In the Flesh: Chosen Family

This week, we continue to see the effect that the disciples' encounters with the risen Christ in the flesh had on their ministry. But we also consider the fact that the disciples showed up in the flesh for other people. In doing so, the disciples extended the body of Christ, including yet more people into the family (see Acts 10:44-48).

At the same time, our story today makes it clear that even while the disciples went forth spreading the word, God is the one still at work. God is the one who chooses us, who invites new people into the family, who extends the family beyond the boundaries we might set.

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As we have been since Easter Sunday, we continue to consider today how the encounter with Jesus continued to affect the disciples and those they encountered in turn. Even so, today’s story is a little bit different. We find Peter speaking to a mixed group of believers, both those who are Jews (the circumcised) as well as those who are non-Jewish (the Gentiles). There is no appearance of Jesus in our story today. And yet, we know that Peter is only there because of his encounter with Jesus in the flesh. That is the event that strengthened him for his ministry, and prompted him to be in this place.

Looking back in this chapter, we are told that the non-Jewish persons referred to in our story are a Roman Centurion and members of his household who were already believers in God. This Centurion supported those in need among the Jewish people and prayed constantly. A messenger from God, an angel, appeared to this man and told him to summon Simon Peter to come to him.

The next day about noon in another town, Peter is on a rooftop praying. While praying he becomes hungry. He has a vision of a giant linen cloth lowering from heaven. On the cloth are animals of every kind, some considered clean, some considered unclean. A voice from heaven tells him to get up, kill, and eat. Peter protests that he will not, for he has never eaten anything impure or unclean. The voice responds, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure” (Acts 10:15, CEB). This happens three times before servants from the Centurion arrive to invite Peter to come to the Centurion’s home. Peter agrees to go with them, understanding that the vision he had is about more than just food. Arriving at the Centurion’s home, Peter enters into conversation, talking about all that he has understood about God’s love for all people.

Our reading today opens as Peter finishes speaking and the Holy Spirit falls on everyone present, Jews and Gentiles alike. The Jewish believers who had come with Peter were amazed that the Spirit had been granted to these Gentiles, these outsiders. But Peter points out that they can’t deny the evidence of God’s gift to these people. If God has included them, who are they to deny them entry into the community of believers in Christ?

One of the things that Jesus tried to make clear is that we are all one family with God as the head of the family. The reaction of the other Jewish believers who traveled with Peter makes it clear just how difficult the implications of this were for them to live into. Even today, I think many of us have likely had the experience of hearing or being told that certain people do not belong in the church for some reason. And yet, we continue to see evidence of the Spirit even among those who others might exclude.

As many of us grow up and grow older, we may move out of our family home and find new places to live. We develop relationships with others that may go beyond what we might think of as friendships. Those closest to us may become like family, but unlike the families in which we are born, these are the families we choose for ourselves, our chosen family. 

For some of us, these families may grow up around similar interests. I have played sports with people who became my brothers and sisters. I’ve had friends so close that they know all of my deepest secrets and love me just the same. In seminary, there was a group of us who all lived in the same apartment building who would gather at least once a week for a communal meal to talk about our studies and what was going on in the world. We have stayed in touch long after we all graduated and went into ministry in different places. Our kids think of each other as cousins. We became family.

As I think about this idea, I am reminded of the recent musical, The Greatest Showman. While a little light on the historical accuracy, the movie does a great job of highlighting the ways in which groups of people become family, a family not defined by birth but by the ways we choose to be together. The character of Barnum in the movie pulled together a group of people who were considered outsiders, at best, by the rest of society. These people existed on the fringes of society and were often excluded and ignored, and sometimes they were physically abused just for their existence. Barnum taught them to be proud of who they are. He included them when others would exclude them. He even brought in a man from high society who came to realize that this group of people others would choose to exclude are as worthy (if not more worthy) of his affection as those who are like him. At the end of the film, we see that family takes many forms, each as important as the other.

For many believers, the church becomes a family. Many of us are like minded, holding one another up in good times and bad, supporting each other when we are in need. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, united by a common mission -- to spread the love of God as shown to us in Jesus Christ.

This is largely what our story today is about. About becoming united in our mission. But there is an important difference here that I think is sometimes easy for us to overlook. Often when we think of the idea of chosen family, we think of those we have chosen to be around, those we have chosen to associate with. We are the ones doing the choosing. But our story today makes it clear that those who make up the church, those who are believers, are a little bit different. 

We are God’s chosen family. And, just as Peter told those who traveled with him, we don’t get to decide who is a part of that family. God chooses to include us all in this family. Not just some, not those that meet our criteria, not those that follow only certain rules of ritual cleanliness. God chooses both those we might choose to include as well as those we would exclude.

For those of us here in the United States, in addition to being a day on which we come together to celebrate God as shown to us in the person of Jesus, today is also Mother’s Day. This is a day we acknowledge and celebrate the mother’s in our lives. We remember those who have nurtured and provided for us in the role of mother. For many of us this may be our birth mother. For others of us, the role of mother may have been played by someone else, someone that we chose or maybe someone who chose us. And for many people this is a day of joyful celebration.

At the same time it can also be a difficult day for some people. We may remember the mother who is no longer with us, the mother with whom we had a strained relationship, the mother we never knew. It is also a day to acknowledge that there are those who wished to be mothers who were unable to be for some reason. It is a complicated day, a day made more complicated when we think back to how it began.

While not officially recognized as a national holiday until 1911, the push for a day when mothers would join together to work for peace so that their children would not have to go to war began in the ruins of the American Civil War. The initial proclamation made in 1870 called on mothers to be the ones to push for peaceful settlement in all conflicts. It was the daughter of one of these earlier women that pushed for the creation of the holiday in memory of her mother. As the celebration began to spread around the world, people quickly began to acknowledge that it is not only birth mothers who nurture and provide in the same way, but there are many people who participate in the act of mothering -- grandparents, neighbors, friends, school teachers, even the church, to name a few, all play a role in the form of nurture we so often associate with mothers.

In Scripture, there are places where God is described with qualities we often associate with mothers. God as a nursing mother. God as a mother eagle. God as a mother hen, gathering in her chicks to protect them. God chooses us and includes us in the family.

In the middle ages, many mystics described God as a mother. One of the most well known, Julian of Norwich, was an anchorite in England in the late-14th century. She had a series of visions of God and was one of the first published women writers in England. She even developed the mothering image further, referring to Mother Jesus in her writing.

As we go into our week, I pray that we will remember that God chooses us, God includes us, God nurtures us, God protects us. God is our mother, and she makes us part of one family.

In the Flesh: Proclaiming

Today, we take another step away from the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus to look at how those encounters affected what came next. We started this last week with one of the letters attributed to John. We were able to look at one of the people that knew Jesus most closely and to consider the story he told about Jesus and what Jesus called us to do and to be in the world. He was someone who knew Jesus intimately and who we can be certain was present for at least some of the appearances of Jesus.

Our reading from Acts today (Acts 8:26-40) gives us a look at a different disciple. Here we meet a man who may or may not have followed Jesus during his life, but one who most definitely committed his life to the work of the disciples in the period shortly after Jesus' post-Resurrection appearances. What impact did Jesus' life, death, and resurrection have on this man? How was he empowered to go forth into that world?

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In our story today, we continue to explore how the disciples’ encounter with Jesus in the flesh after his resurrection had a profound effect on all that came after. Today’s story moves beyond the Twelve apostles that we are most familiar with to show us a different follower of Jesus.

Our reading opens with an angel appearing to Philip. Now you may recall that there is a Philip in the gospels that was first a follower of John the Baptist and later one of the Twelve apostles. However, tradition tells us that this Philip is a different one. 

