Lk 24:36-48
4 May 2003
3rd Sunday of Easter
“Not a Ghost of a Chance”
A couple of months ago, Lois, our Clerk of Session, said that she had received information from the Presbyterian Foundation concerning today, which is listed as “Wills Emphasis” on our denominational calendar. As we thought about what to do, I half-jokingly suggested, “Well, that Sunday I’ll be sure to preach a sermon on death!” There’s nothing like invoking the Grim Reaper to get people thinking about their last will and testament!
Little did I know that by the time this day arrived, my own family would have dealt with death and issues surrounding it. Maybe I shouldn’t say “little did I know,” since my father, who died a month ago yesterday, had been in poor health for a very long time. Still, as I’m sure you all know, it nonetheless comes as a surprise—even a shock—when life ends.
And as we saw last week—and as we see in today’s gospel reading—it’s an even greater surprise when life returns to one who has died! It would be easy to make the mistake, as do the disciples, that one is standing in the presence of a ghost. Or maybe it would seem like someone’s pulling the prank of a lifetime!
Throughout chapter 24, Luke presents us with disciples who, in their own ways, struggle with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene and her friends need the convincing of two angels (vv. 5-7). Cleopas and his friend have an entire conversation with Jesus as they travel to Emmaus; it’s only when he breaks bread at the table with them that it dawns on the two who their companion really is (vv. 13-35).
The disciples are discussing these events when Jesus appears among them. This is where the knees start knocking together and the faces turn white with fear. After giving them the greeting of peace, Jesus realizes that he needs to perform some demonstrations of his material, as opposed to ghostly, nature.
He lets the disciples see the wounds on his hands and feet. He invites them to touch him, to prove that he is actually solid. And if that’s not convincing enough, Jesus does something that should provide all the evidence they need: he asks for something to eat. Ghosts aren’t known for their hearty appetites! Apparently, broiled fish is on the menu, and they give Jesus a piece of it, which he eats in their presence.
This whole encounter that the Lord has with his disciples is suggestive of questions many of us ask about life after death. We’ve heard the stories of near-death experiences: of light at the end of the tunnel, of indescribably beautiful music and scents, of any number of images. The truth is, our minds aren’t able to grasp the full reality of whatever happens.
Something we can say about resurrection is that it does involve the tangible. Jesus doesn’t return as a ghost, as a spirit. But he is changed. That helps explain why it’s so difficult for those who knew him to recognize him. The resurrection body isn’t simply the mortal body re-energized. (That’s especially good news for those whose mortal bodies have long since decayed into dust.)
It is, admittedly, pretty hard to describe. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul’s chapter on the resurrection, the apostle seems to be stumbling for words. He speaks of something beyond “a physical body”—he refers to “a spiritual body” (v. 44). A spiritual body. Did I happen to mention that resurrection is hard to describe?
Instead of hoping for a sample of DNA from the resurrected Christ, maybe we should focus on the new relationship that exists in the resurrection. That’s more in keeping with the spirit of the scriptures. Today’s epistle reading in 1 John 3 is helpful: “what we [as God’s children] will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is” (v. 2). In the resurrection, our relationship with God and with each other will be purified, because sin and death are defeated.
Certainly part of the relationship that the risen Christ has with his disciples is that they finally begin to understand some of the stuff he’s been telling them all along. He helps them see where the scriptures speak of him. The incredibly difficult concept of a suffering Messiah begins to make sense. And just as with the gospel of John last week, we see here “that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed” by the disciples themselves. They do this as the envoys of Christ, who tells them to start right where they are in Jerusalem and then include people of all nations.
An evolution of awareness is set in motion by the risen Jesus. The power of the resurrection life dispels the dark clouds of ignorance. And after enlightening his friends and followers, Jesus gives them one more item to file in the “For Your Information” category. Just before he says goodbye by ascending into heaven—he leaves them with this: “You are witnesses of these things” (v. 48). You are witnesses. That implies a task.
As awareness is heightened, there still remains the matter of the will—one’s choice, one’s free will. And that word “will” is really useful today, since as I already mentioned, today is “Wills Emphasis.” (How do you like that smooth segue?) Actually, the transition from will as “determination” to will as “bequest” isn’t so awkward. Both aspects of “will" involve planning; both involve an intent to act—or as the case may be, refraining from acting.
Making a will means planning for the future. It involves—and this is where we pick up from our gospel text—being a witness to the future. A will provides one with the opportunity to bear witness to the faith after the mortal body has been discarded. Remember what I said about Paul’s distinction between the physical body and the spiritual body? Well, during the interim, however long that may be, we can still make a difference.
I’ve heard some people make the claim that one’s priorities can be discovered by looking at one’s checkbook. The idea is that what’s really important to people can be seen by where they spend their money. I agree with that to an extent. Still, it’s also clear that sometimes people incur debts through no fault of their own.
By analogy though, the idea would be that one’s final priorities can be discovered by looking at how, upon death, one disposes of one’s money and property. That’s assuming, of course, that there are no…undue influences that enter the picture. Maybe you recall a few years ago when ex-Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith became a widow? Yes, it was quite a surprise when her 90 year-old billionaire husband suddenly passed away! Astonishingly, her husband’s son contested the will, alleging that Ms. Smith exerted…undue influences over his father!
So, presuming that there are no factors out of the ordinary, one’s last will and testament provides a way for one to leave this earth and provide a final testimony of faith. Whether one has a little or a lot, it’s a way, to put it simply, to do the right thing. It’s like people who engage in socially responsible investment—putting their money to work for a better world. And one would hope that the church is all about that!
It may seem ironic—or appropriate, depending on one’s point of view—that this Wills Emphasis Sunday comes during the season of Easter. During a time of special focus on new life, we have a reminder of something that only goes into effect after we’re dead.
But, as Banu mentioned in a recent sermon, we need to die before we can really live. The “I,” the ego: that needs to get out of the way if we’re to live in Christ. If we cling to the old life, our old ways of being—if we don’t open ourselves to the truth—then there’s not a ghost of a chance of experiencing the joy of the resurrection life.
“You are witnesses of these things.” The word “witness” in Greek is martu" (martus). It’s also the word for “martyr.” We are witnesses. We are martyrs. There’s a fine line between living for something and dying for something—a fine line between living for God and dying for God. It’s a line as fine as a human breath.
Are we witnesses? Are we martyrs? May we, in life and in death, let it be so.