A Second Easter Appearance
Luke 24:36-49
36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
The two on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus. Now in the room in Jerusalem with many of his followers, Jesus is not recognized. Jesus’ followers think they are seeing a ghost. But this is no ghost – Jesus is alive risen from the dead – a flesh and blood body that can eat food. Jesus is really alive, really risen from the dead, all the things that are assumed as “that is the way things are” have been turned on their head. The power of death, death’s ability to threaten – that has been broken. A different narrative now starts to be written.
Vs. 44 begins to lay out that new narrative. It starts where we have been, with Jesus again opening up the Old Testament as pointing to the fact that the Messiah had to suffer and die, and would then on the third day rise to life again. This is what Jesus had said to the two on the road. But now there is a “So what?” There is more than just that death has been defeated – this death and resurrection means that repentance – a turning from the old ways – is possible. The power of the resurrection is available to assist us in the transformation of our lives. We do not remake our lives, the power of the risen Jesus is available to bring about that change. And forgiveness is being offered to all; a forgiveness that brings hope and reconciliation – to all nations – to all people. In a world where the tensions, which often becomes violence, between various people groups and cultural groups runs high, the resurrection offers the power of forgiveness as the basis of the reconciliation.
The followers of Jesus are called to share the news about repentance and forgiveness with the whole world.
PRAYER:
You, O Lord, raised your Son, Jesus Christ to life, and in so doing you have demonstrated the power of forgiveness and the hope of repentance. Bring us to repentance that our lives might proclaim the hope of forgiveness to all the peoples of the world, including those people who live in our neighbourhood. In Jesus’ name. Amen.