Jumping back a couple of chapters to chapter 6 of Acts, we find that members of the Greek-speaking community had raised some issues with the Apostles. It seems that the Jewish-speaking leadership had been neglecting the needs of Greek-speaking widows and others in the distribution of food and other ministries of the early Christian community. The Apostles tell the Greek-speaking believers to choose seven from among their own to be ministers within their community. Though it seems to be a misreading of the text, these Seven eventually came to be known in Christian tradition as the first deacons. (That's a conversation for another time.)

Among these seven is a man named Philip. It is this man who is greeted by an angel in our story today. The angel tells him that he should travel a certain road at a certain time that day. And so he sets out.

At the same time, an Ethiopian man is on his way home from Jerusalem. He happens to be traveling the same road. As he travels, he is reading from the prophet Isaiah. He is apparently reading it out loud, for when the Spirit nudges Philip to get closer, Philip hears the Ethiopian man reading from the prophet. And so he calls out to him.

Now, as I think about the world we live in today, I try to consider how people might respond nowadays to such an interjection. Imagine you are walking through a park and you see someone reading on a bench. What happens when you go over and ask, “Do you really understand what you are reading?” Better yet, imagine you are the one reading when someone else comes over and asks you that question. 

I kind of doubt that any of us would react as the Ethiopian does in our story today. Rather than get annoyed at best or angry at worst, the Ethiopian responds with a question of his own. How can I understand this if there is no one here to explain it to me? And then he invites Philip to climb up into the chariot with him. The Ethiopian is reading a passage from Isaiah and asks for Philip to help him understand. The text says that Philip proclaims the good news of Jesus to him. He shares all that he knows and has experienced of Jesus’ story. He helps the man to see how Jesus is the one spoken of by the prophet.

Inspired by what he learns, the man asks for Philip to baptize him in some water they are passing on the way. As the Ethiopian comes up from the water, the Spirit takes Philip away. Philip continues to preach the good news of Jesus throughout the region.

When we think of proclamation or proclaiming something, I think we tend to have a similar idea in mind to what we think of as witnessing. Looking up proclaim in a dictionary, we see that it means “to announce officially or publicly” or “to declare something one considers important.” I think this fits with the idea of the traveling evangelist or the public witness we often think of in regards to our faith. When we think of proclaiming our faith or proclaiming the good news, we think of going out on the street corner or holding up signs at sporting events or large gatherings to tell people what we think they should know.

And yet, that is not quite the meaning of either the words used in our text today, which we can perhaps tell by the context. Philip did not stand on the side of the road yelling out for all to hear. He did not confront the Ethiopian man with tirades about right and wrong or a sinful world in need of saving. 

While a public declaration may be our sense of proclamation, the Greek root translated as both preaching and proclaiming here is the root εὐαγγελίζω (euangelízō) which means to share good news. In fact, this word can be broken down further into the prefix, εὐ-, meaning good, and αγγελία (angelia), meaning message or news. Αγγελία is also the root of our word, angel, meaning messenger.

As we look at today’s story with this in mind, we perhaps begin to get a different picture of events. Rather than shouting what he thinks the Ethiopian should believe from the side of the road, Philip enters into a conversation with the man. Yes, he approaches the man, but he approaches him to open a dialogue. Philip was not told specifically what to say who appeared to him. The Spirit did not technically tell him to speak to the man. Philip was told first to be in a particular place, and once he had arrived, he was told to approach the carriage. He was not told to say any particular thing. It is only because he approached the man and opened a dialogue with him that he had the opportunity to share what he knew. He learned what the man was searching for and knew that he had the means to help him. Philip listened to the prompting of the Spirit and found himself right where he needed to be.

