If
I were asked to create a visual representation of the good news of Jesus the
Christ, I would paint a picture of Jesus— laughing, holding out his arms in a
gesture of welcome. Around him, in a sort of circle would be other people—people
of various ages and ethnicities—males and females; people dressed in different
kinds of clothes—clean and dirty, plain and fancy, new and old; people who
reflect a range of emotions—happy, sad, lonely, angry, fearful,
exhuberant. The circle around
Jesus would not be closed—there is room for more. And Jesus would be looking at the viewer—his eyes, his
facial expression, his body all saying “Come, join us.” Open—that word would
describe my picture.
Knowing
that’s my visual representation of the good news, it probably won’t surprise
you that as I read Luke’s account of the 1st Easter Sunday, I key in
on openings. Luke’s final chapter begins with an
open tomb. The women, coming to
finish the burial preparations, are met by heavenly messengers who ask them, “Why do you look for the living among the
dead?”[1]
Reminding the women that in Galilee Jesus had said “The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the
third day, rise again,”[2]
these heavenly messengers proclaim “He is
not here but is risen.”[3]
Returning to the place where some of the disciples have gathered, the women
report what they have seen and heard.
But the disciples don’t believe them.
Later
in the day, two of Jesus’ followers are traveling to Emmaus, a village about a
day’s walk from Jerusalem. Along
the way, they are joined by another traveler, a stranger. They discuss the events of the past
week—Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem; his arrest, conviction, and
execution; and the women’s report of the empty tomb. Questioning what it all means, they listen in wonder as
their newfound acquaintance connects the promises of Jewish scripture with the
life and ministry of Jesus.
Arriving at Emmaus as the sun is setting, the two friends invite the
stranger to stay for supper. In
table fellowship, as the stranger blesses and breaks the bread, their eyes are
opened and they recognize their traveling companion is none other than the
risen Christ! He disappears from
their sight. Hurrying back to
Jerusalem in the dark, they marvel at how their hearts had burned within them
while “the stranger”—the one they now know is Jesus—had interpreted the
scripture for them.
This
is the background to the text Eric read to us a few minutes ago. The day begins with an opened tomb and
a reminder that the Christ must suffer and die and rise on the 3rd
day—this day. The day continues
with interpretation of scripture and another opening: opened eyes. Late at
night, the 2 traveling friends, return to Jerusalem and find the disciples hiding
behind locked doors. Reunited with
his other followers, they share their experience with the risen Lord. This is where the scripture Eric read
begins.
Then
Jesus comes to them. Sturdy walls
do not keep him out. Deadbolts do
not stop him. At first they think
he is a ghost, there to do them harm. But hearing his voice, “Peace be with
you,” seeing his scarred hands and feet, accepting his invitation to touch him,
and watching him eat a piece of fish; their apprehension turns to joyful
amazement. Released from their
fear, they hear his words as he re-interprets the scriptures. And their minds are opened. They realize their beloved teacher is
indeed Jesus the Christ—the one who must and did suffer, the one
who will be, who has been raised from the dead. Their minds are opened to receive the good news of his
resurrection. Then Jesus promises one more opening. He will empower them to be witnesses to the transformative
power of his love and forgiveness, witnesses to all the nations, witnesses
beginning right there, in Jerusalem.
Their mouths will be opened.
As
Christians, we claim that what Jesus has done for others, he will do for
us. So we read Luke’s account of
this day with hope. The opened tomb assures us that Jesus is let loose in the
world. Because the doors of the locked
room where the disciples hide, while not literally—but effectively—are opened,
we claim Jesus will open the doors and break down the walls of our fears and
doubts, releasing us to walk forward in faith. On that journey of faith, we hope that our eyes will be
opened to holy encounters not only with family and friends but also with acquaintances
and strangers. Through conversations—shared
in work, at play and over meals; our minds can be opened as we listen to and
receive others’ memories, others’ stories, others’ experiences, and others’ ideas.
In relationships that are built—one
conversation at a time, one meal at a time, one shared project at a time—our
lives will be opened, and we will proclaim through both our actions and our
words, Who it is that nourishes and empowers us—Jesus the Christ, our risen
Lord.
As
Christians, we claim that what Jesus has done for others he will do for
us. But that does not mean we are
passive—waiting for Jesus to do all the opening. For years I had the habit of looking down when I
walked. Afraid of tripping over
stones and roots on dirt paths in parks, I looked down when I walked. Afraid of meeting unwelcome glances or
closed off faces on busy university sidewalks, I looked down when I
walked. But when we moved to
downtown Austin for seminary, I re-trained myself. I lifted my head, looking up and out as I walked. Strolling through the park adjacent to
seminary housing, I encountered the beauty of God’s creation, and I found
myself praying on my daily walks, “Thank you, God, for the cool breeze. Thank you, God, for the warm sunshine.
Thank you, God, for blooming
redbuds. Thank you, God, for the
tall green grass. Thank you, God,
for the blue jay and woodpecker songs.”
Lifting my head, looking up and out as I walked, my eyes and ears were
opened. As I walked the busy city sidewalks—teeming with university students,
homeless men, and a few tourists, I lifted my head, looking up and out. I met the eyes of people I did not
know, and I found myself speaking to strangers, “Good morning. Hi. How are you today?
” And they responded, often
surprised, but usually appreciative of a personal connection—even if only for
that one brief moment.
Lifting my head, looking up and out as I walked, my eyes were opened to
my fellow travelers on the journey of life. My eyes were opened to other beloved children of God. Because I walked the same routes every
day at the same time, I sometimes encountered the same people. Some of those initial “Good mornings”
evolved into longer conversations—tentative acquaintance-ships, opportunities
to listen to their stories and . . . sometimes . . . to share my own. Open eyes . . . open ears . . . open
mouth . . . open life . . .
As
Christians, we claim that what Jesus has done for others he will do for
us. But that does not mean we are
passive—waiting for Jesus to do all the opening. I remember a few Sundays ago
when our ushers came into this sanctuary saying, “It is such a beautiful
day! Let’s open the doors.” Many of you, one after another, as you
walked up the steps and into the sanctuary commented that the open doors made
our church building look inviting.
You said you felt a special welcome that day. Physically opening our doors before worship helps us appear
to be the welcoming congregation that we are. Open doors . . .
Openings
. . . My visual representation of the good news—Jesus the Christ with open
arms, standing in an open circle, among an obviously open group of people . .
. Openings . . . . opened tomb,
opened scriptures, opened eyes, opened doors, opened arms, opened minds, opened
mouths, opened lives . . . What else will Jesus open in and through us? What miracles will we experience
because of his openings?
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