, I want you to think about your own experiences at Christ’s table. Have you encountered Jesus when the community gathers together for Holy Communion?
Have you recognized Jesus other times we gather with others at a table for a meal?
Or maybe you have had the experience of encountering Jesus as you have served food to a stranger?
Whatever the case, know that Jesus waits to have an encounter with each of us. And just as the disciples were excited by their encounter and sent forth with a new mission, we, too, are emboldened by our encounter with Christ and sent out in mission, that through us, others may encounter the living body of Jesus and know God’s love.
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The two block quotes originally appeared in a paper written for the class “Liturgy and Ethics.” Vince McGlothin-Eller, “Encountering the Body: The Presence of the Risen Christ as Call to Discipleship” (essay, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, 2010), 27-28.
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