Our Experience of Jesus

 Luke 24 is packed with people who experience Jesus. 

The Resurrection Story--The women came to the tomb to prepare the body with the spices they had brought--but the body wasn't there.  Perplexed!  They encounter two men, and the women were terrified!  The men asked the women, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.  REMEMBER how he had told you!  They now remembered and went back to tell the others.  The others thought it was an idle tale.  Peter ran to the tomb and looked in.  Yep, it was empty, and the linen cloths were laying there--Amazed!

The Walk to Emmaus--When I was in seminary, someone dubbed the "duh" experience!  There were two disciples walking to a village called Emmaus from Jerusalem.  They were chatting amongst themselves about all that had happened--the death and burial of Jesus.  And we are told that while they were talking a man comes near them, we know him to be Jesus from the scripture, but these men are kept from recognizing him.  Jesus notices they are sad, and he says, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?"  One of them looked at Jesus and said, duh--ok, he didn't really say that, or maybe he did, and it just isn't well translated from the Greek.  Anyway, he says to Jesus, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have taken place these days?"  Jesus draws them in--"what things?"  And them men tell the stranger (Jesus) about how the prophet of God was arrested, condemned to death, crucified.  They told the stranger, "We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel, but it has been three days since all this happened."  Duh!  They went on to tell how the women had come back and reported the body was gone. The stranger then goes on to talk about how foolish they are, slow of heart to believe. The stranger says, "Wasn't it necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?"  And he went on to tell them, remind them of Moses and all the prophets.  

When they got to Emmaus, the stranger walked on ahead, but they invited him to stay.  It was at the table, at the TABLE, where he took bread, blessed and broke it--sharing it with them.  And then, AHA, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.  Remembered.

Jesus appears to the disciples--The disciples were sharing the story with the others, and Jesus comes and stand among them, "Peace be with you." They were STARTLED and thought they were seeing a ghost.  Had they not just been told by the others? But he asked why they were afraid and showed them his hands and feet.  And he ate with them.  And he opened their mind--they remembered.

The Ascension of Jesus-Jesus leads the disciples out to Bethany, and he lifts up his and and blessed them.  As he is blessing them, he is lifted to heaven.  And their response?  They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were CONTINUALLY in the temple blessing God.

Notice the vast emotion with these experiences.  Notice how in most of them, they didn't notice in the moment that Jesus was present--it took some time.  How quickly they forget, and how quickly we forget.

It has to be about twenty years about that I was asked to write an Easter article for the Saginaw News.  I wish I had a copy.  As I recall I spoke to the many tombs we find ourselves trapped by--it isn't just death.  It isn't until we step out of the tomb that we experience life.

The amazing thing about Jesus is that Jesus has been there--in the tomb, but he is no longer there.  Blessed by Jesus, meaning we live life according to Jesus, he invites us out of the tomb to live new life.  Jesus meets us where we are, but also loves us enough to not let us stay there.  

Where have you experienced Jesus?  Where do you experience Jesus?  I admit that I often encounter Jesus in worship--in a song that is sung, or in a phrase in a prayer.  I will admit I have to turn off my mind thinking about everything going on around me, or the stupid thing I said in my sermon, or sometimes those songs that don't really sound like planned.  But when I remember Jesus, I encounter Jesus.  

One of the joys of the call to Word and Sacrament ministry is the opportunity to share Jesus' body and blood regularly--to look into the eyes and see the person. It is the opportunity to taste, touch and see Jesus in ways I don't regularly do throughout the week.  And I need that reminder.  

I also see Jesus when I am out and about.  There is a place at Stony Lake Camp where when you sit during the sunset, there can be no doubt about God's presence (Bob Aldrich was able to capture a great picture of this once.)  Or I encounter it in volunteering, or while I listen to music on the radio.  

As we read and discuss chapter 4 of "You Are Witnesses of These Things," think about your encounters with Jesus.  Did you recognize it right away, or did you realize it after some reflection?  

Do you think you have had "duh" moments?