Excerpt from Luke 24:36-49

They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!"

Reflection by Martin B. Copenhaver

The gospel accounts of the resurrection differ in some of the particulars.  In some, Jesus appeared and then disappeared again as quickly as a thought, while in other accounts he lingered.  For some, Jesus could be described as a spiritual presence, while for others his presence was so real that they could only say that he appeared in bodily form.

The variations do not trouble me, because they are all point to the same truth:  He lives!  As surely as you or I live, yet in a different way all the same.

The gospel writers are trying to describe a reality that is finally indescribable, like trying to describe spring to those who have only known winter.  So the language is evocative, chosen to evoke in us the same reaction that was surely theirs.  It is as if the disciples and gospel writers are trying to describe music to people who are deaf—so they dance and hope we catch a small sense of what music is about.  It is as if they are trying to describe a sunset to those who are blind—so they say it is like a trumpet fanfare and hope we catch a glimmer of the majesty and power of a sunset.

Something happened that first Easter morning.  We know something happened because something unexpected, something powerful turned the followers of Jesus, this huddle of dispirited and frightened men and women, into a valiant band ready to dare anything and doing it.  Something happened that brought into motion this mighty force which has been celebrated in every tongue through the whole earth.

Something they could only describe as Jesus happened to them.  And they could no more hold it in than a new mother could hold in the news of the birth of her child, no more than a blind man could ignore the restoration of his sight.

So today we join the original disciples and all who have followed in declaring, "He is risen!  He is risen indeed!"

Prayer

God, we thank you for the brilliant good news of this day.  May our celebrations resound in the highest heavens.

About the Author Martin B. Copenhaver is Senior Pastor, Wellesley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Wellesley, Massachusetts. He is the author, with Lillian Daniel, of This Odd and Wondrous Calling: the Public and Private Lives of Two Ministers.

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