This week, we return to the disciples gathered on the first Easter evening. We continue to explore how the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus affected the disciples. What did it mean for them to see Jesus in the flesh after he had died on the cross and was buried in the tomb?
Over the last two weeks, we have heard the stories from John's point of view, but this week we turn to the gospel according to Luke. While the primary reading for the day is just the scene of Jesus appearing to the gathered disciples that first night (see Luke 24:36b-48), we take a quick journey through Luke's take on Easter morning and other appearances of Jesus to better understand what is happening behind closed doors.
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Today we return to that first Easter evening, but this time we see it from the perspective of Luke. As you may have noticed, Luke has a similar but slightly different take on the events of that evening. To better understand the scene that Luke gives us today, we’re going to take a quick look at how Luke focuses on some other details than we have seen in John the last few weeks.
Chapter 24 of Luke starts with the story of the women visiting the tomb and finding it empty. Unlike the version we heard in John, this version has a group of women who all see two angels appear. The angels explain that Jesus is not in the tomb because he is alive. Then the group of women goes to tell the eleven.
Luke tells us that the male disciples for the most part didn’t believe them, making fun of them. But, like the story we read in John two weeks ago, Peter runs to the tomb and finds it empty as well. Luke tells us he returns home not sure what to think.
Following the story at the tomb, Luke includes a story that isn’t found in the other gospels (though it is alluded to). It is also one of my favorite Resurrection stories. The story of the Emmaus road gives us a glimpse of two previously unknown disciples walking home grieving after the events of the last few days. Just as Mary did not recognize Jesus when he first appeared to her in the story we read two weeks ago, these disciples do not recognize Jesus when he joins them on the road. They talk all along the way, finally arriving home. As it has gotten late, the two disciples invite the stranger to join them for the night. As they sit for a meal, Jesus breaks the bread and immediately they recognize him. Once they realize who he is, he disappears from their sight. The next part of the story is one of the best examples in all of the gospels of the energizing effect of the encounter with the body of Jesus. The two disciples jump up from the table after traveling all day and run all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others what they have seen, arriving while the disciples are gathered for the evening. Upon arriving back in Jerusalem, they find the eleven discussing an appearance to Peter. And then Jesus is there in their midst.
In our story today, Luke makes clear some of the things that John glosses over. First, Luke tells us that the disciples' response to Jesus’ appearance is fear. The disciples were terrified and afraid, worried that Jesus was a ghost. Even though they were just talking about Jesus’ appearances, they weren’t actually prepared for him to show up amongst them.
Second, Luke reminds us that all of the disciples had doubts. Jesus says, “Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts?” (Luke 24:38, CEB). After all, if we take the account we heard in John and the stories found here in Luke seriously, Jesus has already appeared to Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the couple on their way home to Emmaus. All of these accounts have been shared with the eleven at this point. All of them reported the appearances independently from each other. Surely the eleven must realize that something is going on. But still they are afraid.
Luke also takes Jesus’ fleshly appearance a step further than John. In John’s version, Jesus shows his wounds to the disciples, allowing them to touch the wounds to prove he is present in the flesh. But in our story today, Jesus also asks for food. Perhaps in their understanding, ghosts could take a physical form, even though Jesus makes a comment to the contrary. But we all know that a ghost can’t eat food. This is just one more proof among many that Jesus offers to them.
After eating the fish, Jesus launches into the same explanation the angels had shared at the tomb, the same explanation that Jesus gave to Mary outside the tomb that morning, the same message that Jesus gave the couple on the road earlier in the day. He explains again how all of the Hebrew scriptures attest to who he is. And he explains how his suffering, death, and resurrection were foretold.
Following all of these explanations, Jesus returns to the point of his entire ministry -- repentance and forgiveness. This is what must be preached to all the world. Sins are forgiven and lives should be changed because of that. This pairs well with the focus that John gave us for this gathering, where Jesus tells them they are meant to offer forgiveness.
But here in Luke, Jesus ends with the reason why the disciples in particular are the ones that must go out to spread the word. “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48, CEB).
In our modern day, we probably most often think about witnesses as we watch our favorite police procedural show on TV. We think about those who have witnessed some sort of crime. A witness is one who was present, who saw the things that happened. The police want to question them to see what they saw. They may be called to court so that they can tell others what they saw.
But when it comes to the word witness, some of us may have experience as well of people witnessing to their faith. This is when people go out to tell others about their faith. Sometimes this is positive, and sometimes it is not.
Perhaps most of us have heard of the Westboro Baptist Church. While I have not heard as much about them lately, they are known for showing up at various events, especially funerals, to hold up signs about how wicked society is. To them, this is what it means to be a witness.
On the other hand, I think about all of the church members from here in town and across Georgia who have come to Newnan in the past few weeks to help with tornado recovery in some way. This, too, is a form of witness. By showing up to help total strangers, they are witnessing to their faith.
I believe in this teaching and statement, Jesus has a little bit of both meanings of the word in mind. By going back over the Scriptures and reminding them how his ministry fits what the Scriptures say, Jesus is also reminding them that they are witnesses of this because they have seen these things in action. The disciples have observed all of these things. They know these stories to be true. Given the proof of the Resurrection, the disciples can no longer doubt that Jesus IS the Messiah.
But Jesus is also telling them that they are witnesses because they must tell others. This is why he speaks of preaching repentance and forgiveness. These are the key points of his ministry. This is what they have observed as well, and because they have seen all of these things, they must also go forth to tell others.
As I thought about this, it reminded me of Yoda’s final moments with Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi. Knowing that his long life is finally coming to an end, Yoda has a few last minute things that he wants Luke to know. “When gone am I, the last of the Jedi you will be. Pass on what you have learned.”
With this scene in mind, the story today begins to take on a slightly different meaning for me. Rather than hearing what happens here as Jesus showing up simply to remove their doubts, I hear instead Jesus beginning his series of appearances by essentially saying, “When I am gone, you are who will remain. Pass on what you have learned.” Jesus is saying, “Tell other people about me and the parts of my ministry that were important.”
Looking at these different post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus, we can begin to see what is important about Jesus’ ministry, the things he wants the disciples to make clear. In our reading last week, Jesus focused on forgiveness. In his appearance to Mary, the focus is on joy. In the Emmaus story, the focus is on recognizing Jesus in our midst, especially when we offer compassion to strangers. In our story today, Jesus speaks of repentance. In other stories, the focus is on love.
When we explore the message that the disciples go on to spread throughout the region, what do we see them witnessing to? Do we see the disciples describing a ministry of hate and violence? Or do we see them spreading a ministry of forgiveness and compassion?
As we think about our own place in the story, what is it that we are witnesses to?
Where have we seen the ministry that Jesus describes at work in the church and in the world around us?
How have we been witnesses both in the sense of observing and in the sense of sharing?
Where have we witnessed God’s forgiveness in our lives, and how has that filled us with joy?
We are here in this place today because we are witnesses. We are here today because we have been recipients of God’s compassion and forgiveness. And because we have seen these things, we want others to know.
And so we witness to what we have seen. We spread the love of God in our community. We offer the grace we have seen so that others may know that what we have received is true.
So let us witness these truths with joy as we continue to love God and our communities.