Questioning in the Midst of Happiness
What was it like to meet the resurrected Christ?
Luke 24:36-43 | Psalm 4:6-8
We probably should pay more attention to the post-resurrection accounts than we do, beyond Easter, at least. We’ll split our last two readings in Luke across today and tomorrow.
Today’s might seem a bit trivial. It’s almost like they’re testing Jesus (will the fish just pass through his body like a ghost’s or what?). But there is a lot of grace for the disciples and for us in this passage.
In the midst of their joy, there’s also a sense of bewildered amazement mixed with disbelief. Who could blame them? Sure, they’d seen miracle after miracle from Jesus, but this was different. His body was beaten, destroyed really. And here he stood in front of them.
Sometimes things go this way for a lot of people. Everything is as you might hope and desire, and yet there are feelings that don’t match the ideal situation you find yourself in. Here, with the disciples, Jesus is patient.
Do you have anything to eat?
Jesus always brings it home.
Luke 24:36-43
While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” They were terrified and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost.
He said to them, “Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me! Touch me and see, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones like you see I have.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. Because they were wondering and questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish. Taking it, he ate it in front of them.
Psalm 4:6-8
Many people say,
“We can’t find goodness anywhere.
The light of your face has left us, Lord!”
But you have filled my heart with more joy
than when their wheat and wine are everywhere!
I will lie down and fall asleep in peace
because you alone, Lord, let me live in safety.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for the joy of Easter.
Even though I wasn’t there with Mary or Peter or the rest of the disciples to see the resurrection of Christ, I choose to believe. And by choose to believe, I mean I choose to try and arrange my life as though his resurrection is true.
Honestly, Lord, I don’t get a lot of how my brothers and sisters in Christ walk around so confidently in the fact of the matter. Do you want me to state things factually?
It seems to me you are asking me to live my life as though Jesus was raised from the dead. That, I am more than willing to do, joyfully, actually.
Sorry, I don’t mean to disparage the childlike faith of others, God. I’m just saying that if I were to try and be that way, it would be quite inauthentic, indeed. And I’m more sure than most things that you do not like pretension.
So help me, God. Help me to live my life as though the resurrection of Jesus is true.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
“I choose to try and arrange my life as though his resurrection is true.”
I can’t give this post more than one “like.” I tried. But tell me, what does this look like- living as though the resurrection is true? My question is for you, or others that read this comment and might be able to share some insight. I don’t know if I do that or not.
I have been one to challenge people on whether or not they’d live the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus even if the resurrection WASN’T true. I’m sometimes met with “no.” One person has not only told me no, but that they have other things they’d rather do. I wonder if they REALLY believe in the way then. Or maybe I’m the one that’s off base and needs to reevaluate my faith in Christ.