Loving God, there are so many things that are hard for us to believe, and yet you continue to make your presence and power known through Jesus Christ.  Strengthen our hearts in faith as we gather together today, helping us to know the power of the resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    A couple of stories involving bones:  I recently read a novel called The Templar Throne that sounded interesting, but turned me off part way through.  In the story, there is a valuable relic that everybody seems to be searching for.  At one point the author says that the only relic more valuable would be the bones of Christ himself.  It was at that point that I concluded that the author did not understand the subject matter that he was writing about.  Can you see why?  (There are no bones to discover!)  “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Lk. 24:5)

    Story #2: In the Israel Museum, there is an ossuary from the first century that was discovered in Jerusalem.  Do all of you know what an ossuary is?  (A container that holds bones.)  On this particular ossuary, the inscription says “Jesus son of Joseph.”  As you can imagine, there was quite the stir when it was discovered.  During my time in Jerusalem, I mentioned this ossuary to our teacher.  His response was simply, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, John – there were lots of them, kind of like Smith or Jones.”  In his case, he knows the risen Christ, and so the discovery of such an ossuary does nothing to diminish his faith.  Yet, for many, resurrection is still very difficult to believe, and they continue to look for the living among the dead.

    However, anybody who has difficulty believing that Jesus rose from the dead is in very good company.  The disciples didn’t believe it, either!  We always give Thomas such a hard time for doubting, but none of the disciples believed the women who had gone to the empty tomb, looking for the living among the dead.  None of them believed that Jesus had risen from the dead.  They didn’t believe it until after they had seen him and touched him and eaten with him and talked with him.  After all, it isn’t every day that somebody is raised from the dead!

    In the gospel of Luke, a particularly memorable story is told about two disciples and their journey to Emmaus later that same day.  Once we have made a few connections, the story could have gone something like this: First off, one of the disciples is named and the other is not.  The one who is named is Cleopas, or Clopas.  What if the other disciple was his wife, Mary, who is named along with at least 4 other Mary’s as a witness of the resurrection?

    And so, on that Sunday so long ago, Mary came home breathless and excited, ready to tell Cleopas that Jesus had risen from the dead.  However, Cleopas is not so sure about all this.  Just like so many others, he just can’t believe it, and maybe even thinks that Mary has started to lose it a little bit.  And so he says, “Mary, you’ve been under a lot of stress lately, and maybe it’s getting to you.  Let’s go visit your cousin in Emmaus and get away from Jerusalem for a while.  Maybe it would do us both some good.”  And so they start off on the approximately 7 mile journey to Emmaus.

    As they walk, Jesus joins them, but they do not know that it is Jesus.  And so they pour out their hearts to the one who walks with them, telling him all about what had happened to Jesus and how he had been put to death and how they had hoped that he would redeem Israel.  At the same time, it’s easy to imagine Cleopas rolling his eyes as he talks about the women from their group who had seen a vision of angels at the empty tomb who said that Jesus was alive.  However, it is then that Jesus explains to them why it all had to happen the way it did and interprets all of the scriptures to them beginning with Moses and the prophets.

    When they finally reach Emmaus, they urge the stranger to stay with them in one of the most beautiful prayers in the scriptures: “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over” (Lk. 24:29).  Then, as they sit at the table with Jesus, he takes the bread and blesses it and breaks it, and their eyes are opened in that instant and they know that this is Jesus.  In that moment Jesus vanishes from their sight and they realize that their hearts had been burning within them as Jesus had opened the scriptures to them on the road.

    Immediately, they make the journey all the way back to Jerusalem, and when they find the other disciples, they discover that the risen Jesus has also appeared to Simon.  “Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (Lk. 24:35).

    In the beginning, none of the disciples believed that Jesus had risen from the dead – and who can blame them?  Yet, by the time that Jesus ascended into heaven, none of them had any doubts.  They had seen him, touched him, eaten with him, as well as seeing him appear and disappear at will.  Then, once they had received the Holy Spirit, there was nothing that could stop them.  Not even the threat of imprisonment or torture or even death could keep them from telling others that Jesus is alive and Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus is the source of salvation for all who believe.

    Yet, do we continue to look for the living among the dead?  Do we continue to think of Jesus as a figure from long ago who lived once and might be in heaven, but really has no influence here?  Do we continue to think that Jesus is way out there somewhere rather than right here – alive and active and with us?

    Really, if Jesus had not been raised from the dead, we would not be gathered here today.  His ministry and message would have died out long ago, with disciples too scared to carry on after he had been crucified.  However, instead, people have continued to experience the presence of the risen Christ – coming to them in the breaking of the bread – opening their hearts to the Scriptures – and empowering them for service in his name.

    Because Christ is risen, we are not alone on our journey through this world.  Because Christ is risen, we do not need to fear the future, or even death, for all things are in the hands of Jesus, and those who trust in him will also live with him.  Because Christ is risen, his life and his ministry continue – multiplied many times throughout the world through those who believe in him and have been given his Spirit.

    Why do you look for the living among the dead?  Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!  Amen.

Resurrection of Our Lord (C)                        Luke 24:1-12
March 31, 2013
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2013 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved