Resurrection Appearances

A sermon preached by Father Dwight D. Duncan, ssc, Rector, St Matthias, Dallas, Texas
4 May 2003 - The Third Sunday of Easter (Year B)

Scripture: St Luke 24:36b-48


Today's gospel presents us with another resurrection appearance of Jesus to his disciples. We are so used to hearing of these and of taking the resurrection itself as part of the world's history that we may fail to get the import of these appearances. Failing that, we may not receive the benefit these appearances had for those first disciples, and for us disciples now. So, today, let's put our minds to these questions which Jesus' resurrection appearances beg: Why did Jesus appear at all? Why did Jesus appear in the way he did?

If you pay close attention to the accounts of Jesus' resurrection appearances you will discover something interesting which we easily miss: Jesus never once appeared to anyone who had not already trusted in him, in some way, prior to his death. Never once. He did not appear to Pilate at breakfast Sunday morning. He did not appear at the Temple that day to the crowds who had demanded his crucifixion.

I can pose a number of reasons why this was so, but it would be pure speculation. The fact is simply this: the risen Jesus appeared only to those who prior to his murder had put some trust in him. His appearing to them was meant to do something for them and with them ... and then, through them, to do the same thing for and with others.

So, what is it that the resurrection appearances of Jesus were meant to do for his disciples? They were meant to convince them of three things:

1. Jesus, who died, is alive: he has conquered our enemy death, and its companion, sin.

2. The life to which he has been raised is something extraordinary.

3. He is now present with us always and everywhere.

First: The appearances reveal that he who had become as all of us are, even unto death, was alive. IS alive! It is an article of the Christian creeds that Jesus died. How dead was he? REALLY DEAD, dead enough to be buried and to lay in a tomb bound in the winding cloths of death. His death was no charade, no pretense ... he DIED. But, now he is ALIVE ... he has overcome that thing which holds all of us in thrall: death. AND he has conquered that thing which threatens us with eternal death: sin.

Second: The life to which Jesus was raised is extraordinary! While it is a life continuous with the one he had before his death, a life like you and I presently have, it is a life much more than this one you and I presently have. Haven't you noticed in the gospel accounts of Jesus' resurrection appearances the eerie-ness of them? I did not say they were creepy, but that they were eerie.

For instance, the old familiarity is gone. Often after his resurrection, the disciples fail to recognize Jesus immediately. As you heard in today's gospel, they know it's him, but they think it's some kind of ghostly apparition of him. So he has to manifest to them the substantiality of himself in concrete ways: he invites them to touch him; he asks for food and eats the proffered fish.

This risen life is indeed like our earthly one, but also more than our earthly one. It is as if Jesus has passed through death and emerged from it as through a new birth. Precisely! The life Jesus now presents to them is a new, better, more dynamic life than the one before, the one you and I presently have.

Third: The wonder of this risen life of Jesus has another extraordinary dynamic to it. He no longer comes and goes; our space/time/energy system no longer constrains him. No, Jesus now is simply PRESENT among them. Notice again today's gospel account: "While the disciples were telling how they had seen Jesus risen from the dead, Jesus himself stood among them."

Go back into the gospel accounts of Jesus' activity prior to his death and resurrection. They are full of the details of Jesus' coming to a place and then departing. We are often told how he comes and goes: he walked; he got into a boat and crossed to the other side.

But the gospel accounts of Jesus' presence after his resurrection have none of this. Instead, this is what is reported: "Morning came and Jesus stood on the shore" ... "The disciples were in the room behind locked doors, and Jesus stood in their midst" ... "And suddenly without warning Jesus stood before them and said, 'Peace be with you.'" The only time we are told how Jesus comes and goes after his resurrection is in the account of his walk with two disciples to Emmaus. There Luke reports simply that Jesus disappeared from their sight!

And so, in the manner of his resurrection appearances, the disciples were convicted of this fact: Jesus never again comes and goes from us. He is simply present TO us, present WITH us ... always.

These three things are what Jesus' resurrection appearances did for his disciples:

1. They convinced them that he has conquered our enemy death, and its companion, sin.

2. They convinced them that the life to which Jesus has been raised is extraordinary, something much more than our present earthly life.

3. They convinced them that Jesus is now present with us always and everywhere.

The conviction of these things did something more for the disciples. It certified to them that what Jesus had promised was true: that all who truly trust in him will receive from his Father nothing less and nothing other than what he received from his Father – resurrection to the eternal glory. And on our journey there, he is present with us always and everywhere, so that we might get there safely at the last.

The certitude of this then did something with the disciples. What did it do? Very simply, it made them "little Christs" to others. It achieved this with them because Christ's resurrection freed them from bondage to those fears which beset us and out of which we sin to protect ourselves. Assured that, regardless of what happened to them in this life, their future would be like his,

• Each in his/her own way became more capable of loving others like Jesus;
  
• Each in his/her own way became more capable of giving away themselves and their substance for the good of others like Jesus. And because of all this,
  
• Each in his/her own way then became capable of bringing others into a saving, life-giving relationship with Jesus and his Father, just as he had done with them.
  

So it has continued down through the centuries, through those who truly trust in Jesus. You and I are disciples of the risen Jesus because others have brought him to us in themselves, and us to him. It is ours now to continue this holy transmission.

But to do so, we need the same thing which those first disciples needed: the conviction of Jesus risen. He gives it to us through the testimony of those who have preceded us in faith. He gives it to us through our life with one another. But further, he continues to give it to us in his very own flesh and blood.

Yes, here, today, we are about to receive another resurrection appearance of Jesus. For that is what this meal he gave us even prior to his death and resurrection is: another resurrection appearance of him, an appearance in the form of bread and wine. How could it be otherwise, from someone who IS the true companion? You know what a companion is, don't you? "One who shares with you his bread."

The bread of Jesus is HIMSELF. He is here today, for you and for me! And he will be present to us tomorrow and all the tomorrows which each of us yet has in this earthly life. He will be present in all of them so that, IF we will allow him to wrap his arms around us and live through us for those who need him, we may forever be present with him in that life he enjoys with his Father by their Spirit and all the hosts of heaven. So ... take him to yourself, and give yourself to him. And then, give both of you away to others.


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