Walk to Emmaus
Detail of the second north nave window of St Richard's Church, Haywards Heath, West Sussex. It was produced by Michael Farrar-Bell in 1990, and depicts the walk to Emmaus. (Wikimedia Commons Photo by Antiquary, CC 4.0)
April 28, 2019 - First Sunday in Eastertide
But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses made us alive together with Christ…and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:4-6
There are fifty days of Easter in our tradition. Life-giving news cannot be contained in one Sunday. After the sunrise service, hot cross buns, the egg hunt and the traditional ham dinner, we need to take a look at how the world reacted to the life-giving event.
Have you noticed that the first reaction was fear? There are frightened women before an empty tomb. We will find the disciples locked in the Upper Room, a two by four braced against the door. But this will not keep Jesus out. He comes and stands among them in the risen power.
Or imagine that dusty old road to Emmaus. The time is Easter Eve. Two disappointed persons are going home to the same old life — but this stranger appears, offers a little history lesson, and later at dinner new life presents itself in the bread – and we have been breaking that bread in his name ever since.
Or consider old Doubting Thomas, the skeptic among them forcing Jesus to the test. Jesus puts an end to skepticism that day.
And finally, that wonderful morning just at sunrise on the beach—the disciples have fished all night and caught nothing. (Please note - in my Bible they never catch fish without Jesus’ help!) On this occasion he helps them make an amazing catch of fish. I know this story is true because they stop and count the fish -- 153 before accepting the stranger’s invitation to breakfast. As they gather on that bright morning, he will offer them the kingdom of God for breakfast. This “do in remembrance of me” thing has great power.
Each of these accounts of the resurrection tell me that there is not one way to Christ, but new every morning is the Word that offers hope. If we preach from the different accounts of Jesus appearing, we can help each other find ourselves in the story. Disbelief, honest doubt, fear, become normal ways in which we experience life. And there is excitement, an extravagance of joy as we shout, “Christ has risen,” even in my heart.
Jan and I attended Easter at the Minnehaha United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. The Rev. Becky Sechrist told us that we should “live into the Resurrection.” I took it to mean that Easter is too big a deal for us to understand in one hearing or experience. We must live into it—sometimes fearful, sometimes a bit closed, but the very struggle with newness will bring an extravagance of joy if we take our time and wait. After all, fifty days is not too much to ask—even in our hurried lives.
We were especially grateful to note that this church is open everyone. No General Conference blues in that place. And the words “Christ is risen!” rang true.
I have asked the Rev. Dr. Denny Coon to write the MEMO in May. Denny studied under the watchful care of Dr. Walter Brueggemann for his Doctor of Divinity Degree in Hebrew Scriptures. Before entering the Ordained Ministry he was a public school principal. Denny is an excellent preacher. I will see you in June—Bill Cotton
The Rev. Bill Cotton is a retired clergy member of the Iowa Annual Conference. Together with friends, he produces MEMO for Those Who Preach weekly. Click here to subscribe.