LUKE 24:13-35 | SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE MOVES

SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE MOVES

LUKE 24:13-35

APRIL 30, 2017

I KNOW I’VE BRAGGED ON MY WIFE BEFORE, KAREN’S PROWESS, AT BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY NEARLY ANY SONG, FROM ANY ERA, IN MOST ANY GENRE, BY SONG TITLE AND ARTIST.

SHE WOULD HAVE KILLED ON NAME THAT TUNE. 

SO, IT WOULD BE NOTHING FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT I BORROWED THIS MORNING’S SERMON TITLE, WITH A SLIGHT VARIATION, FROM THE BEATLES’ SONG, SOMETHING IN THE WAY SHE MOVES.

BUT WAIT A MINUTE… SHE’D ALSO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT MAYBE, INSTEAD, I BORROWED THE TITLE, WITH A SLIGHT VARIATION, FROM THE JAMES TAYLOR SONG BY THE SAME NAME, SOMETHING IN THE WAY SHE MOVES.

SHE WOULD ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE LYRICS TO THE TWO SONGS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT;

AND WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU, IS THAT THE LYRICS TO THE JAMES TAYLOR SONG DESCRIBE MY FEELINGS ABOUT MY WIFE, PERFECTLY.

ALL OF THIS IS JUST TO SAY, THAT THERE WAS, EVIDENTLY, SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE MOVED (THE RISEN CHRIST) THAT ENABLED THOSE TO WHOM HE APPEARED, TO RECOGNIZE IT WAS HIM.

JUST NOT RIGHT AWAY.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND I’M NOT SURE WHY, IN SEVERAL OF THE RESURRECTION APPEARANCES, THOSE TO WHOM JESUS APPEARS, HAVE NO IDEA IT’S HIM, AT FIRST.

THEY SIMPLY DO NOT RECOGNIZE HIM.  PERHAPS, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T EXPECTING TO EVER SEE HIM AGAIN.  NOBODY THEY KNEW HAD EVER DIED AND COME BACK TO LIFE.

PERHAPS, IN SHOCK, THEY COULDN’T BELIEVE WHAT THEIR EYES WERE SEEING, SO THEY DIDN’T; THEY JUST DIDN’T RECOGNIZE HIM.

OR PERHAPS, HAVING BEEN BEATEN, CRUCIFIED, DEAD, AND BURIED, JESUS WASN’T QUITE HIMSELF ANYMORE; THOSE KINDS OF THINGS COULD TAKE A LOT OUT OF A PERSON!  ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE!

FINALLY, BECAUSE THE RISEN CHRIST DISPLAYED BOTH PROPERTIES OF THIS LIFE – THE ABILITY TO BE SEEN AND TOUCHED, TO WALK AND TALK, EAT FISH, TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR, ETC.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE ABILITY TO APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR AT WILL, TO SOMEHOW PASS THROUGH A LOCKED DOOR, AND BE BOTH SPIRIT AND FLESH AT THE SAME TIME, MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ENOUGH ABOUT HIM, THAT THEY DID NOT, COULD NOT, RECOGNIZE HIM AT FIRST.

SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS THE BODY AND SPIRIT OF THE RISEN CHRIST PROVIDES SOME CLUES AS TO HOW AND WHAT OUR OWN RISEN BODIES WILL BE LIKE.

THERE’S NO WAY OF REALLY KNOWING ANY OF THIS, OF COURSE, BUT WHAT THE BIBLE DOES TELL US IS, THAT EVEN THOSE WHO HAD BEEN CLOSEST TO JESUS, DIDN’T RECOGNIZE HIM AT FIRST.

MARY MAGDALENE MISTAKES HIM FOR THE GARDNER, ASKING HIM IF HE HAPPENS TO KNOW WHAT THEY’VE DONE WITH JESUS’ BODY.

IT’S NOT UNTIL JESUS SPEAKS HER NAME, THAT SHE RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS HIM – ALIVE AGAIN!

THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH HIS DISCIPLES.  SEVERAL OF THEM WHO HAD BEEN FISHERMEN BEFORE JESUS CALLED THEM TO FOLLOW HIM, RETURNED TO FISHING AFTER HIS DEATH.  PERHAPS, RETURNING TO WHAT WAS FAMILIAR TO THEM.

THEY WEREN’T HAVING MUCH LUCK, HAVING CAUGHT NOTHING ALL NIGHT, BUT WHEN, UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM, JESUS CALLS TO THEM FROM THE SHORE, TELLING THEM TO CAST THEIR NETS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOAT;

IT IS ONLY IN THE MIRACLE OF THE GREAT CATCH OF FISH THAT PETER RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS JESUS, DIVING HEAD FIRST INTO THE WATER, SWIMMING ASHORE AHEAD OF THE OTHERS, AS THEY STRUGGLED TO BRING THE HUGE CATCH OF FISH TO SHORE.

