Rev.
Debbie Cato
Luke 24:36– 48
Fairfield Community Church
April
14, 2024
Redeeming God, as we hear your Word spoken to us, open our eyes to see the risen Christ, open our ears to hear the good news of his salvation for all the world, and open our minds to understand the mysteries of your love. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Jesus Shows Up
We are
going backwards in time a little bit. Because
we were doing a series focused on Peter, we finished up last week, looking at
the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection – because
it featured Peter. Jesus spent time with
Peter, connecting the dots between loving Christ and feeding his sheep. Jesus was letting Peter know two important
things: he was forgiven for denying him three times and, if Peter loved Jesus,
he must tend to; he must feed his sheep.
The two are tied together. We
cannot say we love Christ without caring for those Christ loves. Do you love
me? Feed my sheep.
Today we go back in time to the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection. Jesus had appeared to two people walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus and because they were so amazed with this encounter, they turned around and walked the seven miles back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples. The disciples were locked in a room out of fear for their own safety when the two arrived to tell them about their encounter with the risen Jesus. Our passage today begins with … “36 While they were still talking about this” – so while the two were still talking about the experience they had with Jesus on their walk to Emmaus, “Jesus himself stood among all of them in the room and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Peace be with you. The perfect words to hear when you arelocked behind doors, scared to death for fear of your own life, and overwhelmed with all that has happened over the last few days. Peace be with you.
Now, the followers who were locked in that room were so distressed and out-of-sorts that they thought Jesus was a ghost, and that frightened them even more! In Luke’s account, they had not believed the women who told them the news that Jesus had risen. Now they were listening to this crazy story about an encounter along the road to Emmaus. So, they certainly were not expecting to see Jesus. Of course, they were in a locked room and yet there he was – in the room with them! How did he get in?! It’s no wonder they were “terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost”!
I think Jesus understood their fear and lack of recognition. He does several things to show them who he is and that he is real. Jesus is like that. Jesus does not chastise them for their fear or disbelief. He is not disappointed in them. He is not angry. Jesus gives them the proof that they need. The physical signs. He allows them to come to the realization that it is him, in their own time. He shows them grace.
First, Jesus shows them his hands and his feet; the nail holes in his hands, the holes in his feet. Jesus knows that if they see the holes the nails made from his crucifixion, they will realize who he is. After they see the nail holes, he tells them to touch him. A ghost does not have flesh and bones. The physical touch reinforces that he is real. Then Jesus tells them he’s hungry. He asks if they have anything to eat. He takes a piece of boiled fish from them and eats it in front of them. A ghost does not get hungry or eat but a human does.
And then, then when they stop being afraid… when they realize it is the risen Lord, when they know with certainty Jesus is alive, when they open their hearts, Jesus sits down with them and completely opens up their understanding of the scriptures – The Law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms. Our Old Testament.
Now the disciples have the benefit of hindsight. They understand that Jesus was crucified, he died, and three days later he rose from the dead. Now they get that part. Although Jesus had told them several times it was going to happen, they get it now. They lived it. They felt all the emotions.
Now when Jesus teaches them about all that scriptures say, they understand. I imagine they were attentive students. Luke tells us, “their eyes were opened.” They get it. Jesus’ teachings fall into place.
The disciples began by hiding behind locked doors and ended up with their eyes opened by the resurrected Lord. We cannot escape our fears. It begs the question: What locked door is each one of us hiding behind? Believe me, each one of us is hiding. Our fear may be very personal, such as the fear of hearing the dreaded word “cancer” or “divorce”. Other fears may be unemployment, loneliness, loss. Sometimes our fears are on a national level. War. Terrorism. Underlying our fears is the one that we cannot seem to talk very easily about – the fear of death; our own or that of someone we love. We don’t want people to know we’ve lost control. We don’t want people to know we are struggling. So, we hide. We want to look like we have it all together. Like there’s nothing wrong in our world. So, our fears hold us captive. Sometimes our fears can completely consume us, as if we are behind locked doors. We are looking for security. An assurance that nothing will go wrong. Nothing bad will happen. It is difficult to enjoy life, to experience the joys and blessings that God has for us if we are so focused on our security.[1] The resurrected Christ gives us his peace. But not security.
Jesus suddenly appeared in the midst of his early followers when they were filled with fear and worried about their security. He brought change to their lives as they moved from fright and alarm, to joy mixed with disbelief and puzzlement, to open and understanding minds and hearts. That huge shift in the core of their beings led them to take great risks, witnessing to the risen Christ. Jesus did not bring them security. They all risked their lives following his call. They had come to understand that Jesus had conquered the ultimate threat – death itself, and their fears were groundless. Jesus’ words “Peace be with you!” came to fruition in their hearts.[2]
The power of the resurrection is the power to plant the seeds of transformation. The hope of the resurrection is grounded in the experience of those first followers. Closed minds can be opened. Fear can be overcome. Locked doors can be flung open. The word of God calls us to peace rather than security. May the peace of Christ be with you. Amen.
[1] Feasting on the Word.
Year B. Lent through
Eastertide. Luke 24:36b-48. Pastoral Perspective. P. 426.
Nancy R. Blakely.
[2]
Feasting on the Word. Year B.
Lent through Eastertide. Luke
24:36b-48. Pastoral Perspective. P. 428.
Nancy R. Blakely.
[3]
Feasting on the Word. Year B.
Lent through Eastertide. Luke
24:36b-48. Homilectical Perspective. P. 429
Barbara J. Essex
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