Witnesses of These Things: What Makes Us Human? (MPLS)

Luke 24:36b–48

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

‘Text Message’ Reflection:
From Pastor Heather Roth Johnson
When I was a kid, I spent time reading ghost stories. One book, “The Ghosts of North Carolina,” I kept hidden under my pillow to read at night with a flashlight under the blanket. One night way past bedtime, my mother walked into my bedroom, and she scared me! I screamed, and my mother screamed, and she said: “You look like you have seen a ghost!”

The disciples were caught off guard when Jesus appeared to them. Even though he greeted them with, “Peace be with you,” the disciples were scared. They thought they saw a ghost! But Jesus counteracted their fear with an invitation to touch his hands and feet, and he gently reminded them that ghosts do not have bodies. To ease their fear even more, Jesus asked for something to eat. Broiled fish. And, that solidified his body was not a ghost.

What Jesus does next is the best part of the story. He opened their minds so that the disciples would understand who Jesus was and what Jesus came to do. He did this by opening their minds to the reality that Jesus was not a ghost, but the promised risen Messiah! Their hearts had already been primed and pumped to serve and follow, and to love and preach; and, now their minds had reached the same potential as their hearts.

‘Text Message’ Reflection Questions:

• When was the last time you were scared? How did you handle the fear? Did you see a ghost?
• How might Jesus bring you peace? How does that change your fear?
• How does knowing Jesus expand your mind to new thoughts and ideas?

Prayer:
Jesus, your name alone can cast all fear away, and you help us to breathe in your peace. Mend the hearts of your people, and send us forth in love, to build bridges not walls, to expand our minds not close them up, and help us to keep our eyes on you. Always. Amen.