That sharing is the other important part of our story today. You see, the Ethiopian was already a person of some faith. We are told that he had been in Jerusalem to worship. But it seems he wanted to know even more. He was curious. It is not likely that an uninterested person would even have a scroll of the prophet Isaiah’s writings, much less that they would be reading them in an attempt to understand them. Even more than that, the Ethiopian man seemed to have a good grasp of what Isaiah was saying, at least on the surface. He knew that Isaiah was speaking of a suffering servant, perhaps even that he was speaking of the Messiah. What he sought to know was who that person was specifically. Was Isaiah referring to himself? Or was he talking about someone else?

This is the point at which our translation tells us that Philip proclaims the good news of Jesus to the man, but as I suggested, I think it is more accurate to say that Philip shared the good news with the man. The man already knew what the scripture said, but he was looking for more. Who specifically does the prophet refer to? Philip is able to tell him about Jesus and how Jesus is the one to whom Isaiah refers. He surely tells the man all he himself has learned from the other disciples and the apostles. Perhaps Philip been a follower of Jesus before his death. While we know the Apostles numbered twelve, there were numerous other disciples of Jesus who are not always individually named. It is quite possible Philip had been a follower of Jesus; perhaps had even been present at one of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances considering some of those appearances simply mention that the disciples were present.

While we can't know that for certain, the story that Philip shared with the Ethiopian man was certainly heard as good news, so much so that the man asked to be baptized at the first sight of water. Philip gave context to the information that the man already had, helped him to see how Jesus is the one about whom the man was reading and wondering. Philip had his experience of Jesus to help him give context to the longing that the man appeared to have.

Augustine wrote of our hearts being restless until they find their rest in God. Blaise Pascal wrote about the empty imprint within us left by a memory of God, a space that cannot be satisfactorily filled by anything but God. There was even a song called “God-Shaped Hole” that came out in the late 90s that is about this very idea.

The Ethiopian man had a longing to understand, but he didn’t know all he needed to know. He didn’t have the knowledge that Philip had to help him fit everything into place. After opening a dialogue with the man and being asked to help him understand, Philip shared what he knew about Jesus. 

Today, Ethiopia has one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world. It all started with this chance meeting between Philip and the Ethiopian man traveling home. The fact this man was a eunuch and a court official for the queen means both that he was well-placed to share what he had learned as well as proof that God often chooses the people who might otherwise be rejected or overlooked as bearers of the message.

As we consider our modern world and what it means to proclaim or share the good news, what do we learn from this passage? What does it mean to follow the Spirit’s prompting? How might our world look different if entering into dialogue was our starting point?

How can we help give others the context and information they need to understand that divine longing within them?

Philip showed up in the right place and the right time because he followed the prompting of the Spirit. He didn’t know why he was there. He didn’t show up with a specific agenda. He showed up and listened to the man that he met along the way. He listened to his needs, his frustrations, his longing to understand, and then he shared what he had with the man in order to help him.

How does this help us understand proclamation better?

How does this help us see our calling to share the good news perhaps differently than we have before?

As we go forth today, may we realize that sometimes the Spirit sends us forth with very clear instructions, and sometimes, like Philip, we simply go where we are sent and figure out what people need after we get there.

In the Flesh: Loving

This week, we turn from the stories of Jesus' post-Resurrection appearances to his disciples to a look at how those appearances affected his disciples. After encountering Jesus in the flesh, the disciples were energized. They went forth to carry the message far and wide. Letters, like the one we read today, give us a glimpse into the message that they spread across the Empire and beyond (see 1 John 3:16-24).

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As you know, over the past few weeks, we have been focusing primarily on the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus. We’ve heard the story of Mary Magdalene and Peter at the empty tomb and Jesus’ appearance to Mary, we touched on Jesus’ appearance to the disciples on the Emmaus road, heard that Jesus appeared to Peter, and then we’ve read two different version of Jesus’ first appearance to the gathered disciples.

