Jesus Meets Eleven in Galilee

According to Matthew's Gospel, Jesus commanded Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to tell His disciples to meet Him in Galilee.  The eleven remaining disciples went as the Lord directed.

But why Galilee?  Was it simply where it all began and must begin anew?

Although some worshiped him and some doubted, Jesus still believed in them.  "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to  observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

What an abundance of Easter gifts!  Jesus provided the new apostles with authority, purpose, and His presence always.  He still provides His Church with Easter gifts.

"A Charcoal Fire Was There"

The Sea of Tiberias and the Church of the Primacy

Twice John speaks of a "charcoal fire" in his gospel, John 18:18 and John 21:9.  The first occasion is in the courtyard of Caiaphas in Jerusalem; the second is on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias.

We can be sure that both references are chosen intentionally by the writer.  Equally, we can be certain that Simon Peter noticed both.

On the first occasion, he warmed himself while denying Jesus three times.  Shortly after that first Easter Day, Jesus used the second occasion of a charcoal fire to prepare breakfast for the disciples and call Peter to repentance and reconciliation.

Furthermore, Jesus seized the moment to recall Peter to role of Shepherd.  Forgiven by the Master, Peter was to feed His sheep.  Therefore, on the site today stands the Church of the Primacy over the traditional rock which contained the charcoal fire and a statute which captures the encounter of Jesus and Peter.

Doubting Thomas Sees and Believes

The Gospel of John offers us the only account of Jesus' appearance to Thomas.  Known previously as the "doubter" among the disciples, Thomas' encounter with the risen Lord brings him to faith.

Many questions linger about Thomas and his whereabouts that first Easter when Jesus appeared to the other ten disciples.  Speculation is all that we have.  Could he have been in Bethany with Mary, Martha and Lazarus?  Or perhaps he had scurried over the Mount of Olives and hid in the Wilderness.

My sense is that Thomas remained nearby since he kept abreast of the news.  Therefore, when he began to hear the rumors and news of the risen Jesus, he belatedly rejoined the other disciples.

I have often wondered if his hiding place was that of the other disciples after the crucifixion.  Did the many cemeteries around Jerusalem offer the disciples refuge?  Certainly, those in authority would not have defiled themselves before fully observing the Sabbath and Passover.  Jesus may not have been the only one to emerge from the cemetery that first Easter.

The First One Ever

Linda Egan has written a beautiful hymn, "The First One Ever." The lyrics praise God and celebrate the role of women in the Bible. Stanza one recalls Mary's response to the annunciation of Gabriel, while the second stanza speaks to the faith of the Samaritan woman. But it is the third stanza that proclaims the Easter faith. It remembers the first to bear witness to the resurrection.

While the Synoptic Gospels tell of three women who come to the tomb, John's Gospel speaks only of Mary Magdalene. In the words of the hymn, "the first one ever, oh, ever to know" the joy of the Risen Lord.

My favorite chapel in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after Calvary and the Tomb is the Chapel of Mary. It stands near the Tomb and has a marvelous bronze molding of the first encounter between Mary Magdalene and Jesus following the resurrection. Standing here, the words repeat: "the first one ever, oh, ever to know."

Every Day to Us Is Easter

Glorious Easter continues! While some traditions approach the observance of Easter over fifty days, many Christians consider every Sunday to be a "little Easter." The events of Easter define Christian faith and practice.

With this in mind, let's meet through this blog in the coming days and revisit the places and events of that first Easter. Today let's simply celebrate that we are an "Easter people."

One of my favorite hymns is Easter People, Raise Your Voices. Join me in singing the third stanza:

Every day to us is Easter, with its resurrection song

When in trouble move the faster to our God who rights the wrong.

Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs.

The Lord Is Risen!

He is risen indeed! Thus Christians have greeted one another on Easter across the ages.

Today, another Easter Day has dawned. Christians will gather all around the world to share in worship and praise of our Living Lord.

Worship will take many forms. One of the most exciting is the ceremony of the Holy Fire which begins early in the rotunda of Holy Sepulchre Church. Orthodox Christians from around the world will gather and anxiously await the miracle of fire to emerge from the tomb of Jesus. For more information on this ancient service, click on http://www.holyfire.org/eng/.

