| April 29, 2007
You are welcome to reflect on this message
Within the space of seven verses, the 28th chapter of Matthew records two occasions where Jesus was worshiped. At the tomb, the women grabbed hold of his feet “... and worshiped him” (vs. 10). And up in the Galilee, “When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted” (v.s 16). The irremovable scandal of the gospel. Somebody coming back from the dead, you wonder how anybody could doubt it! But all the evangelists have second thoughts.
Mark ends in confusion, with the women fleeing the tomb in panic, refusing to “say anything to anyone.” John has two conclusions: One in Jerusalem, (Chapter 20) with Jesus assuring Thomas. And the other in the Galilee (Chapter 21), with a fish story focusing on Peter’s denials. Luke has a single ending, with several narratives centered around Jerusalem, concluding with an appearance that startles the disciples, telling them to wait in the city until they receive power from on high, setting the stage for Pentecost.
Of the four Gospels, Matthew’s is the most straight-forward, as he moves to a conclusion of the Jesus-story. But even the gospel with no second thoughts, had doubts. All of the gospel writers draw their stories to a close, moving from the Palestinian ministry of the earthly Jesus, to the universal authority of the cosmic Christ. From a focus upon “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” to a mission inclusive of “all nations;” from the Son of Man to the Son of God. But each post-resurrection appearance has one thing in common: they’re stories about saying goodbye.
On a mountain in Galilee, Jesus shows himself again before his final appearance at the ascension where he says goodbye for good. In this climactic scene, the crucifixion and resurrection were past events. They know he’s risen. He’s standing right there in front of them. And some of the disciples still have second thoughts. It’s understandable because nothing like it has ever happened before or since. But if even the resurrection leaves doubts, where does that leave us, who “have not seen, yet believe?”
“If somebody should rise from the dead,” in Luke’s parable about the poor man, who ended up in Abraham’s bosom, “That’ll make believers out of ’em!” “They have the scriptures, that’s all they need.” That’s Father Abraham’s argument. “Just the Bible? That’s not gonna cut it. But if somebody gets up out of the grave, (whew!) that’ll bring ‘em around!” Luke sure believed the resurrection would be enough. But not Matthew. He allows as how even the resurrection can’t make believers out of believers. For those closest to it had second thoughts about it. Easter did not generate perfect faith, even in those who saw it with their own eyes and experienced it firsthand. When the women first announced it, the disciples said sloughed it off. “Ah it’s just ‘an idle tale and they didn’t believe them’” (Lk 24:11). When the risen Lord appeared to them later, Luke says “They disbelieved for joy” (Lk 24:41). Try doing that sometime! Then John tells of “doubting Thomas” in the upper room: “Unless I see his scars and touch his wounds, I’m not going to buy it!” The next thing you know, Jesus is popping in thru locked doors and Thomas says, “My Lord and my God!” No doubt about it with John’s strongman-Jesus.
But for the Christian community Matthew was writing to, it’s a mixed bag. They saw Jesus alive after he was crucified and they still couldn’t believe their eyes. So “they worshiped him, but some doubted.” Typical of Jesus. When it comes to Jesus, you’ve got to be able to blend opposites. Still I wonder, how could they doubt? It might help to realize we have no non-prejudiced views of Jesus. Either for or against. The gospels written by believers or the writings of Josephus, a Roman pagan. And none of the appearances of Jesus were to unbelievers. Only people of faith were said to have seen the risen Lord. And even that wasn’t absolute. It was not to perfect believers to whom Jesus entrusted his mission. But to a worshiping/wavering community of half believers, that’s always characterized God’s church since its earliest days. Disbelieving for joy! Doubt and faith coexisting in the same soul.
And we also gather in the Easter Season to celebrate the risen Lord, but because of God’s promise, not our perfection. And not even our doubts can “separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39). Truth is, Jesus doesn’t say much of anything that would serve to convince a skeptic. He spoke not at all to their second thoughts. Or the big human interest questions that must’ve been looming in their minds, like: Were you really not afraid to die? So, what’s it like on the other side, now that you’ve been to hell and back? Did you run into Moses and Abraham? Mother Ruth? Ol’ Rahab? Those guys and gals? So many things Jesus could’ve said, if he’d been interested in becoming a success or a celebrity. Or to bottle it up and sell it for cash. But what he said to the disciples must’ve been something of a letdown.
First, is an affirmation. “All authority in heaven and earth have been given to me.” Next came a challenge. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe what I taught you.” And last was a word of encouragement. “Remember, I will be with you always, even to the end of time.” Now if you hadn’t just spent three years with this man, you’d think he was out-to-lunch or something. They left their jobs and knew what he stood for and what he taught them. They knew there’s a big difference between making disciples and counting converts.
