Revelation of the Resurrected One

April 18, 2021

“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 and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’” – Luke 24:44-48

As we come into this third week of Easter, our Scripture readings focus on the revelation of Jesus Christ the promised Messiah. Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies and of all Scripture written until his day. In Luke’s Gospel, the women who came to the tomb found the body of Jesus missing and two angels who proclaimed that Jesus had risen. They were then commissioned to take the message to the other disciples. All those who received the message were perplexed by these words, and they did not believe. According to Luke, “these words seemed to them an idle tale” (Luke 24:11).

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus walked and talked with two of the disciples who were grieved and perplexed by the events of the past three days. As they walked, Jesus explained the Scriptures to them and how they had been fulfilled. The men were kept from recognizing Jesus (Luke 24:16); nevertheless, they asked him to stay with them for the evening as they sensed a burning within their hearts as he spoke (Luke 24:32). It was not until the evening meal when Jesus broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, that their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus.

In our Scripture reading for today, Jesus had come among the disciples to reveal himself. He showed them his hands and his feet and invited them to touch him. He then ate a piece of fish in their presence to demonstrate that he truly was a physical man with a physical body. Jesus revealed himself to these unbelieving and doubting disciples so that they would believe and then proclaim this good news to all. Jesus opened their minds so that they could understand.

Each Sunday, we are invited to behold the resurrected Jesus. As the Scriptures are read, we can see how Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament teachings. As Communion is celebrated, we partake in the body and blood of Christ. We hear so that we may believe; we taste and see the body and blood so that we will remember all that Jesus has done for us. In hearing, tasting, and seeing, we are called to believe and then to be his witnesses.

Reflection:
How are you receiving this good news? Do you believe the revelation of who Jesus is and the salvation that is available through his death and resurrection? If so, have you also become his witness to others so that they, too, may believe and have life in his name?