Pastor Tom Johnson, April 19, 2015
The
resurrection of Jesus had passed. The disciples are a little on edge—jittery—anxious.
Jesus interrupts their lockdown, bypasses their locked door, and suddenly
appears in the same room saying, “Shalom!” “Peace be with you!” This startles
them and terrifies them all the more. They think they see a ghost. Just
a reminder: the Bible does not talk about ghosts. The Scriptures do not promote
the idea of disembodied dead people haunting the living. The idea makes a great
story—entertaining movies. But it is pure superstition. Jesus
confronts their unbelief. He deconstructs their superstition. He does so
winsomely, humorously, and quite effectively. Jesus wants to free them from the
prison of fear and the paralysis of false belief.
“What
has you scared stiff? Why are you resorting back to childhood myths and ghost
stories? Why should you so alarmed—why are you so surprised by the ongoing
reality of the resurrection?How can you drift away so quickly from the
initial joy of Easter that Sunday morning to such gloom, fear, and
superstition?”
Are
we that different from the disciples? How do we also live our lives in fear? Do
we still hold on to old superstitions and myths? We would never do that—knock
on wood! Karma may seem like a good explanation for what we observe; but the
Scriptures teach grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love. Resurrection
Sunday was just two weeks ago. Are we that different from the disciples who
have been so quickly and easily overcome by fear and disbelief? Last time I was
standing here, we were packed to the gills—chairs in the aisles—non-choir
members in the choir loft! And
I am very thankful for the celebration that Sunday—the volunteers in the
kitchen for food and fellowship after the service, those who participated in
the service, our choir, our guest musicians, our Cantor and Associate Cantor. And
I hope we can do it again next year! But Easter is not a yearly event. The
resurrection is a perennial reality. It is a truth—it is a presence that
impacts our lives every week, every day, every hour, and every minute of our
eternity. Easter
joy is not supposed to wear off over time. The relevance of the resurrection is
not supposed to erode as we live our daily lives. Such apathy, complacency, and
neglect on our part makes us a perfect target for Jesus’ disruptive grace.
Poof! There is he is—Jesus! “Shalom! Peace!” he says. “Why have you let fear and complacency get the best of you? Look at my hands and feet! You can see the same nail marks from my crucifixion—proof that I have overcome death and the grave!” What was meant to kill and erase the Lord of life from time, space, and memory now has become eternal body art. The piercings of Jesus forever cry out his victory over the powers and principalities of this fallen world! “Touch me and see!” “Feel the water pour over your head! Hear the splash of forgiveness wash away all your sins! Take, eat this is my Body. Drink of it all of you; this cup is the New Testament in my blood for the forgiveness of sins.”
“Have you anything here to eat?” I love how Luke describes Jesus timing of that question: “While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering…” Mixed as we all are with both faith and doubt—belief and unbelief—the disciples are speechless. That’s when Jesus says, “Do you have anything to eat?” Once again, he embodies the truth of the resurrection—that Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. He eats broiled fish. He illustrates the continued Easter drama. He lives out the truth that, just as his physical body can still receive sustenance from food, so must we also daily be sustained by Easter joy body and soul. Once again, they enjoy table fellowship. They come to the table to hear Jesus explain the good news beginning with the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms. The Word of God becomes the daily bread and fuel they need. Scripture energizes, encourages, and empowers their resurrection joy! Sounds like Jesus is emphasizing the importance of Word and Sacrament to me! Table fellowship makes a difference. Our relationship with Jesus and one another is always relevant.
Jesus disrupts our sinful status quo. He causes us to laugh at ourselves. He keeps our Christian walk dynamic with his gifts to us, the Body of Christ. He raises our joy to new life and sustains us for the journey ahead. Growth in understanding of the Bible and the Gospel transforms. The water, the bread, the wine, the handshake, the hug, the coffee, the muffin, the conversation, the relationship, the community of believers all make a difference. "Look at my hands and my feet!" Matter matters. Smell...touch...hear...taste...and see that the Lord is good!
Poof! There is he is—Jesus! “Shalom! Peace!” he says. “Why have you let fear and complacency get the best of you? Look at my hands and feet! You can see the same nail marks from my crucifixion—proof that I have overcome death and the grave!” What was meant to kill and erase the Lord of life from time, space, and memory now has become eternal body art. The piercings of Jesus forever cry out his victory over the powers and principalities of this fallen world! “Touch me and see!” “Feel the water pour over your head! Hear the splash of forgiveness wash away all your sins! Take, eat this is my Body. Drink of it all of you; this cup is the New Testament in my blood for the forgiveness of sins.”
“Have you anything here to eat?” I love how Luke describes Jesus timing of that question: “While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering…” Mixed as we all are with both faith and doubt—belief and unbelief—the disciples are speechless. That’s when Jesus says, “Do you have anything to eat?” Once again, he embodies the truth of the resurrection—that Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. He eats broiled fish. He illustrates the continued Easter drama. He lives out the truth that, just as his physical body can still receive sustenance from food, so must we also daily be sustained by Easter joy body and soul. Once again, they enjoy table fellowship. They come to the table to hear Jesus explain the good news beginning with the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms. The Word of God becomes the daily bread and fuel they need. Scripture energizes, encourages, and empowers their resurrection joy! Sounds like Jesus is emphasizing the importance of Word and Sacrament to me! Table fellowship makes a difference. Our relationship with Jesus and one another is always relevant.
Jesus disrupts our sinful status quo. He causes us to laugh at ourselves. He keeps our Christian walk dynamic with his gifts to us, the Body of Christ. He raises our joy to new life and sustains us for the journey ahead. Growth in understanding of the Bible and the Gospel transforms. The water, the bread, the wine, the handshake, the hug, the coffee, the muffin, the conversation, the relationship, the community of believers all make a difference. "Look at my hands and my feet!" Matter matters. Smell...touch...hear...taste...and see that the Lord is good!
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