Today’s gospel reading from Luke is about the
resurrection of Jesus, which as Campbell explained a couple of weeks ago, is at
the very heart of Christianity
Jesus made extraordinary
claims. He claimed that he would judge all humanity. He claimed that his was
the only name under heaven by which we could be saved. He claimed to be able to
forgive people’s sins. And He claimed that anyone who had seen him had seen God.
The resurrection
authenticates Jesus’s claims. The resurrection is God’s validation of Jesus’
claims. The resurrection says that everything that Jesus said and did, can be
trusted.
The resurrection shows
that Jesus has overcome the power of death and opened the way for people
everywhere to be free from sin and death as they put their faith in Him.
The resurrection is about new life and hope for all
people and this is what I’d like to look at this morning but first let’s briefly
set the scene to today’s gospel reading from Luke.
It is now the third day since Jesus was crucified and some
of the women who went to the tomb early in the morning with spices, find the
stone rolled away and the body gone.
They then have an encounter with two angels who tell them
that Jesus has risen from the dead. The women tell the apostles what they have
seen but Luke tells us in verse 11 of this chapter that the women’s testimonies
seem like idle tales to the apostles, who remain unconvinced.
Simon Peter however runs to the tomb and finds it empty
and returns home amazed.
That evening a couple of disciples come to tell the
apostles of their encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus. When
they arrive Luke tells us in verse 34 that some time during the day Jesus has
also appeared to Peter.
Why did Jesus appear to Peter first before the other
disciples? I believe it was because Peter was in desperate need of comfort
having disowned him and Jesus simply couldn’t wait to re-assure him.
By now with all these apparent sightings the rest of the apostles
doubts are probably beginning to subside, but while they are talking about what
these appearances can mean, Jesus himself comes and stands among them and says
peace be with you.
The apostles’ first reaction seems to be shock and some
of them seem to think he is a ghost. However Jesus proves that it is him by
showing them his hands and his feet.
He then gets them to touch him so that
they can see that he has flesh and bones and
as a final proof that he isn’t a
ghost he eats some broiled fish in front of them.
Jesus resurrection is a physical resurrection of his
body. It is a resurrection of the same body that he died in, and to prove this,
his body still bears the marks of the nails on his hands and feet.
Some cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that Jesus body
was just a spirit body - not flesh and bone but as we can see in this passage
from Luke, this is not the case.
However it is clear that Jesus’ body has undergone some
sort of change. For instance he can suddenly appear when doors have been locked
and then disappear at will. He can hide his identity from people but then open
their eyes to recognise him.
It seems he can now exist quite happily in both the
physical and the spiritual realms. His body is physical - flesh and bone, but
it is also a spiritual body in the sense that it is no longer subject to the
laws of physics.
What is the reason for this?
I think Paul gives us some clues in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 where he talks
about the change that will occur to our own bodies when we are one day resurrected,
if we have repented and put our faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
Talking about our body, Paul says; It is sown in
dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in
power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body.”
So our physical bodies will be resurrected and transformed
into spiritual bodies.
Our perishable and mortal bodies will put on the
imperishable and immortal aspects of the spiritual body.
Paul tells us that Jesus was the first fruits of this resurrection
and that just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, that is Adam, we
will also bear the image of the man of heaven, that is Jesus.
In other words when we are resurrected our bodies will be
like Jesus’ body.
The reason Jesus can appear from behind closed doors is
because his physical body has become imperishable and spiritual. Thus on the
one hand he still has flesh and bone but on the other hand he can also ascend
in to heaven. On the one hand he can eat broiled fish but on the other hand he
can pass though walls.
Heaven isn’t a fluffy sort of spiritual place full of
wispy mists where lots of disembodied saints float round like clouds.
The bible doesn’t tell us a huge amount about heaven but
from what it does say, we can see that it is a place of beauty that contains
many of the things we are familiar with on earth.
The apostle John for instance describes heaven – the New
Jerusalem - as a city having walls made of precious jewels, while its twelve gates
are made from single pearls. The city itself and its streets are are made of
pure gold, that is like transparent glass. There are trees and a river, and one
imagines - grass and flowers.
People who claim to have had glimpses of heaven describe
a place of great beauty with vivid colours and beautiful landscapes and gardens.
So heaven is a place that exists in what we’d call the
spiritual realm – but which bears some resemblance to the physical realm. And
in order to enjoy it we will have bodies that bear much resemblance to our
physical bodies although our new bodies will be imperishable and immortal.
So if we put our faith in him and believe in him, Jesus’s
resurrection can give us hope for the future.
In heaven we can hope to meet loved ones again who also
believed and when our bodies have worn out and failed us we can one day look
forward to being renewed and seeing our bodies become immortal and
imperishable.
But the resurrection isn’t just about hope for the
future. It’s about hope for today whatever we are experiencing in our everyday
lives, however bleak or hopeless life may seem.
In the period between Jesus’ death and resurrection the
disciples went through a very low time. The man they’d given up everything to
follow and on whom their hopes were set had been brutally crucified and killed.
Their world had seemingly fallen apart.
But when they met with the risen Lord Jesus and saw that
he had indeed returned to life, all their doubt and fear disappeared.
Everything Jesus had taught them started to make sense and their lives were
transformed.
And this is what is still happening all over the world
today. People everywhere who will acknowledge their need for him are finding new
hope and new life as they too encounter the risen Lord Jesus and come to
believe in him.
In the vast majority of cases this encounter doesn’t
involve seeing Jesus, although occasionally some Christians do see him, but
rather it is a spiritual revelation.
However it is none the less real.
Interestingly today’s other reading is from the Acts of
the Apostles where Luke tells us how following the disciples experience of meeting with the
risen Lord Jesus and being empowered by the Holy Spirit the early church grew
rapidly as they shared this message of new life and hope.
Just before today’s reading from Acts Peter has spoken
words of hope and healing to a man lame and crippled from birth and the power
of Jesus resurrection has broken into his life and healed him.
What hope did this man have until he encountered Jesus? Very
little. The prospect of begging for the rest of his life. But when he
encounters the healing power of the risen Lord Jesus his life is changed
completely.
And this is the message of the gospel, that as the light
and love and power of Jesus resurrection comes into our lives everything can
change.
Death can turn to life and darkness to light. Forgiveness
can replace hatred and love can replace cold heartedness. Relationships that
were seemingly irreparable can be restored and lives that were empty and
pointless can receive meaning and purpose.
I have no idea what you are experiencing in your life at
the moment but if you are in need of hope or or forgiveness or purpose, Jesus
can provide it if you will only take a step of faith and invite him
wholeheartedly into your life.
Perhaps the sheer mundaneness of life is grinding you
down. You are materially comfortable but deep down your life is empty and
without meaning or purpose and you are crying out for more.
Jesus can fill that void and provide the purpose you so
desire.
Perhaps you are already a Christian but your faith has
become dry and parched and you feel distant from God.
Perhaps you are sad and confused. You put on a brave face
to the world but inside you are crying.
Jesus can provide the comfort you need.
He loves you and longs to reveal himself to you as the
risen Lord but the onus is on you to invite and welcome him into your life as
your Lord and saviour.
As Peter says in the verses just after today’s reading from
Acts “repent therefore and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so
that times of refereshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he
may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is Jesus.”
Lets
pray.
Jesus you are the risen Lord and your presence is here
with us now.
Silently in your own words share whatever is on your heart
with Jesus and if you are in any sort of need invite Him wholeheartedly into
your heart and life. Amen
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