Loving God, sometimes we are perplexed just like the women at the tomb, and we don’t always understand your ways.  Grant us the gift of faith this day by the power of your Spirit, and teach us to know you better, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    What would it take to convince you that Jesus is alive?  What would it take, assuming that you saw Jesus die on the cross, and you watched his lifeless body being taken down, and you saw how Joseph of Arimathea wrapped his body in a linen cloth before placing him in the tomb?  Would an empty tomb convince you?  Would a couple of men in dazzling clothes convince you – which presumably you would think were angels?  Would it convince you once you were reminded that Jesus had told you that he would be raised from the dead on the third day?

    We don’t know if this was enough to convince the women at the tomb or not, but it was enough to send them to all of the other disciples with the news.  And we also know that simply hearing about what the women had seen and heard was not enough to convince the other disciples.  Did it convince Peter when he ran to the tomb and saw nothing but the linen cloths?  Would that be enough to convince you?

    What would it take to convince you that Jesus is alive?  Would it convince you if you talked with a stranger on the road about the Scriptures and the Messiah and felt your heart burning within you?  Would it convince you if, after this long conversation, you dined with the stranger and then recognized him immediately as Jesus when he broke the bread?  Would it convince you if you saw Jesus and touched him and talked with him and ate with him after he had died and was buried?  Would all of this be enough to convince you?

    In the end, of course, the disciples are convinced.  In fact, they are so sure that Jesus is alive that they are willing to stake their lives on it.  Still, are you convinced?  And if not, what would it take to convince you - not only that Jesus was raised from the dead, but that Jesus lives, even now?  Would you need a vision of some sort where you could actually see Jesus?  Would you need a logical, philosophical argument that would prove it to you?  Would a miraculous healing in the name of Jesus do the trick?  Or, would the testimony of others convince you - the testimony of people who have seen the power of God at work and the power of the name of Jesus?

    The thing is that the risen Christ changes lives.  When somebody believes in Jesus Christ and the power of his resurrection, it changes who they are and how they live.  The old, self-centered self is left behind, and a new self emerges - one that is renewed and empowered by the presence of the risen Christ.  In fact, this is what is happening every time somebody is baptized, which is why the Paschal candle is associated both with Easter and with baptism.  It is a symbol of the presence of the risen Christ.  As the apostle Paul puts it, “it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

    While I don’t know exactly where the reference comes from, I do know that Martin Luther talked about each of us being “little Christs”.  What he meant was that, as believers in Jesus Christ, others are able to see Christ in us, and we are able to see Christ in others.  For, that is how the living Christ continues to show up in this world - both in and among God’s people.  That is also the most likely way for people to encounter Jesus in this world - through the faithful witness of his followers.

    However, there is also the matter of those who are Christian in name only, who don’t live any differently from anybody else.  Then there are those who have served as pastors and priests and yet have done things that are so obviously sinful that people have lost faith.  And then there are those, particularly among the televangelists, who get people to send them lots of money and live in mansions with expensive cars and private jets.  For some, when they see these things, it is good reason not to believe, and the power of the resurrection seems trifling at best.

    Now, it is true that we are both saints and sinners.  Believing in Jesus Christ does not mean that we are incapable of making mistakes and falling into sin.  In fact, most of us fall into sin quite often, which is why we practice confession and forgiveness.  However, this does not give us licence to simply do the same things over and over again.  Rather, we are to continue to grow up into Christ, trusting in him and taking our direction from him, as we learn to live by the power of the Spirit.

    At the same time, when we believe in the risen Christ, we do not need to live in the fear and denial of death, as so many do.  In fact, we have already passed from death to life, and so we no longer need to worry about our own salvation, but instead are set free to live in love for God and neighbour.  Thus, we continue the ministry of Jesus as members of the body of Christ here in this world.

    While it is true that seeing Christ at work in and through his followers is one of the best witnesses in our world today, this does not mean that it is all up to us.  Ultimately, it is only the Holy Spirit who can work faith in people’s hearts, and it is only the Holy Spirit who can make us faithful witnesses.  It is also the Holy Spirit who works through other witnesses - like the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and the Word who is found in the Scriptures, for “faith comes from what is heard” (Rom. 10:17).

    It is my prayer that all of you here today would encounter the risen Christ for yourself, whether in Word and Sacrament, or in the Scriptures, or through the witness of others.  For Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!  Amen.

The Resurrection of our Lord / Easter Day (NL 3)            Luke 24:1-12
April 16, 2017
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2017 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved