Disbelieving and still wondering

 Acts 3:12-19; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48

As our readings today testify, it took time for the earliest disciples to understand why Jesus had to die. It still puzzles us today. Time after time we read something like this in the scriptures: “they were disbelieving and still wondering”. 

The early disciples and writers worked hard to make sense of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. And they came to varying conclusions. We like to think everyone in the early days of the church agreed with each other, but it’s just not true! And the

… Repentance and forgiveness are important topics. The author of First John focuses a lot on repentance, which leads to forgiveness. His writings bring attention to behavior, things we should not be doing. Not following the law is sinfulness, and only by confessing and repenting do we receive forgiveness. Note that this is different from Paul’s understanding of repentance and forgiveness. For Paul, the forgiveness comes first, followed by repentance out of gratitude for the grace offered so freely.

… Peter addresses this need for repentance, too. He summarizes, speaking mostly about those who refuse to believe that Jesus was sent by God. The unbelievers put him to death. Yes, they were acting in ignorance, but now is the time to repent and turn to God, so they may be forgiven. For Peter, the sin at hand is the refusal to believe that God sent Jesus, and now is the time to repent and believe in Jesus.

… Luke tells the story we may know better from John. Jesus pops up in the locked room where the disciples are eating dinner, and says, “Shalom.” The disciples were stunned, disbelieving and still wondering. Jesus assures them it is he, Jesus, raised from the dead.

Image credit: Andy Fishburne, Flipped Preaching

Just to prove that he is not a ghost or a spirit or a hologram 😊, Jesus says, “Got anything to eat? I’d love a bite of fish. Do you have any left?” Then he ate it. Probably by now, they are all back sitting at the table, finishing the meal they had started before Jesus came in.

Jesus explains God’s plan to them. It was necessary for it to happen this way, Jesus says. While we’d all like to think that Plan A was that Jesus came, everyone believed him, and began to love everyone, and show mercy to the needy, we know that Plan A wasn’t going to work. It gets relegated to Plan NGH, as in Not Gonna Happen.

So, Plan A was for Jesus to live and teach and heal and be merciful to all. Then, after the execution, God would raise Jesus from death, to prove how God wants us all to be merciful to each other, and is more powerful than death. His death and resurrection would demonstrate that violence and lack of mercy is not the way to live.

… So, what is our response? To keep telling Jesus’ stories. To tell our own stories. It’s not part of God’s Plan A that the disciples and early believers keep the story to themselves. And what’s the best way to tell Jesus’ stories and our own stories? At a table, with a beverage and a snack or a meal.

When we think about it, Jesus shows up in lots of stories about a meal in the gospels. He eats with or feeds thousands of people – in the fields and in private homes. Jesus reveals himself to the Emmaus road disciples when he breaks the bread. The last time they are all together is at a meal, followed by a walk in the park.

We gather around a table every week here at ULC, to taste some bread and wine, some little bit of Jesus. What we receive is his love, his desire to be with us, and his forgiveness.  

… It is at our own tables that we share family stories and, usually, we learn how to love and to forgive. At the home of our son in Tampa, we remember how Andy taught the twin girls what happens when you pull on the other’s finger – which they did for 5 minutes during the Thanksgiving meal that year. At least they were at the kids’ table.

It is at our family tables that we learn about God’s love, too. We pray our thanksgiving before we eat what God has first given us. We share the happenings of our day, and our joys and concerns about the neighborhood and the world.

… And at this table, the altar, we remember how Jesus supped for the last time with the disciples. He offered them his own body, his own blood, along with the bread and wine he shared. Remember you are loved and forgiven every time you eat and drink this meal.

We remember that all are welcome, here at Jesus’ table. We remember that we share this meal with others, those around this table, and with those at countless tables around the world. We are welcome, even if we are disbelieving and still wondering.

We remember that all are forgiven, at this table. Repentance is healthy, good for the body and good for the soul, but not required, before coming to this table. However, sharing this meal may just lead to repentance anyway. God’s grace is offered for free, especially in this meal of love and forgiveness.

 

… I enjoy watching a couple cooking shows. As I prepared to preach these readings this week, I kept thinking of Lidia Bastianich. She ends every show with an invitation: “Tutti a tavola a mangiare!” “Everyone to the table to eat!”

We soon will be at the table with Jesus. Let’s enjoy the meal and the benefits.

Amen