May your Easter worship wherever you are be filled with His glorious presence! May the Easter faith be rekindled in our hearts!

Continuing on the Road to Emmaus

As Jesus joined the two disciples, they did not know that it was Jesus. How could that be? They had heard him teach, shared meals with him and walked with him. What so held their minds and hearts that they did not recognize Jesus?

Grief can be consuming, can it not? They put it in their own words: "we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel." All that they had longed for and found in Jesus they thought had been lost.

Painstakingly, Jesus taught from the scriptures all things concerning himself and the events which had taken place in Jerusalem. Yet, the disciples were slow to recognize Jesus. Only in the familiar act of breaking "daily bread" did they see that it was Jesus.

Upon recognition, the two disciples began the journey back to Jerusalem. The others must know what they knew. "The one to redeem Israel" lives.

The Road to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-35

The appearance of Jesus to two disciples walking along the road to Emmaus is perhaps the richest in terms of details and meanings. Therefore, let's unpack this marvelous story over several blogs.

First, we should note that the precise location of Emmaus remains a matter for debate. There are at least three possible sites: Emmaus-Nicopolis, Al-Qubeibeh, and Abu Ghosh. As we often say in the land, either site is a "good place" to remember this grand story.

Location, however, is not the only detail that we are lacking. Only one disciple is named, Cleopas. One explanation is that the unnamed person was Cleopas' wife. How meaningful this possibility is given the role of women in the first century. Of course, the prominence of women in the Jesus Movement had already been established when Mary Magdalene became the "first witness" to the Risen Lord.

Also, expositors have long suggested that the intention of the gospel writer was to invite subsequent readers to slip into the sandals of the "nameless one." If this is true, I must say that this reader over the years has found the shoes fit well. I have longed to walk the Emmaus Road.

Behind Locked Doors - John 20:19-23

We can't be sure where the disciples gathered on Easter evening. When last we heard, all except Peter and John had fled into the night. One interpreter has suggested that they found refuge in the cemetery on the Mount of Olives. Observant Jewish leaders would never have defiled themselves prior to the Passover by pursuing them there.

On the third day, the ten managed to assemble and wait. What we do know is that wherever they gathered, "the doors of the house...were locked for fear of the Jews." While the news of the women gave them a modicum of hope, they were still in the grip of the harsh reality of Good Friday.

Suddenly despite the locked doors, Jesus stood in their midst. He pronounced the traditional Jewish greeting, "Shalom!" Three times he confirmed the message that dispelled their fear. "Peace be with you."

Glorious Easter continues to confront modern disciples of Jesus wherever we lock ourselves away. Easter's gifts from the risen Lord are peace, purpose and power.

The First Witness - John 20:1-10

Mary Magdalene was accompanied by other women to the tomb that first Easter. They had returned to finish the preparations of the body for burial. Thus, the question as to who would roll the stone away? Certainly, the women constituted a burial party and not seekers of a resurrected Lord.

Finding the stone rolled away, Mary Magdalene ran to tell Simon Peter and John. The three of them returned to the tomb to investigate. Still baffled and confused, the men returned to their hiding place.

Only Mary Magdalene remained at the open tomb. As she wept uncontrollably, Jesus appeared to Mary. She became, in the words of the hymn, "the first one." Mary Magdalene was the first witness to the risen Lord. The gospel writers never hesitated in their identification and proclamation of Mary as the first. All four gospels name Mary at the first witness to the resurrection.

The Great Fifty Days

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it for so many of us: "I have a special affection for the days after Easter." The great fifty days are just that. The appearances of Jesus following His resurrection define the Christian faith and hope.

Among the sites in the land associated with an appearance of the risen Lord to His disciples is the Church of the Primacy located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The place holds special meaning for me.

The Mensa Christi, as it is also known, was where Jesus met seven of his disciples fishing. They had returned to their old ways of living. The return to Galilee by the disciples constituted a crisis for Jesus and the movement. Therefore, he confronted them, especially Simon Peter, restored them to fellowship, and recalled them to the ministry of fishing for men. He sent them forth again to feed His sheep.

In these days following Easter, may we too experience reconciliation and restoration. Let us rise renewed for this ministry!