One of the things we have noted is that these appearances of Jesus to the disciples has been an opportunity for Jesus to continue their teaching. Not only has he shown up to prove that he is in fact alive, he also reminds them of all the things he has taught them. And he has reinforced the key teachings that he wants them to remember above all others.

Last week, I pointed out how part of the reason for this is that Jesus is preparing them to go out and spread his teachings. After all, they are witnesses to all that Jesus has said and done. They are witnesses to his resurrection. He needs them to know what to focus on.

In fact, Jesus started this before his death on the cross. In the final week after he entered Jerusalem, his teaching took on a greater focus and intensity. He knew that his time with the disciples was drawing to a close. He tried to tell them. He tried to help them understand. They simply could not comprehend a Messiah who dies, a king who sacrifices himself.

At the last supper, he gives them a new commandment -- to love one another as he has loved them. When he appears to them again a few days later, even though he speaks of forgiveness and repentance, his disciples surely remembered that earlier teaching. When he tells them that they are witnesses who will go forth to tell others, everything they had heard from him is framed by these points -- love, forgiveness, and repentance.

In the last two weeks, we have touched briefly on what happened after the disciples had their post-resurrection encounters with Jesus. They spread the word of Jesus to the edges of the known world and beyond. While their ministry appears to have remained centered in Jerusalem with James as a key leader, other disciples went in other directions. We know that Thomas is said to have traveled east into parts of Asia, rumored to have traveled at least as far as India and perhaps farther. Matthew is rumored to have traveled to Ethiopia. Jude is recognized as having gone to Armenia. Peter traveled to Greece and some traditions hold that he traveled as far as Rome. Paul seems to have traveled throughout the Mediterranean, with letters written to communities he started in present-day Turkey, Greece, and Italy. There are some traditions that hold that he may have traveled as far as Spain. All of this because they had an experience of meeting Jesus in the flesh after his death. They were strengthened by their encounter with the resurrected Jesus.

Our letter today is attributed to the gospel writer we know as John, one of the original twelve apostles. For his part, tradition tells us that John spent the remainder of his ministry in the eastern Mediterranean. He appears to have been most revered in the western part of modern day Turkey, particularly in the region around Ephesus. Tradition also tells us that he was the only one of the Twelve to die of natural causes, living a long life in that region.

It is not difficult to see the commonalities between the writer of the letter we read from today and the gospel writer. In fact, the first verse of our reading today is nearly an analogue of John 3:16, a verse that so many of us know by heart. Our reading today seems to summarize that more famous verse: “This is how we know love: Jesus laid down his life for us…” (1 John 3:16a, CEB).

Immediately following this verse, the letter writer makes it clear what this means in action. He takes it beyond the realm of the abstract. We touched briefly last week on what the message was that the disciples spread as they went on their many journeys and travels to other places. Here we get to see that message.

Our writer first suggests that just as Jesus laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for each other. This for him is what it means to love each other. But he helpfully goes on to show that this isn’t only about sacrificing out physical bodies to death. Perhaps that is the ultimate example we see in Jesus, but through the rest of this section, we see that this is not the only way we might interpret laying down our lives for each other. If we have the means and see someone in need but refuse to help them, then we are not showing love to them. The love of God is not in us.

John goes on to say, “let’s not love with words or speech but with actions and truth” (1 John 3:18, CEB). He makes it clear that love is about more than thoughts and words; love is active. Don’t just say the words, but put the words into action.

It reminds me of a song in one of my wife’s favorite musicals. Now, I didn’t really grow up with many musicals, at least not unless it was an animated Disney film. But my wife loves musicals. As far as she is concerned, life should be like a musical, with people just randomly breaking into song as they go about their everyday business.

One of her favorite musicals is My Fair Lady. Maybe some of you are familiar with the story. A renowned linguist makes a bet that he can train a poor, unrefined woman from the streets of London into a lady fit to circulate in high society and even appear before the Queen. Toward the end of the story, a high class young man who has become enamored with the young woman professes his love with flowery imagery. Her response is to essentially sing that words are meaningless. “Don't talk of stars/Burning above/If you're in love/Show me.” Eliza doesn’t want to hear the words; she wants action. Let your actions speak for you.