Churches today still do a lot of spiritual damage when they take that word “make” literally. It doesn’t mean “force,” but it’s a heckuva way to say goodbye! But isn’t it like most of our own goodbyes? They don’t mean anything unless we place them in the larger context of our relationships. The Bible is full of goodbyes and true to life, but not all of them are beautiful. There is divorce, always a sad goodbye. There is natural death, and a living death. And maybe worse are the little deaths that kill our spirits but not our bodies, when we’ve failed or did something we wish we hadn’t. Even the Last Supper was a goodbye. But it wasn’t a “last” goodbye. Just an unending one for we continue to observe it. Every time we gather around the table, we do as he said, “in remembrance of me.” So rather than Jesus composing a lovely goodbye speech on the mountaintop, he just suggested that living our faith before others is good enough for him. He affirmed them; challenged them; and encouraged them. “Go and generate disciples by being a disciple. Learn how to love a new community and let them love you back. Baptize them and teach them all the stuff I taught you. And remember, I’ll be right by your side every step of the way, until time is no more.”
In this kind of world that still believes in violence and force is the way to get something done, we still see thru Good Friday eyes, where death and doubt seem more real to us than life and faith. Because much of our experience is incomprehensible, and without Christ, intolerable. But with Easter-eyes we don’t have to fake it till we make it. There’s enough craziness out there and in here that’d make anybody doubt. But into our non-sense comes the presence of the risen Lord. We’re not alone when we find ourselves out on a limb with our doubts.
Holy week wasn’t just hard on Jesus. It was pure hell for Jesus’ disciples. Somebody they loved died unjustly and it knocked them to their knees. When that happens to us, it can cripple our spirits and sometimes even our bodies. I've seen people hurting so bad sitting like this (with arms crossed over their chest) almost like they’re trying to cover up a great big hole in their hearts until it seals over enough to stand back up again. Otherwise they fear that the little bit of life that's still left inside will spill out. And they'll be all gone.
When Jesus died, there weren't enough hands to cover the hole in his heart. But on his way out of this world, his heart was wide enough to take a thief and a centurion with him! And cut the rest of us some slack too. "Take up your cross daily,” he advised, making it sound more like a way of life than a way of death. If we decide to do it, there’ll be healing in store for us too.
Our text then, presents us with a dilemma and a challenge, caught between the rock and a hard place of faithful worship and persistent doubt. And God’s call to expand the Christian mission to people who are different from us. Matthew’s Easter message is more than a sweet story about furry bunnies and colored eggs. And it’s more than the tragic death of a hero, suddenly found to be alive. This is not only our assignment as a church but also a call to commitment, to the ubiquitous Christ. And there’s no corner of the earth where he’s not already there: among the hopeless and helpless; the satisfied and the empty; the elite and the common; the healthy and those sick to death.
So on this third Sunday of the Easter Season, let us consider these second thoughts about the first Easter people. Because we know more than we can say. We trust more than we can understand. We follow where we’ve never been before. I just wanted to be like the angel at the tomb to somebody here today and remind you that whatever you may be facing, or done or had done to you; wherever you may be going, remember this: Jesus is “going before you.” I hope it’s encouraging to each of you to be reminded that even though Jesus left us behind. He didn’t leave us alone. Because his last word in the first Gospel is: “I’ll be with you always, even to the end of the world!”
O, God, make the doors of this church-house we have raised to Thee, wide enough to receive all who feel a need to come through them. Narrow enough to shut out envy, prejudice and hate. With a smooth threshold that it won’t be a stumbling-block to straying feet, or an excuse for staying on the outside. But rugged enough and strong enough to ring true to life. Make the doors of our church-house, Dear God, a gateway to Thy eternal Kingdom. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer (4-29-07)
We bless you for being a God of endless surprises–who chastens us when we look for comfort, and encourages us when we expect to be admonished, who challenges us when we expect to be congratulated and praises us when we expect to be criticized.
The spirit of our world is torn, in need of your voice. Help us to see as you see. What is it that makes us want more than we have, even when we know more is too much? Change our understanding of wealth from the opulence of possessions, to the abundance of sharing. Show us that a neighbor is not defined by one’s circumstances, but by one’s humanity. And that peace is not just the absence of violence, but the presence of justice. Teach us that the world is not ours to conquer, but yours to tend.
The heart of our world is indifferent, in need of your vitality. It’s eyes won’t look at suffering, its ears can’t hear the abuse; its lips refuse to speak out for the oppressed. Stir us with your Spirit, Lord. Sometimes we seem dead and listless. Stir us awake. Sometimes we feel cut off and hopeless. Remind us of resurrection.
The mind of our world is confused, needing your clarity. Calling bad good, and wrong right. Grant us wisdom for the living of these days. You have taught us well the meaning of lordship. Now let us learn the meaning of discipleship. If our motives are not honorable and above board; if our ambitions and aspirations are selfish and unfair; lend your wise counsel to make things plain and give us direction.
You are our hope in time of trouble, our salvation in all times, so we have come to this worship to seek Thy presence, and we believe we shall receive. We have come in faith, so we might leave with joy, in the name of the One who makes it all possible, even Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen. |
