What Does the Bible Say? Part V
Offered by Rev. Nancy Gammill
We are still in the middle of the Easter season which may surprise some of you. It’s easy to think that once Easter has been celebrated, the crowds swell at church for that day, the music and flowers abound, once that’s over, it’s all over. But not so.
The season of Easter in the church, or Easter tide, lasts for 50 days following Easter until it culminates in the Day of Pentecost, this year on May 31. During those 50 days we hear the stories of the Risen Christ appearing to his disciples, and the amazing revelation that brings to them. At the same time it brings joy, it also brings questions of doubt, despair, fear, and disbelief. I want to recall with you some of those stories. For example, the story we told the Sunday after Easter about Jesus’ disciples still huddled together behind closed doors afraid to be seen outside for fear of reprisal by the Jews and other authorities. (John 20: 19-31). There were those who thought perhaps the disciples themselves had taken Jesus’ body in order to perpetuate the idea that he had risen. There were those who thought perhaps the government themselves had done away with Jesus’ body in order to keep it “safe” and unavailable to rise as some said he would. The disciples, and not just Thomas, obviously struggled with their disbelief in spite of their desire to believe much like we do. It’s not until Jesus appears to them again, and later to Thomas that they begin to have true faith that something very unusual has indeed happened.
Then there is the story of the risen Jesus appearing on the shores of the Sea of Galilee just as the disciples have gone back to their homes and to their fishing careers. They are out on the lake and catching nothing, until this man appears on the shore and tells them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. (John 21: 1-14) When they do, the fish can’t wait to jump into their nets, and they recognize the Christ in their midst, a belief that is intensified when they break bread and share fish with him.
Following that story is the story of Jesus taking Simon Peter aside as they are finishing breakfast, and asking him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15-19.) Now it’s important to think about how Peter might have been feeling at that moment, since he had been one who had denied his Lord three times, and was probably still smarting with guilt and shame over that incident. I bet it was hard for him to look Jesus in the face! But he answers the Christ, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And Jesus says to him, “Feed my Sheep.” This happens three times, and then Jesus calls him into ministry, “Follow me”. Living an Easter life means living always with forgiveness and grace uppermost in our hearts in all of our relationships. Remember Philippians 2:5? “Have in you the mind that was in Christ Jesus.”
Then there is the story of the two followers of Jesus walking home after the crucifixion, back on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24: 13-42). A man catches up with them, and together they talk about all that has happened that day in Jerusalem, and the man shares the truth of the scriptures with him. They invite him into their home that night, and again in the breaking of the bread they realize they are in the risen Christ’s presence.
These are all wonderful stories, and they point to a truth we can’t ignore if we desire to be faithful people. In some mysterious and nearly unbelievable act of grace, the same God who became incarnate in Jesus has become alive in our midst through the spirit of the Risen Christ. We could spend the rest of our lives asking “How?” and never find answers, or we can trust in this event and let it shape the rest of our lives, knowing and believing that God in Christ is with us as close to us as our next breath. I use the word breath purposefully. Both in two different versions, John 20: 20-22 and in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2, the story of the Day of Pentecost, we read the story of God’s Spirit being poured out upon the disciples in such a way that it creates a sense of Christ’s presence being with them. The Holy Spirit is the way we continue to experience Jesus the Christ in our midst today.
The Day of Pentecost was originally a harvest festival that happened 50 days after the Passover celebration in the spring. It evolved into a celebration of Moses’ receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. So it was not surprising that on that day there were Jews gathered from all over that part of the world in Jerusalem, who were on hand to witness the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in wind and fire upon the disciples. And as they began to witness to the truth of the gospel, everyone there heard the words in their own tongue, and were utterly amazed, and converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus on that day, the early church was “born” and began to spread throughout the known world. So traditionally the church celebrates the birthday of the church on the Day of Pentecost with light, sound and the color red representing the flames and the fire of the Spirit. Those flames are also represented on the United Methodist symbol of the cross and flame.
Want to Know More? Read what the early church looked like in Acts 2: 41-46 and Acts 4: 32-37.