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Acts 5:12a, 17-22, 25-29, Revelation 1:1-19, John 20:19-31
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Rev'd W. Lee Shaw
Alleluia Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
A week ago was a very, very busy day. No not so much for you or for me, but for Jesus. He just kept showing up all over the place. Let's do a little review of the stories of Easter, their similarities, inconsistencies, and richness.
So, the miracle of the Resurrection has happened. The Resurrection is assumed in Scripture. We have no record of it, no account, no description, just the empty tomb and the stories.
Mark's Gospel is the earliest and the most sparse. In what seems
to be the original ending, the women saw a young man in a white
robe sitting in the empty tomb, he told them Jesus had risen and
go and tell the disciples. With that they went out and fled from
the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said
nothing to anyone, for they were afraid,
(Mark 16:8). The end.
Not much of a Happy Easter there!
Then there are two additional endings to Mark, with the women telling
the disciples, then he appeared separately to Mary Magdalene and
then to two a couple of men walking in the country and finally to
the eleven as they were sitting at table and he upbraided them for
their lack of faith and stubbornness,
(v14).
That is our earliest Gospel account. Matthew has the angel at the tomb with the women and then they see him and worshipped him and then went to the disciples. Matthew then continues with the Ascension and Great Commission.
Still not a lot of details, but Jesus seems to be rather busy,
especially in Luke's account. Luke tells of two angels at the tomb.
One or two angels? In the confusion I can see how details can get
mixed up. But the women did go to the disciples as we read last
week and the men considered it an idle tale, and they did not
believe them,
(Luke 24:11). Early sources indicate the Peter did
run to the tomb to check out the women's stories. No wonder Mark
reported that he upbraided the men.
Later that same day Jesus starts to stroll along with Cleopas and
his friend going to Emmaus. Enough of appearing to women, let's
go and chat with some of the guys. But they did not recognize him.
Clearly, though, they had known him in the flesh. But in the
evening, as they recline at dinner, he is known to them in the
breaking of the bread,
(Luke 24:35). As he is made known
to us even today.
Well, the two of them hightail it back to Jerusalem to let everyone know that this is no idle tale told by women! But it looks like they perhaps got there too late, at least as I read John's account.
John is the last Gospel to be written and it is full of wonderful detail, texture, and nuance. We will continue to explore it in the coming weeks. Here it is Mary Magdalene who goes to the tomb and then tells the disciples and Peter and John run to the tomb to check it out. But Mary who had seen the two angels (two again) stood weeping, confused, and a man came to her, a gardener she thought, and then she recognized him as Jesus and went to embrace him. John's rendition is the most touching of all the Gospels for you can hear, feel the emotion of this very intimate morning.
And now we come to our reading today: doors are locked, fear, alone,
unsure, confused. I imagine Cleopas and his friend are walking as
fast as they can back to Jerusalem. Then in that upper room, the
same room they had shared Passover, the same room Jesus had washed
their feet, the same room Jesus had given them bread and wine as
his body and blood, the same room Judas had left into the night...he
comes. He stands among them. Shalom.
Peace be with
you.
In their doubts and their fears, in their confusion and
uncertainties: Shalom.
It is important to note the detail: ...Jesus came and stood among
them.
He is not over them, he is with them, among them, in their
midst. And his first word is Shalom, Peace. In their fear. In
their doubts. In their confusion. Shalom. Peace.
It is no accident that we give each other the sign of Peace. We
are following the example of our Lord: The Peace of Christ be
with you. And also with you.
We share the Peace with each
other not because we chose you, not because you are our friend, not
because we have known you for years. We share the Peace because
we share the Peace, the Shalom, of Christ with those who are around
us. It is Christ's Peace, it is not ours. You are bearing witness
to the Shalom of Christ. You are sharing Christ's Shalom, Christ's
Peace from that upper room so long ago.
I take very seriously the words I say at Communion and I have my
own fraction anthem: Holy gifts for a Holy people. Be what you
see receive what you are.
Then the words of invitation: The
gifts of God for the People of God.
You are the people of God.
You are the gifts on the altar. You are a holy people gifted with
grace. You share the Shalom of Christ with each other every week.
What a gift you give to one another, the Peace of Christ.
Jesus seems to have been very busy that first Easter day. Appearing, walking, talking, embracing, upbraiding, breaking bread, sharing his Peace, showing forth who he is: Our Lord and Savior. So, even now, in our own fears and in our doubts, in our own uncertainties and confusions, Jesus is here. Shalom. Peace be with you.
Christ is in our midst. He is and ever will be. Thanks be to God. Alleluia Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.