Sunday 14/04/24

Third Sunday of Easter 

Luke 24:36b-48 Acts 3:12-19

Both in Luke 24 and in Acts 3, we find similar statements, the first by Jesus: ‘You are witnesses of these things.’ And the second by Peter when he addressed the people in those early days of the Church: ‘To this we are witnesses.’ When we are talking about witnesses these days, we are usually referring to witness statements in the context of a crime. They can be witnesses for the prosecution or witnesses for the defence. These are important, because they help assess certain situations and to come to an informed conclusion, which leads to a decision that is in line with the evidence. Witnesses are often essential in the process of determining who is responsible for or connected with an event. In the account from Acts 3, Peter is emphasising the testimony of the witnesses to the resurrection; this testimony is the reason for the faith of the Church and has been the evidence of the death and resurrection of Jesus on which we base our hope. In his discourse, Peter uses the history of the people – referring to the God they already knew, ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ – as a starting point for laying down the facts about Jesus, and the sequence of events that led to our salvation. He is speaking clearly, making it relevant to the crowd, so that they may hear the essence of the faith of the Church and what it is based upon: the evidence and witnesses of their own time, in fulfilment of the prophets. For the necessity that the Messiah would suffer had been foretold a long time ago. And Peter relates it all, so that the people might repent and ‘turn to God so that their sins may be wiped out.’

In Luke’s Gospel, chapter 24, Jesus is himself the evidence to the resurrection. When he suddenly appears to the disciples and their companions gathered together, he greets them saying, ‘Peace be with you.’ Of course they were startled and terrified at first, as it says, thinking they were seeing a ghost. And even when Jesus continues, asking why they are frightened and having doubts, and telling them to look at his hands and his feet and to touch and see, they remain bewildered. So Jesus asks them to give him something to eat; now that should be real evidence of his being newly and truly alive! Jesus also refers back to the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms, that they must all be fulfilled, and then, Luke says, ‘he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.’ It’s not as if faith came immediately; the disciples had to overcome some very strong notions, like the one that people don’t normally come back from the dead. They needed the explanation from God’s own word in the past, as well as the walking and talking risen Lord of the present, who was revealed as the Son of God. The question from the accounts of the resurrection and its proof may still be: ‘what kind of body did Jesus have?’. Certain rules of nature no longer seem to apply, as Jesus seems to move across the dimensions, bringing together heaven and earth in a new and startling way. His body is at home in both, so that may teach us something about life in God’s new world, in a recreated order.

But, what both Jesus and Peter are saying is much more to the point and more relevant for the human race: ‘that repentance and forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in Jesus’ name to all nations.’ It is that promise that – through faith – truly restores and renews the people. Even while this side of heaven, we can taste new life as redeemed children of God. God’s love and mercy, through the saving work of Jesus Christ, has wiped out our sins. Forgiveness through Jesus’ work on the cross and his resurrection has given us a new start, a new life, a true freedom. Through faith, we become witnesses to these things. Witnesses who are giving proof of the risen Lord through their own new lives, ‘risen with Christ’. Do we still doubt whether it all works? Do we perhaps still wonder about the ‘how’? Well, we may not be able to fully understand the mechanics of the recreated order of God’s new world. But then, do we really need to? After all, we can’t physically see or touch love, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. In fact, we know it is there through the way we experience it. I am reminded of those words from the Taizé chant: ‘Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.’ ‘Where charity and love are, God is there.’ We are witnesses of that. Amen.