Jesus often come to us in the form of strangers. We don’t recognise him, almost like the first disciples.
It was quite a shift for the disciples, because they thought that they knew God and Jesus and the things of God. One can understand that, afterall they’ve been the ones closest to Jesus. They walked with him, saw what he did for three years. Yet, in many ways, Jesus kept on surprising them.
Let’s look at Luke 24:36 and onwards:
The fact that they were talking about ‘these things’ gives indication that they were key commentators, key witnesses. Then Jesus, as a stranger joined their conversation and eventually their home, their space.
Our own journeys with Jesus also often follows this trajectory: walking alone seeking answers-seeking God in new situations. Talking God, talking about God, with God, journeying with a stranger who take us deeper into scripture/revelation, making a choice and discovering Jesus (from the friendly stranger to the friend). This could be the end. The defining story of our lives.
But Jesus doesn’t want it to end there. It shouldn’t end with ‘the last great experience of God’ or even that ‘testimony’ or this ‘miracle’. Because we often recycle theses experiences. These stories and myths starts to define our identity- we add little snippets here and there ( some spice to make it more spectacular) and then, very often, these definding stories myths, become an end in itself.
What happened here is that its not the dynamic real presence of God anymore, or the Spirit leading us- it’s in the story ( our story) . And this story often becomes exclusionary- at the expense of others, or at the expense of new stories, of new experiences and new stories of Gods revelation in Jesus Christ.
This is where we pick up this weeks resurrection story.
1) Whilst they were telling the stories, building stronger walls around them, Jesus again steps into their reality- he rattles the confortzone, he shakes their cosy club; Their their reaction was fear, surprise. They were startled and also frigthened. For them, there was a new reality opening up. They could recognise Jesus, but could not believe that this was real. Their language were inadequate to name what was happening here.
They thought him to be a ghost ( a friendly familiar ghost, but still, a ghost). We often relate God reality to the world, to us as ‘spiritual’, i.e. spiritual growth, spiritual things that many times mean ghostly things. Its there, but also…its not there (meaning its not real) Many people speak about these realities, but it remains only in the words.Is this enough ? No, not according to Jesus.
2) He shows himself to be human-his resurrection is not merely spiritual, it’s a new human being for a new world, i.e. its reality. He comes to be touched, to eat bread, to continue to share our humanity, reality. He dont simply exists in grave-yards, or in dark corners, as a tormented soul-he is real in our every circumstance. The real world becomes the arena where Jesus steps in to recreate new humans, to make a change.
3) Lets conclude, its in this world where his followers are send with ever new stories, to create new stories, crossing boundaries and en route to and new earth. These followers also becomes strangers in this quest for a new world, they encouter strangers who becomes fellow pilgrims. They are sustained by following the ever new story of Jesus, in the real world.
This reality is so powerfuly communicated through the signs of the bread and the wine. These are real symbols of life, feeding the world. Lets eat and follow the real Jesus.
Discussion
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