April 15, 2018 – Pastor John McNeill
Luke 24:36-48 (CEB)
My take on understanding the scriptures.
Resurrection Appearance stories of Luke and John. There are some similarities.
Last week we looked at the Gospel of John’s take on a resurrection appearance.
Outline:
Differences in the story, but points of convergence:
- Understand the Scriptures: resurrection is the event by which the risen Christ is revealed and then can “open their minds to understand the scriptures.”
- bodily presence: we share this embodied life.
- doubt of the reality and doubt of one another: witness. The presence of risen Christ brings their stories together.
- forgiveness is highlighted
- a way forward to continue the story: witness – getting the story straight.
- Connection of resurrection to crucifixion
Function of stories: bringing our experience into focus for life & witness.
“In his name…” More about this next week, but for now: combination between our witness and our lives are not about our own ego authority. They are about aligning our story with Christ’s story.
Back up. How is it that we even know about Jesus?
What changed the disciples?? Where did they find the courage?
Step 1: not accepting the witness of friends.
Step 2: The need for personal experience, shaped and reworked within a common story
What was the quality of the Risen Christ?
Not a ghost
Carries his wounds
Carries his body
Reference Richard Rohr:
The risen Christ is the standing icon of humanity in its full and final destiny. He is the pledge and guarantee of what God will do with all our crucifixions. …
It is no accident that Luke’s Resurrection account in the Gospel has Jesus saying, “I am not a ghost! I have flesh and bones, as you can see” (see Luke 24:39-43). To Thomas he says, “Put your finger in the wounds!” (John 20:27). In other words, “I am human!”—which means to be wounded and resurrected at the same time. Christ returns to his physical body, and yet he is now unlimited by space or time and is without any regret or recrimination while still, ironically, carrying his wounds. …
That Jesus’ physical wounds do not disappear is telling. The mystical, counterintuitive message of death and resurrection is powerfully communicated through symbol. The major point is that Jesus has not left the human sphere; he is revealing the goal, the fullness, and the purpose of humanity itself, which is “that we are able to share in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4), even in this wounded and wounding world. Yes, resurrection is saying something about Jesus, but it is also saying a lot about us, which is even harder to believe. It is saying that we also are larger than life, Being Itself, and therefore made for something good, united, and beautiful. Our code word for that is heaven.
Fundamental truth: suffer, rise, change of heart, forgiveness.
Our story brings us back from confusion, uncertainty and doubt.
The Holy Spirit helps us keep our story straight as we confer with one another with open hearts.