Loving God, you are the source of all that is good – and even of the gift of faith.  Open our eyes and our hearts as we worship together today, helping us to see your abundant life and your love for us through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    It seems that for many people, faith is one of the most difficult things to find.  Some maintain that they want proof, and then they will believe.  Others have their own concept of how God “should” operate, and when things don’t go according to their standards, they conclude that God is not worth believing in.  Still others say that they have tried to believe, but can’t.  For anybody who has struggled with faith, perhaps today’s gospel rings true.

    It begins with the women who have come to the tomb in order to finish the job of preparing Jesus’ body for burial.  The first shock that they receive is a wide open tomb with no body inside.  Next, they are scared to death by the appearance of two men who seem to be angels.  Then, when the women have calmed down enough to listen, the angels remind them of how Jesus had told them what would happen: He would be arrested and crucified “and on the third day rise again” (Lk. 24:7).  And so, the women are confronted with the empty tomb, the angels’ message, and their own memory of what Jesus had told them about his death and resurrection.

    It is really not clear from today’s gospel what the women believe after all this.  They certainly don’t dismiss the angels’ message out of hand, for they return to the other disciples and tell them everything that has just happened.  However, when it comes to the apostles, who were Jesus’ chosen disciples, we are told quite clearly that they did not believe what the women told them.

    Only Peter, it appears, runs to the tomb to look for evidence, and what he finds is the empty tomb and the linen cloths lying there.  I had always thought in the past that simply finding some linen cloths wouldn’t be much evidence of anything.  However, the cartoon for today from Agnus Day (found on the youth bulletins) reminded me that the linen cloths were, in fact, evidence.  The thing is that if somebody had wanted to steal Jesus’ body, they wouldn’t have bothered to unwrap it.  They would have carried it out, linens and all!  Once again, though, we are not really told if this discovery causes Peter to believe in the resurrection of Jesus.  We are only told that he is “amazed” when he goes home (Lk. 24:12).

    As the story continues after the gospel that we heard today, the risen Jesus appears to his disciples several different times.  A couple of them have the experience of walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus and being joined by Jesus on the road.  However, they don’t recognize Jesus and are lost in their grief, convinced that they had believed in the wrong Messiah and that now all hope was lost after Jesus’ crucifixion and death.  As they walk along, Jesus explains the Scriptures to them, but still they do not recognize him.

    It is only when they sit down with Jesus for a meal, and Jesus blesses the bread and breaks it and gives it to them that their eyes are opened.  And as soon as they recognize Jesus, he vanishes from their sight.  It is in the breaking of the bread that Jesus is made known to them and their eyes are opened.

    These disciples now believe for a fact that Jesus has risen from the dead, and travel all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others.  Yet, once again, their story does not convince those who were not with them and did not have the same experience.  In fact, even when Jesus himself appears to all of the disciples, this does not seem to be enough for them to believe.

    Jesus stands among them, says, “Peace be with you,” and shows them his hands and his feet.  He invites them to touch him so that they can see that he is not a ghost. Yet, even at this point we read that, “in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering” (Lk. 24:41).  Even when Jesus takes some fish and eats it, this does not convince them.

    It is only when Jesus opens “their minds to understand the scriptures” that they truly believe that he is risen (Lk. 24:45).  The experiences of others don’t convince them.  The empty tomb and the linen cloths don’t convince them.  Even Jesus standing there among them, and letting them touch him, and talking to them, and eating in front of them does not convince them that he is risen from the dead.  For most of Jesus’ followers, it is only when Jesus himself opens their minds and opens their eyes that they believe.

    Surely this shows us how difficult faith can be.  For wouldn’t you think that Jesus’ followers wanted him to be alive?  And yet, only Jesus himself could open their eyes and their hearts and their minds.  It would seem that faith itself is a gift, which is, coincidentally, what Lutherans have always believed and taught.  In fact, some of you who have really good memories might remember this bit from the Small Catechism: “I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him” (p. 14).  Luther goes on to say that it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the gift of faith.

    However, this is not an excuse to put in no effort at all.  The disciples would have never believed had they not been there with Jesus - eating with him, talking with him, and listening to him.  In the same way, we are not going to suddenly believe in Jesus if we never hear God’s word, or pray, or gather together with the family of God.  God gives faith as a gift, but not in a vacuum.  And after faith, what then?

    At the very end of the gospel of Luke, we get a glimpse of the disciples after they believe that Jesus has lived, died and risen from the grave for their forgiveness and salvation.  They worship God.  They are filled with great joy.  And they are constantly in the Temple, giving thanks to God.

    The risen Jesus becomes the centre of their lives, empowering them for service, filling them with new life, and transforming their minds and their hearts.  They live as people who have been set free by God’s love – free to live trusting in God rather than fearing others – free to use their gifts to the fullest serving God and the people around them – free from the power of sin and the fear of death and condemnation.

    This is the promise for all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, for Christ in our hearts brings healing and new life and love, and even joy.  We do not have to be ruled by fear.  We do not have to spend all of our time and energy on things that do not give life.  We do not have to handle everything by ourselves, for the Creator of the Universe wants us to hand it over to him.

    Jesus says to us and to all: “I came that [you might] have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

The Resurrection of Our Lord (C)                    Luke 24:1-12
April 4, 2010
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2010 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved