Holy Textures

Matthew 28:1-10

To deny the physicality of the resurrection is to deny that God vindicated the words and deeds of Jesus which are embodied in his flesh.

See the place where he lay

Year A
Easter Vigil or Sunday Morning
April 8 or 9, 2023

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Matthew 28:1-10, The Message   or   Matthew 28:1-10, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

 

   

A good sermon or bible study of this lesson will have to begin by looking back to Matthew 27:55-66, and reading forward to Matthew 28:11-15.

Doing this will help you realize that between Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and the guards posted at the tomb, we can be sure that there is absolutely trustworthy, continuous, eye-witness evidence that:

• It was Jesus of Nazareth up there on the cross and not a look-alike imposter.
  We know this for sure because Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were close companions of Jesus and would recognize him.
    
  
• Jesus really, actually died on the cross on Friday, just before evening, the start of the Sabbath.
  We know this for sure because Mary Magdalene and the other Mary heard him cry out WITH A LOUD VOICE, saw him breathe his last, and heard what the Centurion said. Joseph of Arimathea had personal, direct contact with the body and would have known if there was still any life left in the body.
    
• The body of Jesus was taken from the cross and placed in a known tomb.
  We know this for sure because Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, saw Joseph of Arimathea take the body and prepare it for burial, and then sat opposite the tomb.
    
• The body of Jesus was not secretly removed from the tomb by his followers.
  We know this for sure because the opponents of Jesus - the chief priests and Pharisees - had the Roman Governor, Pilate, place Roman guards at the tomb to prevent this very sort of hoax. The guards sealed the tomb with a stone and kept a 24 hour watch.
    
• The body of Jesus was not in the tomb when the angel of the Lord opened the tomb at dawn on Sunday.
  We know this for sure because Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and the Roman guards, were there and witnessed these events.
    
• Jesus is resurrected, and is not a ghost.
  We know this for sure because Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were met by Jesus. Jesus greeted them. They heard him; saw him; and were able to touch him. They recognized him and worshiped him. His body was a resurrected body, but it was actually, factually, really the same Jesus they knew before.
    
• Jesus is resurrected, and this is not a hoax.
  We know this for sure, because in fact we know that the guards were paid to spread this false rumour. Oddly enough, even today people make lots of money writing books promoting this false rumour.

So what? So why is this such Good News?

In order to really get the Good News of Easter, it is important to get our hearts and minds focused on who brutally degraded and killed Jesus, and why they did that.

Why?

Well. Let's suppose Jesus had lived a long and happy life and died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by loved ones. If he had then been resurrected on the third day, that would be pretty good news. We could still preach sermons about "Love Is Stronger Than Death." Which is for sure true. And most days is good enough news for me.

Or. Let's suppose that some ordinary person - say, Mary Magdalene - was resurrected. Same thing as before. "Love Is Stronger Than Death." Still is good enough news.

But suppose we learned that someone truly bad - say, Adolf Hitler - was resurrected. Wow! Not such good news. In this case I'd rather that death was a permanent condition.

But if we focus our hearts and minds on the fact that it was Jesus who was resurrected, and that he was resurrected after being brutally degraded and executed by the Romans, then the truly Good News becomes clear.

You see, the Romans killed lots of people. Often right on the spot; no muss, no fuss.

No time consuming, expensive trial, flogging, mocking, marching off to Golgotha, stripping naked, nailing to a cross, more mocking and taunting, poking with a spear to make sure he's really dead.

Why the showy death for Jesus?

Because they wanted to kill more than the person of Jesus. They wanted kill what Jesus stood for. They wanted to kill any thought in any followers of carrying on. They wanted to kill any future; any hope. The sign on the cross may as well have said, "Look what we did to your hero. Imagine what we'll do to you."

Normally, Jesus' dead body would be left on the cross to rot a bit; maybe be eaten by scavenging birds and animals; be reduced to a no body; and then be thrown into a mass grave to fade from memory.

But Joseph of Arimathea was able to get a personal favour from Pilate (probably at great personal expense). And Joseph was able to retrieve Jesus' body from the ignominy of the cross and return it to the framework of beloved relationships; keeping the identity of the body intact; giving the body a proper burial in anticipation of the general resurrection when God would raise all the saints.

But then another unusual thing happened.

You see, at the time of Jesus, it was believed that the flesh of a person contained all their deeds - good and bad. And that after death, the body had to undergo a year-long purification as the evil deeds in the flesh rotted away; leaving only the bones which contained the personality of the person. God would then use the bones to knit a new "resurrected" body for the life to come. It was also believed that this process began on the fourth day. (Recall that Jesus calls Lazarus to come from his tomb on the fourth day. Lazarus' body has begun the process and now stinks.)

But before Jesus' flesh could begin to rot, God interrupts this process and raises Jesus.

What does this mean?

It means that the flesh of Jesus - Jesus' words and deeds - needed no purification. They already were pure.

Jesus' words and deeds are true and trustworthy.

It also means that God has overturned the Roman mortification of Jesus' flesh.

The Romans tried to erase Jesus' words and deeds from the face of the earth forever. But God raised Jesus to resurrected-life here on earth.

This is why the New Testament consistently insists on the physicality of the resurrection.

To deny the physicality of the resurrection is to deny that God vindicated the words and deeds of Jesus which are embodied in his flesh.

Now let's not get all modern, and scientific, and silly here. Nowhere does the New Testament claim that the same flesh that was flogged and killed by the Romans, and buried in a tomb, is the "flesh" of the resurrected body.

We can't say for sure what a "resurrected body" is because there is no earthly equivalent. "Resurrected bodies" are for the life to come, not this life.

So the Jesus who died on Good Friday - that flesh - is still dead on Easter Sunday.

But the words and deeds that were in the flesh of the Jesus who died on Good Friday?

Ah! The embodied words and deeds of Jesus - THOSE are really, actually, factually alive on Easter Sunday.

The worst that Rome could do was not able to kill Jesus' words and deeds.

They are true and trustworthy.

This is the really Good News of Easter.

Happy Easter everyone!

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, see below, pages 140-141.

Matthew 28:1-10 (NRSV)

   ¹ After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Matthew 28:1-10 (The Message)

   ¹ After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. ² Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God's angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. ³ Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. ⁴ The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn't move.

   ⁵ The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. ⁶ He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.

   ⁷ "Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message."

   ⁸ The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. ⁹ Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. "Good morning!" he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Jesus said, "You're holding on to me for dear life! Don't be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I'll meet them there." 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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Mark 16:1-8

It is women who witness the abject humiliation, degradation and torture of Jesus on the cross. It is women who hear him cry, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" It is women who witness his death. It is women who follow and witness where his body is placed. And so, fittingly, it is women who are the first witnesses of the empty tomb, and the first to receive the good news: He is risen!

He has been raised!

Year B
Easter Vigil, Saturday Evening
April 3, 2021
and
Easter Sunday, Alternate Reading B
April 4, 2021

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Mark 16:1-8, The Message   or   Mark 16:1-8, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials. Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required. Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

 

After a week that began with a bit of non-violent civil disobedience - Jesus' mock "triumphant" entry into Jerusalem while Pilate was parading in on the other side of town - we have a completely different "entrance" from a completely different side of town.

Having, for the first time in a long time, done a careful reading of Jesus' last week (thanks to Borg and Crossan), I have arrived at this day: exhausted by the courage Jesus showed; stupefied by the faithlessness of the twelve apostles; and thankful for the faithfulness of the named and unnamed women.

It is women who witness the abject humiliation, degradation and torture of Jesus on the cross. It is women who hear him cry, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" It is women who witness his death. It is women who follow and witness where his body is placed. And so, fittingly, it is women who are the first witnesses of the empty tomb, and the first to receive the good news: He is risen!

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome ought to have a galaxy of churches named after them as the first of the post-resurrection era of Jesus' disciples.

Recall that on Wednesday, Mark 14:1-11, an unnamed women had anointed Jesus' head in the custom of preparing a body for burial. She had done this because the normal practice for crucifixion was that the body was left on the cross for birds and animals to eat; with any remains being cast into an unmarked mass grave. Since the whole purpose of crucifixion was to obliterate a person's honour - to kill not only their body, but also what they had stood for - even the dead body had to be desecrated, would not be allowed the honour of a proper burial. The fact that Pilate allows Jesus' body to be removed for burial is remarkable.

However, as it was late in the day when he died - just before the start of the Sabbath which begins at sunset - the women had no opportunity to properly anoint the body before burial.

However, at the first opportunity to do so - just after sunrise - we meet these three women on their way to the tomb with spices to anoint Jesus' body.

Now others might have considered doing this and thought better. The body would already be decaying. Surely the smell would not be pleasant. And it was already long after the proper time to do these things - that moment had passed. And besides, as the women themselves wonder, how will they overcome the rather practical dilemma of the stone - the original: "hard rock" that IS an "unmovable object?"

Mark gives no explanation, but simply states that the stone has been rolled aside.

The women look into the tomb and then receive two high honours:

1. They are given a vision in the form of a messenger from the spiritual realm. The young man gives them the explanation of why the tomb is empty, "He is risen;" and,
      
2. They are commissioned to be agents - to be messengers themselves - on behalf of Jesus - to go and give instruction to the disciples - and Peter - that is also a reminder to them.

Depending on which translation you use, Mark describes a range of reactions by the women to these events:

• Alarmed / startled / taken aback / astonished / amazed / struck with amazement at seeing the young man.
     
• They fled / got out as fast as they could / ran away, from the tomb.
     
• Their heads were swimming / they were stunned / terror and amazement seized them / they trembled and astonishment gripped them / they were confused and shaking all over / they were frightened out of their wits / they were trembling and bewildered as they left the tomb.
     
• They said nothing to anyone.

The oldest surviving manuscripts end at Verse 8, with the women running away from the empty tomb, too frightened to tell anyone.

Let's not get side-tracked into speculating about whether or not this was indeed the original ending of the text.

Instead, let's ask ourselves the question the ending leaves hanging, and unanswered:

Who, and how, did the good news, "He is risen," get passed on?

THAT is precisely the question we must ask of ourselves this Easter day:

Who, and how, will we today pass on the good news, "He is risen!"

Have a blessed Easter everyone.

(Click here if you'd like to read my annual rant about why it is important to assert that the resurrection is really real.)

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Note: Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh, Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, pages 219-220; and the writings of Amy-Jill Levine, et. al. See below.

Mark 16:1-8 (NRSV)

   ¹ When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. ³ They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" ⁴ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. ⁶ But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." ⁸ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Mark 16:1-8 (The Message)

   ¹ When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. ² Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. ³ They worried out loud to each other, "Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?"

   ⁴ Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. ⁵ They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.

   ⁶ He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. ⁷ Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said."

   ⁸ They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone.

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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Luke 24:1-12

This lesson contains no resurrection. But this lesson also contains trusting the amazing void.

At dawn, the women came to the tomb

Year C
Easter Eve Vigil
April 16, 2022
OR
Easter Sunday, Alternate Reading B
April 17, 2022

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Luke 24:1-12, The Message   or   Luke 24:1-12, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials. Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required. Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

It may be necessary to give a brief preface to this reading of this lesson that the "they" are:

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee.
Luke 23:55

It is they who had followed Joseph of Arimathea to see where Jesus' body had been placed, and had then gone home to wait for the Sabbath to be over.

Verse 1. Since it was not proper nor safe to be out at night, the women wait for early dawn, the first possible opportunity, to go to the tomb.

They take spices because a family obligation for a proper burial at the time of Jesus is to wrap the body with a cloth shroud and enclosed with spices. The body would normally be left for a year for the flesh to be cleansed away from the bones. At the end of this purification period, the bones would be collected into a special box and placed in a family crypt to await his resurrection.

Yes, that's right. Jesus was buried anticipating his resurrection. But his resurrection was expected to be part of the general resurrection "in the last days;" NOT on the third day. You can read more about why this matters here: The Reality of the Resurrection.

Luke's reporting of these details gives a continuous testimony of the whereabouts of Jesus' body. This helps to rebut any later possible suggestions of a hoax or tricks. (It is unthinkable that anyone would go to a tomb on the Sabbath, or at night.) However, it also noteworthy that women are given this honour.

Verses 2 to 8. Luke gives no explanation of how the large, heavy, stone was rolled away.

Again, the fact that the women are puzzled / perplexed that the tomb has been opened and Jesus' body is not there confirms that they were not part of any hoax or trick.

The women are then honoured to receive a visitation from the realm of the Holy. They ask a question of the women, and then remind them of what they have already been told.

The fact that Jesus had earlier explained what would happen in the future confirms his special status as a Holy one of God.

Verses 9 and 10. It is only now that Luke tells us who these unnamed women are - and even then not all of them.

Verse 11. Sigh. This is not the first, nor the last, time that men have not believed the testimony of women.

Verse 12. But the ever impetuous Peter does get up and RUNS to the tomb. At this point, Peter has not had a heavenly vision, nor has he seen the risen Jesus, only the empty tomb and the linen grave cloths by themselves. But he too goes home amazed - not amazed but unbelieving as he had been hearing the women. Now he is amazing and believing at "what had happened."

This lesson contains no resurrection - it is a story of an empty tomb and of remembering what we have already been told would happen.

But this lesson also contains trusting the amazing void.

Jesus has been vindicated. Not just personally. Jesus' mission has been vindicated. His message has been vindicated. His proclamation of Good News for the poor has been vindicated.

And it is a story that asks a question that is still worth pondering today:

Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Luke 24:5

How much of life - our anxious worrying - is spent looking for life / love / happiness in all the wrong places?

Remember what we have already been told - and live.

A happy and blessed Easter to everyone.

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Note: Historical background information is primarily from Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh, Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, pages 321-322; and the writings of Amy-Jill Levine, et. al. See below.

Luke 24:1-12 (NRSV)

   ¹ But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in, they did not find the body. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. ⁵ The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. ⁶ Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that "the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." ⁸ Then they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Luke 24:1-12 (The Message)

   ¹ At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. ² They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, ³ so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus.

   ⁴ They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. ⁵ The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? ⁶ He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee ⁷ that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" ⁸ Then they remembered Jesus' words.

   ⁹ They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. ¹⁰ Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, ¹¹ but the apostles didn't believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.

   ¹² But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that's all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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Luke 24:13-35

In this lesson - and in the Last Supper - breaking bread is an act of companionship and solidarity; of loyalty and friendship; of mutuality and sharing. Jesus-now-resurrected still appears to people in mystical visions. These are unique, individual experiences. But all of us can still recognize Jesus-now-resurrected in quite ordinary, everyday ways. Anyone here got some bread? Let's give thanks, break it, share it, and see what happens.

He took bread

Year A
Easter 3
April 23, 2023

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Luke 24:13-35, The Message   or   Luke 24:13-35, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

 

Remember that this is the first experience of Jesus-now-resurrected in Luke.

In Luke, the tomb is discovered empty on Sunday morning by the women, but Jesus does not appear to his followers.

The failure to recognize Jesus-now-resurrected also happens to Mary in John 20:1-18. In Luke and John (but not Mark and Matthew) only the eleven disciples immediately recognize Jesus-now-resurrected.

Mary recognizes Jesus-now-resurrected when he calls her by name. These two recognize Jesus-now-resurrected when "he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them." Which is, of course, exactly what Jesus had told his followers to do "in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

The two then return to Jerusalem and tell the others, and then Jesus-now-resurrected appears to the gathered group of his followers.

Now sometimes, modern day sophisticates talk about folks in the Bible as if they were merely uneducated, gullible, bumpkins who unquestioningly accepted any super-natural hocus-pocus.

But listen to their reactions to the resurrection events as interpreted by various translations (and note how the translators sometimes struggle to capture the full sense of the underlying Greek):

• puzzled, perplexed, did not know what to think
  (Luke 24:4, the women's reaction on finding the tomb open and empty)

• awe struck, terrified
  (Luke 24:5, the women's reaction on the sudden appearance of the two men in dazzling white robes)

• didn't believe a word of it,
  thought they were making it all up,
  seemed like an idle tale, did not believe them,
  these words appeared to them as nonsense,
  the story sounded like a fairy tale 
  (Luke 24:11, the apostles reaction on hearing the report of the women)

• wondered, amazed, marveled, puzzled, shaking his head
  (Luke 24:12, Peter's reaction at seeing the empty tomb)

• didn't we feel on fire,
  were not our hearts burning within us,
  didn't it warm our hearts,
  their hearts had felt strangely warmed
  (Luke 24:32, two followers recall how they felt while Jesus - whom they had not recognized - explained the scriptures to them as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus)

• terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost,
  in a state of alarm and fright, frightened and terrified,
  startled and frightened, scared half to death
  (Luke 24:37, the disciples reaction when Jesus first appears to them)

• they still couldn't believe what they were seeing,
  in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering,
  they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement,
  they were so glad and amazed they could not believe it,
  their joy was so great that they still could not believe it as they were dumbfounded,
  they stood there undecided - filled with joy and doubt
  (Luke 24:41, the disciples reaction after Jesus shows them his wounds)

These are not the reactions of bumpkins.

In fact, like societies today in which "paranormal" experiences are still considered normal, the followers of Jesus were quite sophisticated in distinguishing different types of nonstandard experiences.

The details reported in Luke make it very clear that it was the same Jesus that was crucified that is now resurrected (see the wounds, Luke 24:39); and what they are seeing is not a ghost (eating before their eyes, Luke 24:43).

One can almost hear the first witnesses of the resurrection patiently explaining to their incredulous friends and family:

• No, really, the empty tomb wasn't a hoax.
  We didn't go there when no was looking and take his body secretly ourselves (see Matthew 28:11-15).
    
• No, really, we aren't hallucinating.
  Just the opposite, our eyes have been opened; our minds have been opened to new understanding of the scriptures.
    
• No, really, it wasn't "God's Word" appearing again.
  It was the actual Jesus who died on the cross - we saw the wounds.
    
• No, really, it wasn't a ghost.
  We saw him eat right before our eyes.
    
• No, really, it wasn't that Jesus had a "near death" experience.
  Jesus died on Friday, and is now resurrected. His resurrected body is not the same as the body that died on Friday. It is real, but not the same: We don't always recognize him when he appears; he can appear and disappear instantly; he will ascend to Heaven (Luke 24:51).

Reading this lesson just after Easter, it is easy to over-identify the broken body of Jesus with the broken bread, and to look for Jesus only in the brokenness of the world: Just as the disciples then recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, so we now recognize Jesus in the brokenness of the world. And so we might, and possibly should.

But that emphasis on brokenness loses sight of the bread.

In this lesson - and in the Last Supper - breaking bread is an act of companionship and solidarity; of loyalty and friendship; of mutuality and sharing.

Jesus-now-resurrected still appears to people in mystical visions. These are unique, individual experiences.

But all of us can still recognize Jesus-now-resurrected in quite ordinary, everyday ways.

Anyone here got some bread? Let's give thanks, break it, share it, and see what happens.

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John, see below, pages 75-77, 86-88, 218-226, 228.

Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)

   ¹³ Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" ¹⁹ He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²² Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." ²⁵ Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

   ²⁸ As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" ³³ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴ They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Luke 24:13-35 (The Message)

   ¹³ That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. ¹⁶ But they were not able to recognize who he was.

   ¹⁷ He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"

      They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. ¹⁸ Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"

   ¹⁹ He said, "What has happened?"

      They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. ²⁰ Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. ²¹ And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. ²² But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb ²³ and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. ²⁴ Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."

   ²⁵ Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? ²⁶ Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" ²⁷ Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

   ²⁸ They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on ²⁹ but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. ³⁰ And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. ³¹ At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

   ³² Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"

   ³³ They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, ³⁴ talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!"

   ³⁵ Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread. 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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Luke 24:13-49

The details reported in Luke make it very clear that it was the same Jesus who was crucified who is now resurrected. And they are not seeing a ghost. However, Jesus-who-died-on-the-cross-and-is-now-resurrected has not come back simply to take up his old job. He now says: Over to you.

Jesus himself came near and went with them

Year A, B, C
Easter Sunday Evening
April 9, 2023

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Luke 24:13-49, The Message   or   Luke 24:13-49, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials. Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required. Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

 

The setting of this reading makes it the perfect text for an Easter Sunday Evening lesson.

But if we have already celebrated Easter using the text from John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, or Luke 24:1-12 that may also make it more difficult for us to remember that this is the first experience of Jesus-now-resurrected in Luke.

In Luke, the tomb is discovered empty on Sunday morning by the women, but Jesus does not appear to his followers.

The failure to recognize Jesus-now-resurrected also happens to Mary in John 20:1-18. In Luke and John (but not Mark and Matthew) only the eleven disciples immediately recognize Jesus-now-resurrected.

Mary recognizes Jesus-now-resurrected when he calls her by name. These two recognize Jesus-now-resurrected when "he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them." Which is, of course, exactly what Jesus had told his followers to do "in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

The two then return to Jerusalem and tell the others, and then Jesus-now-resurrected appears to them.

Now sometimes, modern day sophisticates talk about folks in the Bible as if they were merely uneducated, gullible, bumpkins who unquestioningly accepted any super-natural hocus-pocus.

But listen to their reactions to the resurrection events as interpreted by various translations (and note how the translators sometimes struggle to capture the full sense of the underlying Greek):

• puzzled, perplexed, did not know what to think
  (Luke 24:4, the women's reaction on finding the tomb open and empty)

• awe struck, terrified
  (Luke 24:5, the women's reaction on the sudden appearance of the two men in dazzling white robes)

• didn't believe a word of it,
  thought they were making it all up,
  seemed like an idle tale, did not believe them,
  these words appeared to them as nonsense,
  the story sounded like a fairy tale 
  (Luke 24:11, the apostles reaction on hearing the report of the women)

• wondered, amazed, marveled, puzzled, shaking his head
  (Luke 24:12, Peter's reaction at seeing the empty tomb)

• didn't we feel on fire,
  were not our hearts burning within us,
  didn't it warm our hearts,
  their hearts had felt strangely warmed
  (Luke 24:32, two followers recall how they felt while Jesus - whom they had not recognized - explained the scriptures to them as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus)

• terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost,
  in a state of alarm and fright, frightened and terrified,
  startled and frightened, scared half to death
  (Luke 24:37, the disciples reaction when Jesus first appears to them)

• they still couldn't believe what they were seeing,
  in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering,
  they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement,
  they were so glad and amazed they could not believe it,
  their joy was so great that they still could not believe it as they were dumbfounded,
  they stood there undecided - filled with joy and doubt
  (Luke 24:41, the disciples reaction after Jesus shows them his wounds)

These are not the reactions of bumpkins.

In fact, like societies today in which "paranormal" experiences are still considered normal, the followers of Jesus were quite sophisticated in distinguishing different types of nonstandard experiences.

The details reported in Luke make it very clear that it was the same Jesus that was crucified that is now resurrected (see the wounds, Luke 24:39); and what they are seeing is not a ghost (eating before their eyes, Luke 24:43).

One can almost hear the first witnesses of the resurrection patiently explaining to their incredulous friends and family:

• No, really, the empty tomb wasn't a hoax.
  We didn't go there when no was looking and take his body secretly ourselves (see Matthew 28:11-15).
• No, really, we aren't hallucinating.
  Just the opposite, our eyes have been opened; our minds have been opened to new understanding of the scriptures.
• No, really, it wasn't "God's Word" appearing again.
  It was the actual Jesus who died on the cross - we saw the wounds.
• No, really, it wasn't a ghost.
  We saw him eat right before our eyes.
• No, really, it wasn't that Jesus had a "near death" experience.
  Jesus died on Friday, and is now resurrected. His resurrected body is not the same as the body that died on Friday. It is real, but not the same: We don't always recognize him when he appears; he can appear and disappear instantly; he will ascend to Heaven (Luke 24:51).

However, Jesus-who-died-on-the-cross-and-has-been-raised has not come back simply to take up his old job.

Jesus-now-resurrected once again patiently explains "my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you." (Note how Jesus-now-resurrected who is present now with the disciples makes an odd past-tense, third person reference to that time before, "while I was still with you." There is continuity but also distinction between Jesus then and Jesus now.)

And then, in effect Jesus-now-resurrected says to them, "Over to you."

"Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed." Over to you. You are the called-into-court-sworn-witnesses of these things. Get ready to testify to the truth and nothing but the truth. Proclaim it. (And in Luke, it is "proclaim," not "teach.")

And shakily at first, that is what they did. And that is how the Greek word for "witness" has come to be known and used as an English word - martyr. Over to you.

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Note: Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh, Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, pages 323-324; and the writings of Amy-Jill Levine, et. al. See below.

Luke 24:13-49 (NRSV)

   ¹³ Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" ¹⁹ He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²² Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." ²⁵ Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

   ²⁸ As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" ³³ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴ They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

   ³⁶ While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." ³⁷ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate in their presence.

   ⁴⁴ 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, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Return to top of post.

Luke 24:13-49 (The Message)

   ¹³ That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. ¹⁶ But they were not able to recognize who he was.

   ¹⁷ He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"

      They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. ¹⁸ Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"

   ¹⁹ He said, "What has happened?"

      They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. ²⁰ Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. ²¹ And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. ²² But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb ²³ and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. ²⁴ Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."

   ²⁵ Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? ²⁶ Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" ²⁷ Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

   ²⁸ They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on ²⁹ but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. ³⁰ And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. ³¹ At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

   ³² Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"

   ³³ They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, ³⁴ talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!"

   ³⁵ Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

   ³⁶ While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you." ³⁷ They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. ³⁸ He continued with them, "Don't be upset, and don't let all these doubting questions take over. ³⁹ Look at my hands; look at my feet—it's really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn't have muscle and bone like this." ⁴⁰ As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ They still couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true.

      He asked, "Do you have any food here?" ⁴² They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. ⁴³ He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

   ⁴⁴ Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled."

   ⁴⁵ He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. ⁴⁶ He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! ⁴⁸ You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. ⁴⁹ What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high." 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Return to top of post.

 

Luke 24:36b-48

However, the Jesus-who-died-on-the-cross-and-has-been-raised has not come back simply to take up his old job. In effect the now-resurrected-Jesus says, "Over to you."

They were still disbelieving. He asked, "Have you anything to eat?"

Year B
Easter 3
April 18, 2021

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Luke 24:36b-48, The Message   or   Luke 24:36b-48, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials. Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required. Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

 

Sometimes, modern day sophisticates talk about folks in the Bible as if they were merely uneducated, gullible, bumpkins who unquestioningly accepted any super-natural hocus pocus.

But listen to their reactions to the resurrection events as interpreted by various translations (and note how the translators sometimes struggle to capture the full sense of the underlying Greek):

• puzzled, perplexed, did not know what to think
  (Luke 24:4, the women's reaction on finding the tomb open and empty)

• awe struck, terrified
  (Luke 24:5, the women's reaction on the sudden appearance of the two men in dazzling white robes)

• didn't believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up, seemed like an idle tale, did not believe them, these words appeared to them as nonsense, the story sounded like a fairy tale 
  (Luke 24:11, the apostles reaction on hearing the report of the women)

• wondered, amazed, marveled, puzzled, shaking his head
  (Luke 24:12, Peter's reaction at seeing the empty tomb)

• didn't we feel on fire, were not our hearts burning within us, didn't it warm our hearts, their hearts had felt strangely warmed
  (Luke 24:32, two followers recall how they felt while Jesus - whom they had not recognized - explained the scriptures to them as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus)

• terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost, in a state of alarm and fright, frightened and terrified, startled and frightened, scared half to death
  (Luke 24:37, the disciples reaction when Jesus first appears to them)

• they still couldn't believe what they were seeing, in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, they were so glad and amazed they could not believe it, their joy was so great that they still could not believe it as they were dumbfounded, they stood there undecided - filled with joy and doubt
  (Luke 24:41, the disciples reaction after Jesus shows them his wounds)

These are not the reactions of bumpkins.

In fact, like societies today in which "paranormal" experiences are still considered normal, the followers of Jesus were quite sophisticated in distinguishing different types of nonstandard experiences.

The details reported in Luke make it very clear that it was the same body that was crucified that is now resurrected (see the wounds, Luke 24:39); and what they are seeing is not a ghost (eating before their eyes, Luke 24:43).

One can almost hear the first witnesses of the resurrection patiently explaining to their incredulous friends and family:

No really, the empty tomb wasn't a hoax.
We didn't go there when no was looking and take his body secretly ourselves
(see Matthew 28:11-15).

No really, we aren't hallucinating.
Just the opposite, our eyes have been opened, our minds have been opened to new understanding of the scriptures.

No really, it wasn't "God's Word" re-appearing.
It was the actual Jesus who died on the cross - we saw the wounds.

No really, it wasn't a ghost.
We saw him eat right before our eyes.

However, the Jesus-who-died-on-the-cross-and-has-been-raised has not come back simply to take up his old job.

The now-resurrected-Jesus once again patiently explains "my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you." (Note how the now-resurrected-Jesus who is present now with the disciples makes an odd past-tense, third person reference to that time before, "while I was still with you." There is continuity but also distinction between Jesus then and Jesus now.)

And then, in effect the now-resurrected-Jesus says, "Over to you."

"Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed." Over to you. You are the called-into-court-sworn-witnesses of these things. Get ready to testify to the truth and nothing but the truth. Proclaim it.

And shakily at first, that is what they did. And that is how the Greek word for "witness" has come to be known and used as an English word - martyr. Over to you.

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Note: Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh, Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, pages 323-324; and the writings of Amy-Jill Levine, et. al. See below.

Luke 24:36b-48 (NRSV)

   ³⁶ While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." ³⁷ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate in their presence.

   ⁴⁴ 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, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Return to top of post.

Luke 24:36b-48 (The Message)

   ³⁶ While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you." ³⁷ They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. ³⁸ He continued with them, "Don't be upset, and don't let all these doubting questions take over. ³⁹ Look at my hands; look at my feet—it's really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn't have muscle and bone like this." ⁴⁰ As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ They still couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true.

         He asked, "Do you have any food here?" ⁴² They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. ⁴³ He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

   ⁴⁴ Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled."

   ⁴⁵ He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. ⁴⁶ He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! ⁴⁸ You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Return to top of post.

 

Luke 24:44-53

And as if to emphasize that this blessing of his disciples has not been finished - is still on-going - Luke tells us that: While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:51) Might it not be that even in heaven Jesus-now-resurrected is still blessing his disciples?

Lifting his hands, he blessed them

Year A, B, C
Season of Easter
Ascension of the Lord
May 18, 2023

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: Luke 24:44-53, The Message   or   Luke 24:44-53, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials. Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required. Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

 

Considering the performance of the disciples up to this point in the story, we can be eternally thankful to God that as his third to final act, Jesus-now-resurrected:

opened their minds to understand the scriptures.
Luke 24:45

However, Jesus-who-died-on-the-cross-and-has-been-raised has not come back simply to take up his old job.

Jesus-now-resurrected once again patiently explains "my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you." And then, in effect Jesus-now-resurrected says to them, "Over to you."

"Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed." Over to you. Proclaim these things, don't merely "teach" them. Declare them. Announce them. Make them actual. Over to you.

You are the called-into-court-sworn-witnesses of these things. Get ready to testify to the truth and nothing but the truth. Over to you.

But then Jesus-now-resurrected seems to remember the motley crew he is addressing.

And so we can also be eternally grateful to God, for Jesus-now-resurrected's next to final act:

I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
Luke 24:49

And in his final act, Jesus-now-resurrected blesses them.

And as if to emphasize that this blessing of his disciples has not been finished - is still on-going - Luke tells us that:

While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:51

Might it not be that even in heaven Jesus-now-resurrected is still blessing his disciples?

Well, those disciples did what Jesus asked. They returned to Jerusalem and waited.

And then, shakily at first, they did what Jesus-now-resurrected had asked them to do: Proclaim and Witness. And that is how the Greek word for "witness" has come to be known and used as an English word - martyr.

Over to you.

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Note: Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh, Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, pages 323-324; and the writings of Amy-Jill Levine, et. al. See link below.

Luke 24:44-53 (NRSV)

   ⁴⁴ 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, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

   ⁵⁰ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³ and they were continually in the temple blessing God. 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Luke 24:44-53 (The Message)

   ⁴⁴ Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled."

   ⁴⁵ He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. ⁴⁶ He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! ⁴⁸ You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. ⁴⁹ What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."

   ⁵⁰ He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising his hands he blessed them, ⁵¹ and while blessing them, took his leave, being carried up to heaven.

   ⁵² And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy. ⁵³ They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes. 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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John 5:1-9

Without Verses 11-20, we might not realize that Verses 1-9 are a high-stakes sign performed by Jesus to show the work that the Father is doing: WORK the Father is doing - even on the Sabbath day of REST.

He took up his mat and began to walk

Year C
Easter 6, Alternate Reading B
May 22, 2022

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: John 5:1-9, The Message   or   John 5:1-9, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials. Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required. Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

Again, we have a small section from a much longer, more complex passage, John 5:1-20, and on their own these 9 verses do not tell us that the healing took place on a Sabbath, nor that Jesus' command, "Take up your mat," violates the Sabbath law to carry no burdens, nor that:

For this reason the (Judeans) were seeking all the more to kill (Jesus), because he was not only breaking the Sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.
John 5:18

Nor do they tell what Jesus says in response:

(By my word of honour), I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.
John 5:19

So. Without Verses 11-20, we might not realize that Verses 1-9 are a high-stakes sign performed by Jesus to show the work that the Father is doing: WORK the Father is doing - even on the Sabbath day of REST.

