“Moreover, some women of our group astounded us.
They were at the tomb early this morning and when they did not find his body there;
they came back and told us they had indeed
seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.”
(NRSV Luke 24:22-23)
The gospel writer Luke shares an encounter between 2 disciples and the risen Lord as they walk to Emmaus after Christ’s crucifixion and burial. They are in shock—not only from their teacher’s death, but of the account of His resurrection. They didn’t even recognize their Lord. For these two disciples, it’s their first attempt to try and figure out the meaning of Jesus-Messiah’s death and resurrection. It wasn’t supposed to go the way it did, or was it? They didn’t have words yet to give meaning to the event. And Jesus shared with them how he fulfilled scripture and proved he was really alive AND truly with them.
We’ve had over 2000 years to contemplate the meaning of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. And we still struggle to share the “good news”. Theologians and apologists work to bring meaning to non-believers, yet there is much truth in William Barclay’s statement that, “Christianity can be understood only from the inside.” So, on this challenging note I will attempt to share the Good News by assigning each major event in Jesus’ life to a finger on a human hand – a reminder of the hand of God at work in our lives.
Let the thumb on your dominant hand represent the incarnation. Grasp your thumb and squeeze it. This was God’s work in “boots on the ground” (or should I say sandals in the dirt). This is unique in human religions. God spends some time in human flesh, learning about living on this planet in a tribe already set apart as a people God chooses. God wants to show them how much God cares for them. With all our current ability to manipulate genes, I don’t really see why the virgin birth is still a source of contention. The Messiah was promised and in God’s good time He arrived on the planet in the usual way for human beings to be born. In no other religion is God so deeply involved in human existence. That must be for a reason. I think within the Triune God there is enough relationship and fellowship to fill the need for companionship, yet God chooses to relate also to people. That’s astounding!
Now circle around your first finger. Think about the earthly career of Jesus as itinerant Rabbi and teacher. This is the part that our Creeds leave out: all the signs, wonders, and teachings of Jesus. It’s what we, who believe, spend our entire lives studying and trying to follow as disciples. God shows us how to love, what to share with others, how upset God gets with injustice and divisiveness. Yet Jesus does more. He heals the sick, he casts out demons, calms the storm and raises Lazarus from the dead! He demonstrates God’s love for people. He associates with sinners and outcasts and talks to foreign women! He is inclusive. He was more than just a righteous Jew. So, we struggle to describe the mystery of God in human form and call Him the Son of God. Matthew calls Him the Son of Man. I think He was the perfect human being. He also promised a future of eternal life with God. His words and actions deserve our full attention.
For most people the second finger is the longest and I think that is a fitting metaphor for the crucifixion. Hold this finger for a moment. Let it represent the most important work of Jesus on earth. There are several Doctrines of Atonement, however they all acknowledge the importance of His death. Sure, He was able to come down off the cross if He wanted to, but He didn’t! He chose to suffer and die. He was set up by the religious leaders of the time who failed to see Him as Messiah and were afraid of how He might stir up the Romans. Jesus understood human sin and knew His fate. He accepted the shame and suffering under the political power of Roman rule. God came in human form at a time when executions were especially brutal. Jesus showed God’s love in this final act. Scripture says, “He died once for all.” I have believed this personally since I was 13 years old and realized Jesus died for me–to bring me new life, opportunities, a meaningful purpose in work to do, family and friends, and faith in a future with God forever. I know it may not make perfect logical sense, but faith is not just about logical sense. It is also about the mystery of God beyond time and space. This is the 21st Century and we still don’t know it all. Good Friday is not the end of the story. (God loves a great story!)
The 4th finger I would assign to the resurrection. This finger is sometimes called the ring finger and God does a real ringer in the resurrection! An empty tomb! Really! Jesus conquers death by revealing a life after this one on earth. We have had many documented near-death stories which align with this possibility. The road to Emmaus is the first time anyone spent time discussing scriptures with the resurrected Lord. And it was God’s plan all along. But that is not the end of the story!
Lastly, hold onto your little finger. It represents Jesus’ Ascension. Without it the story would be stuck in a loop. We would expect Jesus to pop-up at any time—here, or there, or anywhere. We would lose the astounding nature of God’s story on earth. And Jesus would not return to the Father and his previous mutual fellowship in the Triune God outside of our time and space. The Ascension gives us the assurance that Jesus has returned to His Daddy God and now intercedes for us in prayer. Jesus had to leave this vail of tears so that He could send the Holy Spirit to empower believers to continue the work He started. God is with us, now and always. The incarnation is completed with the presence of the Holy Spirit set loose on earth among believers in Jesus-Messiah. Jesus promised we would do even greater things than He had done on earth. And so, we can and are empowered to follow Jesus’ teachings in our daily lives on earth until we too go home to be with God forever. Isn’t that the greatest story ever told? I believe in the birth, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection and accension of Jesus-Messiah as God’s greatest gift of love.
For your consideration:
Remember your hand and what each finger represents
when you are challenged to share the good news
with someone who is a non-believer.
Trust the Holy Spirit
as you hold each finger
and tell the greatest love story ever told.
1. Incarnation
2. Ministry on earth
3. Crucifixion
4. Resurrection
5. Ascension
God’s work in our hands!
What is transfiguration? I am having difficulty understanding the difference between transfiguration and resurrection.