AND HERE, IN OUR PASSAGE FOR THIS MORNING, THE TWO FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS, MEET UP WITH THE RISEN CHRIST, BUT AGAIN, FAIL TO RECOGNIZE HIM.

THEY BEGIN BY TELLING HIM, THIS STRANGER, THIS ONE PERSON IN ALL OF JERUSALEM WHO EVIDENTLY DOESN’T KNOW WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING THERE, ALL ABOUT JESUS AND THE EVENTS OF THE LAST FEW DAYS.

WHEN THEY FINISH, THIS STRANGER, IN TURN, TELLS THEM EVERYTHING HE KNOWS ABOUT WHAT THE PROPHETS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE MESSIAH, AND HOW HE MUST SUFFER AND DIE, AND BE RAISED UP, ETC. AND STILL THEY DON’T CATCH ON TO WHO HE IS.

THINKING THAT HE’S GOING TO GO ON HIS WAY WHEN THEY ALL REACH EMMAUS, THEY INVITE HIM IN TO EAT, AND IT IS ONLY IN THE TAKING, BLESSING, AND BREAKING OF BREAD, THAT THEY FINALLY REALIZE IT’S HIM;

AND IN THAT INSTANT, HE IS GONE!

BUT SOMETHING, SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE MOVED, GAVE HIM AWAY;

SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE SAID HER NAME “MARY;” SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE PERFORMED YET ANOTHER “FISH MIRACLE;” SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE BROKE BREAD; GAVE HIM AWAY.

LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE CAN SEE JESUS IN US;

WHETHER WE ARE GOOD IMPERSONATORS OF CHRIST; IF THERE’S ANYTHING FAMILIAR ABOUT HIM IN US; IN HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES;

OR BETTER, HOW WE LIVE HIS LIFE THROUGH OUR LIVES.

BUT THIS MORNING, IT’S SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE MOVES, THAT GIVES JESUS AWAY; THAT MAKES THE RISEN CHRIST KNOWN TO THOSE TO WHOM HE APPEARED.

AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DOES THAT HAVE TO SAY TO US?

I’M NOT SURE, REALLY, BUT MAYBE IT’S IN CHRIST’S MOVING – HIS BEING ON THE GO – AT LOOSE IN THE WORLD, THAT WE WILL SEE HIM TOO.

I MENTIONED TO THOSE AT THE EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE THAT ONE OF THE REASONS JESUS’ TOMB WAS EMPTY WAS THAT HE WAS ALREADY ON THE MOVE; ON TO NEXT THING.

HE WAS OUT OF THE TOMB, AND APPEARING TO HIS FOLLOWERS, READYING THEM TO TAKE OVER HIS WORK, HIS CHURCH, AND HE WAS GETTING READY TO TURN OVER THE REINS OF MINISTRY TO THEM, SO THAT HE MIGHT REIGN FROM ABOVE, AS WELL AS IN THEIR HEARTS.

AND TO DO THAT, HE COULDN’T STICK AROUND IN THE FORM HE WAS IN.

HIS ASCENSION WOULD ALLOW HIM TO SIT AT THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS FATHER;

AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO IN-DWELL IN THE HEARTS OF HIS BELIEVERS; AND TO DO EACH OF THESE, HE NEEDED TO BE ON HIS WAY!

AND THAT TOO, IS SO JESUS!  AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED TO THOSE AT EASTER SUNRISE, JESUS HAD BEEN ON THE MOVE HIS WHOLE LIFE;

FROM THE MOMENT HIS EXPECTANT MOTHER AND FATHER RODE FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM FOR HIS BIRTH, TO THEIR ESCAPE INTO EGYPT, BACK TO NAZARETH, TO JERUSALEM AT AGE 12, AND FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE AS AN ITINERANT PREACHER, RIGHT UP TO HIS EXITING THE TOMB, TO GET ON WITH IT, JESUS WAS ON THE MOVE!

JESUS WAS, FOREVER, AND IS NOW, ALWAYS, ON THE MOVE!

AND PERHAPS IT’S HERE THAT WE SEE HIM BEST – IN THE WAY HE MOVES IN LIFE, IN THE WORLD, IN HIS CHURCH, IN US!

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF NOUNS, NAMES AND TITLES, ASSOCIATED WITH JESUS:

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, PRINCE OF PEACE;

SON OF GOD, SON OF MAN, CHRIST, MESSIAH, SAVIOR;

LAMB OF GOD; THE GREAT PHYSICIAN; RULER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH;

THERE IS PRACTICALLY NO END TO NAMES AND TITLES FOR JESUS, AND THESE ARE ALL WELL AND GOOD; AND ALL OF THEM CAPTURE AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY;

OF WHO HE IS, AND WHAT HE MEANS FOR THE WORLD!

BUT JESUS WAS FOREVER ON THE MOVE; DOING SOMETHING; IT IS HIS ACTIONS; THE VERBS WHICH ALSO DESCRIBE HIM BEST:

TEACHING, PREACHING, PRAYING, HEALING;

BLESSING, BREAKING, POURING, GIVING; FORGIVING;

COMMANDING, COMMISSIONING, EMPOWERING, SENDING.

