Loving God, you open our minds to the scriptures, pointing us to Jesus and his victory over sin and death.  By the power of your Spirit, strengthen us in our faith, and grant us your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            In most of the stories that we hear about Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, there is fear, and confusion, and disbelief – sometimes even mixed together with joy and wonder.  Each time Jesus shows up, he brings with him a greeting of shalom – of peace and well-being.  He also invites the disciples to look at the scars on his hands and his feet and to touch him – for ghosts do not have flesh and bones.  And then, as in today’s gospel, Jesus eats with them – in this case, some broiled fish – for ghosts or spirits also do not eat.

         These post-resurrection appearances by Jesus are repeated over the course of forty days, for once or twice is certainly not enough to convince them that Jesus not only died, but was raised from the dead.  His resurrection body can be touched, has flesh and bones, can eat and drink, and bears the scars from the nails and the spear.  Yet, Jesus is also capable of simply appearing in a locked room, or disappearing from their sight.

         However, this kind of physical evidence of Jesus’ resurrection is not enough all by itself to transform anyone.  It would be easy for them – or for us – to say, “Okay.  He rose from the dead.  How does that have anything to do with us?”  In today’s gospel, and in other places, their minds needed to be opened to the scriptures (Lk. 24:45).  Otherwise, the disciples would have remained in their confusion and misunderstanding, believing that somebody who had suffered and died could not possibly be the Messiah.

         We forget sometimes how strong the desire was to have a king just like David, who would rule in Jerusalem, and lead God’s army, and finally set them free from the Roman occupation.  Those who had this image of the Messiah firmly in their minds would have trouble believing that even a risen Jesus could possibly be the Messiah.  And so, Jesus opens their minds to understand the Scriptures.

         He points them to the passages that talk about God’s suffering servant – the one who would make many righteous by bearing their sins (Is. 53:11).  He points them to the passages that talk about God’s anointed one (or Messiah), who would minister to the brokenhearted and those who mourn, and would bring good news to the captives and the oppressed (Is. 61).  He points them to the Psalms that describe his suffering and death and imply resurrection for God’s faithful one (Ps. 22, 16).  He points them to the promise of another prophet like Moses, and the admonition to listen to him (Deut. 18:15).  He points them to the passages that talk about the Messiah as both David’s descendant and David’s lord (Ps. 110:1; Is. 11).

         All of these are passages that the followers of Jesus knew, but they hadn’t understood how they applied to the promised Messiah.  Their minds needed to be opened – and thus, changed – in order to believe in the saving power of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  They needed to understand and to experience the same things that they would be proclaiming to others: “that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations” (Lk. 24:46-47).

         These are the things that are important in all of the early Christian sermons that we have in the New Testament.  In fact, the same things show up in Peter’s message to the crowd that we heard today in Acts.  First, the Messiah suffered, just as the Scriptures predicted.  Second, God raised him from the dead – of this, they were witnesses.  And third, all people are to repent – to change their minds – and receive forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus, the Christ (Acts 3).

         At least in the book of Acts, this basic message is accompanied by signs and wonders.  The setting in Acts chapter 3 is that a man who had been crippled ever since he was born is healed in the name of Jesus Christ.  It is this healing, and the man walking, leaping and praising God near the Temple, that gets people’s attention and draws them to Peter and John in order to find out what had happened.  In all of this the Holy Spirit is at work – providing the power to heal, the words for Peter to speak, and producing faith in the hearts of those who repent.

         As for us, Jesus also speaks shalom into our fear and confusion, even as he joins us at the table.  At the same time, we are invited to repent – to change our minds – to turn towards God – and to receive forgiveness through faith in the name of Jesus – particularly if we have never had this experience before.  For, Jesus Messiah, the Son of God, does set us free – but not necessarily from the Romans, or from any other occupying power.  Instead, Jesus sets us free from the power of sin and death, bringing not only forgiveness, but eternal life.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Easter 3(B)                                        Luke 24:36b-48

April 14, 2024                                   Acts 3:12-19

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2024 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved