After the resurrection,
there are three short vignettes in the Gospel of Luke regarding the risen
Christ and groups of people. Let’s look
at these four and see the common thread (enlarged font and underlining mine):
The first is the women who
visit the tomb:
On the first day of the week,
very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went
to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3
but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4
While they were
wondering about this, suddenly two men
in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their
fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to
them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not
here; he has risen! Remember
how he told you, while he was
still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into
the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8
Then they
remembered his words. [1]
The second is with the
disciples:
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these
things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary
Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told
this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because
their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up
and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by
themselves, and he went away, wondering to
himself what had happened. [2]
Now that same day two of them were going to a village
called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were
talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As
they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up
and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing
him.
17 He asked them,
“What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One
of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do
not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What
things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet,
powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The
chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they
crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going
to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took
place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the
tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and
told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then
some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had
said, but him they did not see.”
25 He said to them,
“How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets
have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and
then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the
Prophets, he explained to them what
was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached
the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29
But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the
day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the
table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to
them. 31 Then their eyes were
opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from
their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning
within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
[3]
The final vignette is with
the gathered disicples who are still talking about what just happened:
While they were still talking about this, Jesus
himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They
were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said
to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts
rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my
feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones,
as you see I have.”
40 When he had said
this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did
not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have
anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43
and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to
them, “This is what I told you while I
was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the
Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they
could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is
written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these
things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but
stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” [4]
You see that in each case,
the disciple of God is WONDERING (faith mixed with doubts) until they
remembered the word of God. Faith comes
by hearing the Word, but not by hearing only – it must be remembered. It is when
the word is remembered in the moment of wonder that faith is revealed.
The implication is significant, both for us and for those we preach to.
[1]
The Holy Bible: New International Version.
(1984). (Lk 24:1–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[2]
The Holy Bible: New International Version.
(1984). (Lk 24:9–12). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[3]
The Holy Bible: New International Version.
(1984). (Lk 24:13–32). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[4]
The Holy Bible: New International Version.
(1984). (Lk 24:36–49). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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