This is shocking claim - and dangerous to established religious order. If Jesus can get away with saying God is not following one of the most sacred and central commandments in Scripture, who could say what else might not be eternally true and sacred? Where might it all end?

Malina and Rohrbaugh provide helpful background on the difference between Disease and Illness (Pages 113-115, see footnote below.) Physical symptoms - the disease - were of little concern. The main concern was with the social dislocation - the illness - associated with the physical symptoms. Physical symptoms were primarily seen as a sign of some disruption / disordering / dislocation of proper relationships - that is, of sin, since that is precisely what "sin" is - a breach of social relationships: with God, with family; with neighbours; etc. (Note that while Jesus accepts that connection in this story, in a somewhat parallel healing in John 9:1-41, Jesus denies the absolute connection between sin and illness.)

Thus, as we read this story today, we too should focus on the healing of broken relationships, and not on the physical symptoms.

Verse 1. Parallel to Jesus' first sign in Cana (changing water into wine) so too, after his second sign, also in Cana (healing a Royal officials son), Jesus goes to Jerusalem where he will be in conflict with the Judean elite authorities. The first time was for the Passover festival. John does not specify which festival this time.

Verse 2. These waters and their healing properties are attested to in Roman records.

Verse 3 and 5. To be an invalid was to be a social outcast, a beggar, and probably homeless. The man had been ill for 38 years - which in itself is longer than the average life span at the time of Jesus.

Verse 4. This verse is placed as a footnote since it is regarded as a later addition explaining the healing properties to generations long since removed from this time and place.

Verse 6. John doesn't explain how Jesus knew he had been lying there a long time. Jesus' question: 
            Do you want to be made well?
should be read as:
            Do you want to be restored to your right relationships?

Verse 7. The sick man honourably does not answer Jesus' question directly - to do so would be to ask a favour that he, as an invalid, could not honourably ask of a stranger. Instead, the sick man - assuming that the means of healing is the pool of water - explains his situation. He is truly isolated since he has "no one," that is, no close family who can assist him to get into the pool ahead of all the others. 

Verse 8. In response, Jesus tells the man to do 3 things: (1) Stand up; (2) take up your mat; and, (3) walk.

Telling the man to do these things creates the impossible possibility of a right relationship with Jesus - obedience.

The relationship is impossible because: (1) the invalid is not worthy of such a thing - he is a nobody - less than a person; and, (2) the invalid cannot possibly do what he is being commanded to do - that is, cannot possibly do these things if we are focusing on the physical symptoms alone.

But if we focus on the social relationships as Jesus and everyone there would be doing, our jaws would have dropped way back in Verse 6 when John said, "Jesus SAW him, and KNEW, and SAID to him."

It is actually these 3 actions of Jesus that are the "miracle" of this story, because in so doing Jesus has broken every social norm of his time by creating the beginnings of a relationship with a nobody.

Verse 9. Well of course the man was immediately made well. Taking up his mat and walking was the easy part after the difficult work or restoring his right relationship with his community was done by Jesus stopping and seeing, knowing, and speaking with him.

Anyone here tried stopping, seeing, knowing, and speaking with a beggar recently?

It is too bad the Lectionary doesn't include Verses 10-20, because that would help us realize what dangerous work it is.

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Note: Historical background information is primarily from Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh, Social Science Commentary on the Gospel of John, pages 108-115; and the writings of Amy-Jill Levine, et. al. See below.

John 5:1-9 (NRSV)

   ¹ After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

   ² Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. ³ In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵ One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" ⁷ The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." ⁸ Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." ⁹ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath. 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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John 5:1-9 (The Message)

   ¹ Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. ² Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. ³ Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. ⁵ One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?"

   ⁷ The sick man said, "Sir, when the water is stirred, I don't have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in."

   ⁸ Jesus said, "Get up, take your bedroll, start walking." ⁹ The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off. That day happened to be the Sabbath. 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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John 10:1-10

Many voices call our name. Can we be like the good sheep in this lesson and recognize and respond to the voice of Jesus calling our name?

I am the gate

Year A
Easter 4
April 30, 2023

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: John 10:1-10, The Message   or   John 10:1-10, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

 

This passage uses actual life experiences that would have been very familiar to Jesus' followers - the care of sheep.

The use of "shepherd" was also widely and well established as an positive image to describe the role of God, kings, Moses, and other leaders in their care of the people. (Who are consequently also described as being like sheep - sometimes not so positively!)

Paradoxically, actual shepherds were scorned and believed to be untrustworthy and dishonourable:

• They were smelly;
• They worked at night;
• They worked in the hills among wild animals and wild people (bandits and other outlaws);
• They were away from their homes and women and so did not watch over and guard them as honourable men did.

Nonetheless, in Mediterranean culture, "a good shepherd" was an honourable way to describe a "a good leader."

This passage is full of details about the actual care of sheep:

• "Thief and a bandit" - One of the real roles of a shepherd is to PROTECT the sheep from theft, injury (e.g., by falling or getting caught in rocky clefts), attack by wild animals, loss by separation from the flock, and disease.
   
• "Sheepfold or pen, fence, and gate" - Sheep were enclosed for safety at night. Enclosures could be in the village, or caves or other structures in the hills.
   
  Often the sheep of more than one shepherd would be enclosed in the same pen. But each shepherd could identify his sheep, and would give each one a name. In the morning, when it was time for the sheep to be separated and taken out to graze, the shepherd would call his sheep out of the combined flock by name.
   
• "Knowing, naming, calling, hearing" - Another role of the shepherd is to KNOW his sheep individually - by name - and be able to call them out of a crowd: to maintain their relationship directly with him. In John, "know his voice" does not mean simply recognize; it implies a deep bond, attachment and connection.
   
