Then he patiently preached the late service sermon heard at the early service by the two from Emmaus. “My dear brothers!” he was saying, “Isn’t this exactly what I taught you from Scripture when we were together?” “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (44). And as if that is not enough – as fearful confusion became too-good-to-be-true wonderment – he orders a bite from the dollar menu and, very un-ghostlike, consumes the appetizer right before their marveling eyes.īut having overcome their initial shock and awe, it is what he patiently did next that was most important. He holds before them proof positive that he isn’t a nameless spirit sent to terrify them but their dear both-body-and-spirit Lord come to comfort them! He shows them his hands and side – still bearing the unmistakable marks of his crucifixion. Stunned and startled, they’re sure an unknown apparition is appearing to terrify them.īut then, as is characteristic of every post-Easter appearance, Jesus patiently seeks to turn troubled disciples from frenzied fear to fervent faith.

He greets them with what is far beyond a routine “Shalom!” (36), but they are clearly not ready to process the peace his resurrection has given.

That becomes abundantly evident when suddenly in their midst stands the one about whom they are talking. The Emmaus disciples had just run back to Jerusalem, powered by their hearts’ afterburners, to report on the surprising identity of an unknown traveler who suddenly proved himself to be their risen Lord! And their fellow disciples greeted them with an emphatic “He is risen indeed!” (34) as they report an appearance to Peter.īut they hadn’t yet mastered the “what does this mean” of this dawning Easter reality. The facts of what had dawned that Easter Day were now becoming clear to them. Such is the state of the disciples in the gospel for Easter 3 (Luke 24:36-49). How desperately I still need the patient teaching of the risen Lord to open my naturally dull mind to understand the comfort and power of what happened on Easter! The facts of Easter I know, but the glorious “what does this mean?” of those Easter realities have so much more yet to teach me. It shows up when I look at the health of the congregation of which I’m a part or ponder the future of our church body and begin to worry as if everything was resting in frail human hands like mine. It shows up in the morning when I look at the phalanx of tasks waiting for me in life and ministry and feel overwhelmed before I’ve even started. It shows up on all too many evenings when I allow fatigue to color the disappointments of the day with the gray of cynicism, discouragement or even despair. Sadly, I give evidence every day that I haven’t mastered that. But I’m talking about mastering the “what does this mean?” for my heart and life of the reality that I have a risen Savior. I’ve known that quite well ever since I sat and listened on my mother’s lap. I’m not talking about mastering the logistical, factual details of the day’s events. Have you mastered the truth of Easter yet? I will confess that I clearly haven’t.

Lord mymind