Easter week 3

Psalm: Psalm 4
Acts: Acts 3:12-19
Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48
Epistle: 1 John 3:1-7

Welcome to the third week of Eastertide.  We continue this week by reflecting on Jesus’ resurrection appearances as well as how his resurrection affects our lives.  Last week, we discussed Christ’s desire for unity amongst his people, but this week we turn towards more individual actions.

Let us first look at the resurrection appearance of Jesus portrayed in Luke.  First, this is the only time Jesus appears to the disciples in Luke after the resurrection.  It is interesting that in all four Gospels the post-resurrection accounts vary, yet each Gospel tells of Jesus actual death and actual rising from the dead.  In Luke’s account, he makes it abundantly clear that in some ways Jesus is actually present in the flesh and that there is some continuity between his body during life (then) and post-resurrection (now).  Jesus ate in front of his disciples and he shows them the scars on his hands and feet.  Despite some continuity, there is also change.  Jesus just appears in the midst, he doesn’t use the front door you might say. (John actually makes it clear that the door was locked and Jesus appeared in their midst.) Jesus also ascends up into heaven, which didn’t/couldn't(?) happen before his death. 

Although many people have pondered and postulated what our resurrected bodies might be like, I think from this and the other resurrection appearance there is at least one take away: our resurrected bodies will have some continuity and some change from our current bodies.  Any more than that and we are entering into educated guesses or worse.  All we can do is place our hope in Christ as the first fruits of our resurrection. (1 Cor. 15:20-58)

With that ground work laid, we can move into the second emphasis of this week’s reading.  Coming from a Nazarene background, I don’t of any way of saying it other than Christian holiness.  In our Psalm this week, the writer says “that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself…Tremble, and do not sin” (4:3-4).  Yet, this theme is carried to its completion in 1 John.  John makes no qualms or qualifications. In Christ there is no sin and no one who follows or has seen him sins.  John makes it that simple and we are all left thinking, “uh oh.”  John always makes it clear that we live and breathe in Christ only as we are connected to him.  We can only live this life connected to the vine of Christ.  This is our hope.  We are called to be holy and live holy lives, yet we do it only in and through the Spirit of Christ.  That is why Jesus says that his burden is light, because he carries it with us. (Matt 11:30)

I hope this week has caused you to think particularly about Jesus resurrection and what this says about both his divinity and his humanity.  Jesus appeared to his disciples as a man, yet he is still God.  I hope we also think this week about the power we have in the Spirit.  Jesus said that it is a good thing he left this earth so that his Spirit could come and dwell among us.  Let us give thanks for Christ’s presence in us and in the world.

Grace and Peace.