Luke 24: 36 – 45 Jesus's Last Appearance

Luke 24: 36 – 45 Jesus's Last Appearance

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. 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 and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And [behold] I am sending the promise of my Father* upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them [out] as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.*

Whatever doubts his disciples had about his resurrection are resolved when Jesus appears in their midst. No spirit he, but fully alive in his physical body as evidenced by his wounds and his desire to eat. He ends his time with them with a gift, a challenge, and a promise. The gift is when he opens their minds to the scriptures making everything clear. The challenge is to preach repentance for the forgiveness of all sins to all nations in his name. The promise is that they will be sent the promise of his Father and “clothed with power from on high”. Then he blessed them and was taken up to heaven. Jesus's time on earth has come to an end. He has done everything he can to prepare his followers for the future. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. The way that those disciples and fledgling followers acted in the following weeks and months and years seemed to fulfill every promise – working together to preach the gospel, sharing their resources, doing their best to follow Jesus in word and deed. Perhaps it is as simple as that – preaching the gospel through our words and our deeds, sharing generously what we have been given and loving each other as Jesus loved us. Words to ponder and I think to live by.

This marks the end of my meditations on Luke. It took me longer than I thought but through the process I learned a lot about myself and the scriptures. I thank God for all I learned and look forward to whatever comes next. I am in his hands and happy to be there.

Luke 24: 13 – 35 Emmaus

Luke 24: 13 – 35 Emmaus

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer* these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

After he had risen, Jesus appears to two of his followers as they travel to Emmaus. They are amazed when Jesus professes ignorance about the events of the last few days. Where has he been not to have heard they wonder? They confide, “We were hoping he was (the Messiah) the one who would set Israel free.” That hope, at least in a political sense was doomed to disappointment. Jesus travels along with them explaining the scriptures to them and then performing what is to become his signature act – the breaking of the bread. In this act they recognize him, an act so integral to his teaching that we continue to re-enact it today. The Eucharist, Thanksgiving.

Luke 24: 1 – 12 The Women at the Tomb and Peter

Luke 24: 1 – 12 The Women at the Tomb and Peter

But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.* Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

Two days after Jesus death, three women who loved him arrived at the tomb to further anoint his body. They are keeping vigil, caring for their friend and Lord in death as they did in life, selflessly. Their humble service is rewarded. They are the first to know that Jesus is risen. The two angels present at the tomb ask them to remember what Jesus had told them. Suddenly it becomes clear – a miracle to end all miracles. The women greet the news with amazement and with faith. They rush off to tell the others. Their new is greeted with disbelief by the apostles, except for Peter. Peter who has been tested, found wanting, and forgiven. Peter whom Jesus believed in, believed in Jesus in turn. They say that experience is a great teacher. Peter is a prime example - someone who made mistakes, had to face the consequences of his actions, had to admit he was wrong and ask for forgiveness and then was given it. All of this combined to make Peter the person he is now, the person who will establish Christ's church community on earth.

Luke 23: 50 – 56 The Burial of Jesus.

Luke 23: 50 – 56 The Burial of Jesus.

Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the Aabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Joseph of Arimathea, a man of influence in the Sanhedrin, asks Pilate for Jesus’ body so that it can be buried. Luke’s gospel describes him as a “good and God-fearing man who looks forward to the reign of God”. Is he one of Christ’s followers or is he a Jew? Since he has influence in the Sanhedrin he must be a good Jew, and a wise one, since that is sort of the “supreme court” of ancient Israel. And yet the description of him as a person “who looks forward to the reign of God” marks him as a follower of Christ. Maybe we should think of him as a “closet” Christian, someone who leads a double life? That’s a bit harsh. It was not easy to follow Jesus at that time, especially in Jerusalem. Your very life was at risk and Joseph was not the only follower of Jesus to wilt under the pressure. Virtually all the disciples did, including Peter who would play a huge role in establishing the church. And if I am honest with myself, I’m sure I would not have done much better. We don’t know what happened to Joseph after his brief mention in the Gospels, but I would like to think he continued to help and support Christ’s followers. Maybe eventually he became an overt Christian. I think he did. After all, he was a good and upright man who looked forward to the coming of the Kingdom.

Luke 23:32 – 49 The Crucifixion.

Luke 23:32 – 49 The Crucifixion.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]* They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent* beyond doubt.” When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.

Luke’s version of the crucifixion alone has the crucifixion of the “good” and “bad” thieves. These are the two criminals who are crucified one on each side of Jesus. One, the “bad” thief, mocks Jesus, thinking him a poor messiah that cannot rescue himself, never-mind the Jewish people. The second, the “good” thief , rebukes the first. Like everyone on the city of Jerusalem he knew of Jesus and his sham of a trial. Somehow, he recognizes Jesus innate goodness and holiness and asks to be remembered when Jesus “enters into his reign”. This is the last man outside of Jesus friends and disciples to recognize Jesus for who he really is. The rest lack faith, going along with the crowd, unable to think independently, to recognize Jesus with the eyes of faith. Following Jesus always has and will call for faith and fidelity. Faith in being able to recognize God’s work, God’s workers here on earth, and choosing to be one of them. Fidelity in choosing to stand by that work in the face of adversity, in the face of unpopularity. Jesus went his own way, bringing the word of God not to the powerful but to the poor. He embodied humility, non-violence, love of God and others. That path, if we choose it, is open to us as well - but we must choose it – that counter cultural path. We must choose it.