AT ONE POINT IN HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY, JESUS DESCRIBES THE HOLY SPIRIT LIKE THE WIND; AND AS I REMINDED US LAST WEEK, IT IS THE SAME WORD FOR BREATH, SPIRIT, AND WIND IN GREEK – PNEUMA;

BUT WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS, THAT YOU CAN’T SEE IT, LIKE YOU CAN’T SEE THE WIND, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT BLOWING THE TREES;

YOU CAN SEE THE EFFECTS OF THE WIND; YOU CAN SEE THE EFFECTS OF THE SPIRIT.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE RISEN CHRIST?  LOOK FOR WHERE THE SPIRIT IS BLOWING;

LOOK TO THE ACTIONS, THE EFFECTS OF HIS SPIRIT, AND OF HIS PEOPLE AT WORK IN THE WORLD.

IT IS THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS ALL OVER AGAIN:

LORD, MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE,

WHERE THERE IS HATRED, LET ME SOW LOVE;

WHERE THERE IS INJURY, PARDON;

WHERE THERE IS DOUBT, FAITH;

WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR, HOPE;

WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS, LIGHT;

WHERE THERE IS SADNESS, JOY,

O DIVINE MASTER, GRANT THAT I MAY NOT SEEK SO MUCH

TO BE CONSOLED AS TO CONSOLE,

TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS TO UNDERSTAND,

TO BE LOVED AS TO LOVE.

FOR IT IS IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE,

IT IS IN PARDONING THAT WE ARE PARDONED,

AND IT IS IN DYING THAT WE ARE BORN TO ETERNAL LIFE.  AMEN.

IT’S SOMETHING IN THE WAY HE MOVED THAT ALLOWED THOSE TO WHOM THE RISEN CHRIST APPEARED, TO RECOGNIZE HIM.

AND IT IS SOMETHING IN THE WAY WE MOVE, AND ARE MOVED, BY CHRIST’S HOLY SPIRIT, BY WHICH PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE HIM AGAIN.

JOHN W. GARDNER, FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF COMMON CAUSE, SAID IT’S A RARE AND HIGH PRIVILEGE TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE THEY CAN MAKE — NOT ONLY IN THEIR OWN LIVES, BUT ALSO IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS, SIMPLY BY GIVING OF THEMSELVES.

GARDNER TELLS OF A CHEERFUL OLD MAN WHO ASKED THE SAME QUESTION OF JUST ABOUT EVERY NEW ACQUAINTANCE WITH WHOM HE FELL INTO CONVERSATION:

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT YOU BELIEVE IN, AND YOU ARE PROUD OF?”

HE NEVER ASKED CONVENTIONAL QUESTIONS SUCH AS “WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?” IT WAS ALWAYS, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT YOU BELIEVE IN, AND ARE PROUD OF?”

IT WAS AN UNSETTLING QUESTION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD BUILT THEIR SELF-ESTEEM ON THEIR WEALTH OR THEIR FAMILY NAME OR THEIR EXALTED JOB TITLE.

NOT THAT THE OLD MAN WAS A FIERCE INTERROGATOR.

HE WAS DELIGHTED BY A WOMAN WHO ANSWERED, “I’M DOING A GOOD JOB RAISING THREE CHILDREN;”

AND BY A CABINETMAKER WHO SAID, “I BELIEVE IN GOOD WORKMANSHIP AND PRACTICE IT;”

AND BY A WOMAN WHO SAID, “I STARTED A BOOKSTORE AND IT’S THE BEST BOOKSTORE FOR MILES AROUND.”

“I DON’T REALLY CARE HOW THEY ANSWER,” SAID THE OLD MAN. “I JUST WANT TO PUT THE THOUGHT INTO THEIR MINDS.

“THEY SHOULD LIVE THEIR LIVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY CAN HAVE A GOOD ANSWER.

NOT A GOOD ANSWER FOR ME, BUT FOR THEMSELVES. THAT’S WHAT’ S IMPORTANT.”

SO, WHAT IS IT YOU DO, OR HAVE DONE, AND ARE PROUD OF?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE WAY YOU MOVE, THAT LET’S PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN; WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU; WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD?

MY HOPE, AND PRAYER, IS THAT AT LEAST A PART OF YOUR ANSWER HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOUR FAITH; WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN; WHOM YOU BELIEVE IN; HOW YOU LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH.

LET US LIVE OUR LIVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR OURSELVES.

JESUS CERTAINLY DID, LIVING OUT THE CALL OF GOD IN HIS LIFE; FULFILLING ALL HE WAS MEANT TO BE AND DO; THE NOUNS AND THE VERBS; AND THE WAY HE LIVED, AND MOVED, AND HAD HIS BEING…

AS SCRIPTURE TELL US:

“GO, AND DO LIKEWISE.”