Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the eternal life of Jesus.
About 2,000 years ago Jesus died on a cross on a Friday. Then on Sunday some of the disciples encountered Jesus alive. It was amazing! Yet almost as soon as they had this encounter and got to see Jesus alive; Jesus sent them away. Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, and then later to the other disciples: “Go. Tell. Serve. Keep doing the things I did, and the things I taught you to do.” He didn’t want any of his dear friends to linger around, but to stay busy and active in ministry.
I can imagine that this would have been kind of hard for Jesus’ dear friends. There would have been so many questions. The first question might be something like: “If you are really raised from the dead and eternally alive, why not hang out with us some more? We could at least grab some tacos and hang out a little bit. What’s the big rush of sending us all out like this?
Perhaps a few weeks later when the disciples were exorcizing demons, feeding the hungry, and confronting injustice it was really hard, and they asked themselves, “What would Jesus do in this situation?” He never taught us about all of these new problems we are facing.
When I was an intern pastor or a vicar. A beloved member of that congregation died. When the family gathered from out of town before the funeral they met with the pastor and myself. They were sharing about how much they missed him. His name was John. They said that after everyone gathered at the family home, something in the house broke and needed fixing. It was just the kind of thing that John would have jumped up to fix. Now he wasn’t there to do it, and they had to figure out who would take care of it. This was a family with great faith, but at that moment their grief became real because they now had to do the fixing of things around the house that John used to do.
The disciples had to move on with the understanding that Jesus was no longer with them in the way that he had been for those precious three years that they had together. They knew he wasn’t simply dead and in the grave. But nor was he alive in the way he used to be either. This was the beginning of a new chapter, a chapter certainly with hope, surprise, and lots and lots of questions.
And here we are. Two thousand years later. We are still celebrating the eternal life of Jesus. And we are out here trying to live our best life believing that Jesus is alive, but also facing the reality that *looks around* Jesus isn’t here like he was 2,000 years ago.
However, we do read in the gospel of Matthew at least three times Jesus promised to be with us physically, bodily, in person, and in the flesh on an ongoing basis.
- Matthew 18 – Jesus said that whenever someone sins against you, go and work it out just the two of you, if you need to get other people involved, fine. Someone asked Jesus how many times? 500 times said Jesus; as many times as it takes. Then the promise. “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name doing this forgiveness business. I am there. When you forgive someone you are Jesus.
- Matthew 25. Jesus says that there are six ways we can meet him right here right now in the flesh. How?
- Feed the Hungry
- Give water to the Thirsty
- Welcome a Stranger
- Give clothing to the Naked
- Care for the Sick
- Visit someone Imprisoned
Anyone in need is Jesus.
- Matthew 28. Right after our gospel reading this morning, Jesus met some of the disciples in Galilee, their old stomping grounds. But again Jesus sends them out, and says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” So when we go out and invite people who are not Christian to get to know Jesus, Jesus promises to be with us.
Anyone who is not yet a Christian is Jesus.
See where we are going with this?
- When you forgive you are Jesus!
- Anyone in need is Jesus!
- Anyone who is not yet a Christian is Jesus!
Maybe this is what the resurrection means. The Palestinian Jewish Carpenter named Yeshua might not be with us in the way he once was, but we are here.
Do you have any idea what this means!?
It means that we are Jesus!
Who are we?
We are Jesus!
Christ is Risen!
Christ is Risen Indeed!
Let the people rise and sing!
We are Jesus. Amen!
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