I have always been intrigued by the resurrection appearances. When one reads them in the four gospels it is certainly an exercise in unity and diversity in the gospels. 

 

My main musing has always been, why did the writer of each particular gospel use or frame the stories in the way they did? 

 

When I read the parables, I have always looked for the main idea — the details of the story being the vehicle to convey that idea. I find it helpful to view resurrection appearances in the same way. Not to focus too much on the detail but to look for the message the author was giving.

 

Today’s lectionary gospel story is in Luke (24: 36b-48). Luke only includes two resurrection appearances although a third is alluded to with a passing mention to a previous appearance to Peter. 

 

The first appearance recorded is the story of Cleopas and partner on the road to Emmaus. Although, the companion remains unnamed in Luke, Cleopas’ wife is named as Mary in John’s gospel and I assume this is who he was walking with. 

 

In this first Lukan resurrection appearance, the two do not recognize the risen Christ in spite of what seems to have been a lengthy conversation where the scriptures were expounded to them. They later recognized the Christ in the breaking of bread. This is not today’s reading but nevertheless worth pondering about the message the author of the gospel of Luke was giving here — the recognition of Christ in the breaking of bread. 

 

Anyway, I’ll dwell there another time, but now I need to move on, to the second resurrection appearance which is the text for today.  

 

As the Lukan account continues Cleopas and Mary immediately returned to Jerusalem and went to the disciples to tell of their experience. The reading today begins with the disciples discussing their tale when Jesus came and stood amongst them bringing a blessing of peace. 

 

It does read like there was some recognition that they were seeing the Christ but clearly uncertainty too — they thought “they were seeing a ghost” (37). Interestingly, many of the modern Bible translations use the word ghost rather than spirit in this text — that provides insight into the art of interpretation engaged in by translators. 

 

Whether the English word used is ghost or spirit the sense is a noncorporeal being rather than a physical one. This was the initial perception of this resurrection appearance. Then, the author of Luke seeks to give proof that this was indeed a risen body. First, it can be touched, and the holes felt in it. Secondly, it can eat (In spite of the injuries!). 

 

In the Lukan account the text then immediately moves to ascension. There is no further resurrection appearance. So, back to my original musing — what did the author of Luke want to convey with these two accounts? 

 

The gospel of Luke was penned about 85CE. This would fall within the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian who was a particularly cruel ruler. He was the first emperor to style himself as “God the Lord”. He would also be referred to as “Holy”, “Thou Alone”, “Invincible” and “Lord of the Earth” to mention a few. He persecuted both Jews and Christians. Fox’s Book of Martyrs refers to this as the second persecution of Christians starting 81 CE. (the first was under Nero 67CE, the third under Trajan 108 CE).

 

I think this informs the intention of the text today. First by reminding the readers that Christ alone was sovereign. Then, by assuring them that life continues.  Amidst persecution and certain death for many, the assurance of continuity would be essential and comforting. This story would be important. It reveals the continuation of life. Not necessarily life as before, “they were seeing a ghost”. By the time this was written, after the loss of so many during the first persecution it would be futile to imagine that those early Christians thought they would rise from the dead and carry on life as before.

 

This passage was not designed to give that message — but to give the message of continuity. Life goes on. Death was not an end but a doorway into something different.

 

It is the message of hope in this Easter season which has been shared by many over the centuries.

 

 

 

Christ is Risen: Amazing and Terrifying

 Christ is Risen

Christ is Risen indeed

 

This joyful refrain will be echoed around the world. On this day, this Easter Sunday, Christians everywhere share the great hope of their faith. 

 

Christ is risen — history was made, and the world changed. 

 

I have been mulling over the lectionary text (Mark 16:1-8) for the last few days. 

 

The Celtic connection means that my first thoughts always go to how the natural world — the cycle of life — is reflected in the season. Life is just bursting out everywhere I look. Birds are nesting, shoots are pushing through the ground, trees are budding, rabbits, woodchucks and chipmunks are scurrying around. The evidence of new life is in abundance. Even, the last snowfall melted away overnight. What a wonderful picture of resurrection life. 

 

Yet, I am aware it is all in the interpretation. This depiction of resurrection life, which I find so meaningful, is only true in certain parts of the world. I have family in Australia where they are in autumn moving towards winter — how would a picture of resurrection life be imagined in nature for them? Would resurrection be the fruit and maturity of Jesus’ earthly ministry? Would it be the door into a period of hiddenness before the church emerges? Or what about family in Thailand and friends in Brazil where it is always warm? How would the nature surrounding them reflect resurrection life? Even in some southern parts of this country flowers are already moving to full bloom. 

 

So, while I enjoy the image of new life and hope for the future that surrounds me. I am aware that for others the picture may be different. Different, but no less meaningful. This Celtic understanding, that the earth reflects the cycle of life, is a picture for all regardless of where one lives. 

 

As I continued to ponder the words of the text, I found that I lingered on the last words of the passage — indeed the last words of the original gospel. (Mark is understood to be the earliest of the synoptic gospels and verses 9 onwards are thought to be later additions). 

 

The gospel according to Mark keeps the resurrection story comparatively short. Just eight verses, yet so full of meaning. In this story two women visit the tomb early to care for Jesus’ body. I did pause there, at our last retreat much of the conversation was about caring for others. It brought to mind the ethics of care and all that entails. I loved that I saw it here, right at the beginning of the resurrection story, although a little saddened that again caring was deemed women’s responsibility. This one verse in the Easter story highlights the significance of care.

 

And as if to emphasize this, these women were given an amazing responsibility. They were sent to bear witness of the resurrection to the male disciples. Today, it is almost impossible to realize the significance of this or to feel the impact of what this must have meant to them. In times when testimony from women was usually considered invalid or ineligible, women were chosen to bear witness to this most significant history changing event. 

 

Then follows the concluding words of the story, the last words of the gospel. And what an ending!  “So, they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (8).

 

At first glance, it can feel quite a negative way to end a gospel, leaving the reader to sit with fear. But the more I read it and mused on the verse, it felt exactly right. The women’s reaction was perfect. There was no false confidence or bravado. They were overwhelmed, they were terrified, they were fearful, and they were amazed.

 

I loved the honesty of it. 

I loved the humanness of their reaction.

I loved their insight.

 

Such a reaction shows that they realized that something life changing was happening. They had been chosen to bear witness to something that would change everything. They recognized the gravity of what they were seeing and hearing. It was an event they did not take lightly or casually. History was being made before their eyes — nothing would ever be the same for them again.

 

So today, as I think today about death and resurrection I, too, want to be so impacted, that I am amazed and terrified. 

 

Christ is risen — history was made, and the world changed.