• "Leading, following" - A third role of the shepherd is to be brighter than the sheep: to know the landscape in a way they cannot; to be aware of both sources of sustenance and of danger that they cannot; to be able to plan and anticipate in a way that they cannot; to be trustworthy, loyal and caring in a way they are not. In other words, to LEAD the sheep.
   
• "Gate, entering, going out, pasture, saved, abundant life" - And finally, in the last section of the passage, the metaphor changes from role of the shepherd to that of the gate.

Jesus is the passageway - the boundary transition point - through whom we are able to find abundant life. In this context, "abundant life" does not mean "lots of toys." It refers to the quality of life that comes through attachment to Jesus - believing / trusting into Jesus; abiding in Jesus; eternal life.

This passage reiterates several major themes in John:

• Life. John 20:31 says that the whole purpose of writing down these stories about Jesus is so that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that through believing we may have life in his name. The question of distinguishing between true life and death is a challenge that runs throughout John.
   
• Who is Jesus? What do you make of him? The true identity / nature / character / purpose of Jesus is made known to those who become his followers and are separated from all others. Often his own closest companions do not get what Jesus is saying, requiring him to repeat his explanations. (See verse 10:6)
   
• Bonding. The purpose of this talking about Jesus is not simply to be better informed about Jesus. The purpose is to be IN Jesus, just as he is in the Father and the Father is in him.

Many voices call our name. Can we be like the good sheep in this lesson and recognize and respond to the voice of Jesus calling our name?

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John, see below, pages 179-180.

John 10:1-10 (NRSV)

   ¹ "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

   ⁷ So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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John 10:1-10 (The Message)

   ¹ "Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good—a sheep rustler! ² The shepherd walks right up to the gate. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. ⁵ They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."

   ⁶ Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. ⁷ So he tried again. "I'll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. ⁸ All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn't listen to them. ⁹ I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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John 10:11-18

Are you mourning today? Are you spiritually spent today? Are you afraid today? Is death nearby today? David and Jesus are here today inviting us to enlarge our frame and hold our grief, exhaustion and fear in a larger, deeper reality: God provides and guides and protects and restores.

I am the good shepherd

Year B
Easter 4
April 25, 2021

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: John 10:11-18, The Message   or   John 10:11-18, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Permission is granted for non-profit use of these materials. Acknowledgement in oral presentations is not required. Otherwise, please acknowledge source as, "David Ewart, www.holytextures.com."

 

This reflection is drawn from a sermon which also reflects on Psalm 23.

 

The 23rd Psalm is perhaps the best known and most loved passages in the whole Bible.

Even though they had given up asking us to memorize Bible verses when I went to Sunday School, I can still almost recall the whole of this Psalm from heart – and using the original language of the Bible – the King James:

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, ...

I wonder how old David was when he wrote this Psalm?

I ask this question, because as a now somewhat older man, I can recall in my youthful enthusiasm feeling similar feelings of confident assurance and trust. I’d had a taste of quiet waters and green pastures. I thought I’d had a taste of enemies and dark valleys.

However, as an older person, I can look back now and see that I had not yet truly faced an “enemy” nor had I walked the valley of the shadow of death.

And so I wonder how old David was when he wrote this psalm?

Like all that is good in the Bible we see here that David is not denying the realities that we too experience. Have we here not experienced the valley of the shadow of death? Faced enemies? Feared evils? He is not glossing over them or sugar coating them. But he is placing before us a larger reality, a wider frame in which these hardships may be experienced.

David invites us to reflect on how we are doing in our sheepishness.

If the Lord is my shepherd, how have I been doing at being one of the Lord’s sheep?

Can I, do I, recognize the Lord’s voice when God calls to me? Do I let myself be led beside still waters? Do I let myself be made to rest in cozy, abundant, nourishing pastures? Is my soul restored? How is my sheepishness?

These passages today are not complicated.

They have a pretty simple and direct message for those who will hear: God provides and guides and protects and restores.

Stop worrying and hurrying and relax and draw near. Tone down all the other internal voices with their lists of shoulds and coulds and musts, and listen for the voice of God in you, the voice of assuring love in you.

Burn the calendar and rest in the Lord. Sit down and let God’s blessings pour over you, wash you and restore you. God provides and guides and protects and restores.

And these are not simply words of assurance spoken by those who had it easy; who never faced trials or temptations themselves.

David knew what it was like to have to run and hide in fear of enemies. He knew what it was like to mourn the death of a child and the death of a dearest friend. And he knew what it was like to sin: to arrange the death of a trusted servant, to take land that wasn’t his.

And Jesus? Well you can either believe that Jesus was so holy that he didn’t really mind being tortured and brutally executed, or you can believe that he had so embedded the words of the 23rd Psalm in his heart that he could live what they say:

You have prepared a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me ... and I will live with you for ever.

Are you mourning today? Are you spiritually spent today? Are you afraid today? Is death nearby today?

David and Jesus are here today inviting us to enlarge our frame and hold our grief, exhaustion and fear in a larger, deeper reality: God provides and guides and protects and restores.

Be a good sheep today.

Relax. Listen. Drink. Eat. Follow. Live. Live in God’s presence, now and for ever.

This is good news.

David Ewart,
www.holytextures.com,
Short, easy to use, faith inspiring explanations of the meaning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for your sermon, homily, bible study, or reflection.

Note: Historical background information in this post is drawn primarily from Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh, Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John, pages 178-183; and the writings of Amy-Jill Levine, et. al. See below.

John 10:11-18 (NRSV)

   ¹¹ "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.". 

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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John 10:11-18 (The Message)

   ¹¹ "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. ¹² A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. ¹³ He's only in it for the money. The sheep don't matter to him. 

   ¹⁴ "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. ¹⁵ In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. ¹⁶ You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They'll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. ¹⁷ This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father.". 

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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