A Reflection on Reality
“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” (Luke 24.38-41)
By now many of you are aware of some online drama that invaded our church this week. The Elders met on Tuesday and then on Wednesday three Elders met with the member of our body who found himself in the middle of this mess. There will be more to say as we gather Sunday, but for now be assured that we have taken extra security measures for our service this week. In the meantime, please pray for God’s grace – that there would be no antagonistic visitors, and that those who have been spewing hate would receive the forgiveness of God in Christ through repentance and faith.
This week has me thinking about reality. The internet is not real (and it’s not lost on me that this comes to you in an email newsletter). So many people get sucked into the cesspool that is social media and the internet – valiant keyboard warriors (in their own eyes) fighting about politics, tribalism, and everything else under the sun – and it’s not real. Don’t get me wrong, I know much good happens on the internet –work happens online these days, families connect online, churches post gospel content that feeds Christ’s sheep and reaches out to the lost world with the good news of Jesus, but at the end of the day, it’s not real – it’s not fleshed out.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in Luke 24 for an upcoming podcast project (keep an eye on Pastor Interference, if you’re interested), and I was struck by the reality – the fleshed-out nature – of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus appears to his disciples on that first Easter evening, St. Luke records that Jesus declares, “Peace to you!” The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is an announcement of peace! Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5.1).
And then there are two things the Lord says, two things he does that prove the validity of His resurrection and provide peace to the hearts of his troubled disciples, who think they’re seeing a ghost! But this isn’t Casper, or the ghost of Christmas past, this is the resurrected Son of God, their teacher and friend, Jesus. The first thing Christ does is He shows them His nail-scarred hands and feet. He invites them to touch the eternal tattoos of the crucifixion.
“For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have,” Jesus remarks. The Lord Jesus Christ rose again from the dead on the third day, for real. He did not “swoon” and fake death. He did not return as a spirit, or the “spirit” of His message. He really died and He really resurrected.
St. John reiterates the facts in his first epistle - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life (1 John 1.1). The scars of defeat have become the scars of victory because Easter is real. We’re reminded of this every week in the Holy Eucharist, as we hear the proclamation – This is my body! As real as the bread in our hands and our mouth, so too is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that real; the gospel is that real.
The third comment Christ makes, which is the second proof of the validity, the reality, of His resurrection, is He asks them for something to eat. And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it before them (Luke 24.42-43). The resurrected body of Jesus is fascinating, isn’t it? He can walk through walls or straight disappear, yet His scars can be touched and He eats.
What is the response of the disciples to the reality of Jesus’ resurrection? Worship (Luke 24.52). The same has been true of the church for the last two millennia. The Westminster Shorter Catechism question 1 asks: What is the chief end of man? The answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
This is what we do as we gather every Sunday around the Word and sacrament. The Sunday gathering then shapes the rest of our week in our homes – our marriages, our families. It shapes our work, our education, our rest, everything. N.T. Wright paints a vivid picture:
When was the last time you heard someone say ‘Get real!’?
There are lots of fantasy worlds out there. If people insist on living in them they are going to be more and more out of touch with genuine reality.
Some people think that’s what it’s like being a Christian. But if you learn to live in the world of Luke’s story you’ll discover that the opposite is true. This story is about reality. Real reality… The final reality is worship. Heaven and earth are not far apart. In Jesus they have come together for ever. Luke wants us to respond to his entire story by finding ourselves enfolded in worship—the worship that God’s people have offered to the living God, from that day to this, through the living Jesus.
That is the reality that can change all other realities in our lives, healing and transforming them once and for all.[1]
The internet is not real. Church is real. The preaching of the gospel in the exposition of Scripture is real. The sacraments are real.
Your marriage is real. Your kids are real. You family, friends, and neighbors are real. Looking people in the eye is real.
Repentance is real. Saying, “I was wrong, I’m sorry, and I love you” is real. Faith is real because the resurrection of Jesus is real. Brothers and sisters, let this week remind us to get real.
[1]Wright, T. (2009). Lent for Everyone: Luke Year C (p. 121). London.