You Are My Witness

You Are My Witness

This week’s reading may sound familiar. Last week we read in John about Jesus’s  first appearance to the disciples, today we turn to the Gospel of Luke to read what the doctor has to say about this same event. 

Now at first glance this may seem repetitive.  After all there are nearly four thousand verses in the Gospels, why have back to back weeks with essentially the same reading?  

This repetitive reading must point to something of great importance. And it does.  In fact, Luke 24:36b-48, tells us everything we need to know about Jesus.  It is a summary of the key truths of Jesus that  the early Church struggled with.  

While John and Luke may have used a traditional earlier account of what happened, these two very similar readings are useful.  They point to an event of great importance in our faith.  Jesus had repeatedly told his disciples of what was to happen to him.  The Gospel passages tell us that prophecy did indeed come true.

Both readings follow a similar pattern; encounter, explanation, eating, enlightenment and exit.  Luke does not have an “infusion of spirit”, but he does tell us of something very important.  Simply, Jesus, explained himself. And finally the disciples are able to fully understand. “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations.”  Similar to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus opens the minds of the eleven to a full complete understanding.

The Bible is a book that we can devote a lifetime in study and still not fully understand.  We can read a passage one day that makes no sense to us at all, then on another day this same passage touches our heart.  These two readings, one from John and today’s from Luke help us look at something from a slightly different angle.  

The first words of Jesus are; “Peace be with you”. The disciples upon seeing Jesus are terrified.  They are behind locked doors, fearful of the authorities, tension is high.  Luke tells us that upon the appearance of Jesus, the disciples were startled and terrified.  Why?  Shouldn’t they have been happy, overjoyed at seeing Jesus again?  But remember the disciples do not have a full understanding of what has happened and what is happening. Instead they think they see a ghost.  Jesus tells them “Peace be with you”.

Jesus asks them; “ Why are you frightened and why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have”. He then asks the disciples for something to eat.  When I first read this, I thought it funny.  Almost like Jesus was cracking a joke.  But there is a purpose to this.  Ghosts don’t eat, but one who has flesh and bones does.  Yes, Jesus is here, in the midst of the disciples. He has risen.

For three years, Jesus had told the disciples about his destiny. “That everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled”.  The disciples though never quite got it.  In Luke 24:36b-48, Jesus changes that.  “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.”

You can look at today’s reading and see that everything you need to know about Jesus is found there. A very condensed New Testament.  Jesus brings peace to the anxious-he calms the disciples (Peace be with you);  God has indeed resurrected Jesus from the dead-“For a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”;  We cannot understand the Scriptures apart from Jesus’ life, ministry and resurrection;  Jesus commissions us to bear witness;  This good news of Jesus is for everyone;  

A complete understanding of the scriptures will come to us, like it did to the disciples.  That message may seem illogical.  How can this happen?  This just doesn’t make sense.  We have to look at this though through Gods way not the world’s way.  

I really do believe that we can be like the disciples and have Jesus explain to us the Scriptures.  Our minds will be opened.  We will understand.  We only have to do one thing.  Ask him.