Perhaps some of you have heard the quote attributed to Saint Francis of Assissi: “Preach the gospel daily, and if necessary use words.” It is the same idea our reading today suggests. Our actions speak the truth more loudly than any words we might use. 

Our reading continues with another reminder of the gospel writer by saying,” This is how we will know that we belong to the truth…” (1 John 3:19, CEB). This calls to mind Jesus’ new commandment for the disciples at the last supper. “This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other” (John 13:35, CEB). Making the connection even more explicit, the letter continues by saying, “This is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love each other as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23, CEB).

John wants us to remember that the heart of Jesus’ ministry is love. He also wants to make it clear that this isn’t simply some cerebral love. This is not merely a profession of love. It is love put into action. It is love that is kind and caring, love that is compassionate and involved in meeting the needs of others. For John, this is what love looks like.

For those of us living in a modern world where we might speak of loving pizza or loving a particular movie with the same language we might use for the love of a friend or family member, this can be particularly convicting. There are of course ways in which the feelings or emotions may have similarities. Our preferences for one type of thing over another may be similar to our preference of a particular person over another. On the other hand, french fries, no matter how much we might love them, will never be able to comprehend our feelings or have any other thoughts about us. 

But the people in our lives and in the world around us can engage with us. And they will judge us on more than the words we use. If people are hurting, and we offer words of love without taking any action to ease their suffering, is that really love? If someone is in danger, and we offer them thoughts of well-being without doing anything to help them out of danger, have we shown them love?

In our modern world, the Church as a whole has gotten a certain reputation. Whether that reputation is deserved or not can be debated, but those who are not Christians base their understanding of the Church on the actions of those who are a part of it. When they see the Church saying that they promote love while at the same time acting in ways that show the opposite, what are people to believe? 

It reminds me of a joke I saw on Facebook one time. The story goes that a police officer pulls a car over and asks to see the man’s license and registration. After confirming that the man is in fact the owner of the car, the police officer apologizes, saying, “I noticed the fish emblem and the John 3:16 bumper sticker on your car. Then I saw you cutting people off, shouting out your window at other drivers, and making obscene gestures. I just assumed the car must have been stolen.”

While the Church may have a certain reputation, this doesn't mean that the Church is all bad. Over and over I have seen members  of many congregations put their words into action. I have seen members of the Church show love for their communities by supporting the most vulnerable. We, the Church in the world, have provided meals and gifts for those that might go without. We, the body of Christ, have offered physical and monetary support for our neighbors in need. We, believers, have shown our communities and our world that our love is more than words. I pray that no matter what the people who give the Church a bad reputation do, we will continue to be a living example of today’s text, that we can continue to be the loving presence of Jesus in our communities.

In the Flesh: Witnessing

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.

In the Flesh: The Doubting Disciples

We always talk about "Doubting Thomas," but, in doing so, we ignore the fact that all of the male disciples were in the same boat. This week, we pick up where we left off last week. After the discovery of the empty tomb and Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene, a group of disciples has gathered together. We might imagine this is an opportunity for them all to talk about the stories they have heard -- the empty tomb and the further account that Mary shared after (see John 20:19-31).

And then Jesus is there among them. 

How can we find good news for ourselves in the fact that the disciples grieved, lived in fear, and had doubts about the stories they wee hearing? How can we make sure that we are sharing the body of Christ with others that we might be empowered just as the disciples were?

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Happy Easter! As we continue into this season, we will see that our Scriptures make clear that the joy of the Resurrection could not be confined to one day. And so it is that our celebration of Easter is not confined to a single Sunday. Instead, Easter lasts for seven weeks. The final Sunday of Easter is the day we know as Pentecost Sunday.