MaryBeth LaMont

Paul writes his letters included in the New Testament prior to the writing of the Gospels. Interesting that Paul seems very little interested in the details of Jesus’ life if he knew them. The Words of Institution, spoken by the pastor, at every Holy Communion are from Paul’s First Letter to the church in Corinth. They are as biographical as Paul gets concerning the life of Jesus. Paul was much more concerned about Jesus’ return. His writings indicate Paul thought that return immanent.

The Gospels, on the other hand, appear to be written some decades following the life of Jesus. It is postulated by some that eyewitnesses to Jesus were dying off and there was a need to write down an understanding of Jesus’ life. Each have their own unique stories giving the reader differing understandings of the meaning of Jesus’ life, deeds, and teachings.

This should not surprise us. Each time I sit with the adult children of a deceased parent to plan the funeral or memorial service, I hear different and differing stories about Mom or Dad. While there are many common understandings among the offspring, very different and unique ones are expressed as well. We are all touched differently by our parents. We are all touched differently by Jesus and the God revealed in Jesus.

The Gospels seem to have been written when the church was being established. Issues evolved including the controversy over including Gentiles in the church and not first making them follow Jewish ritual involving foods, circumcision, and practice.

Some of the background of the early church can be sensed when reading the Gospels. All seem to agree there was fear and confusion concerning the resurrection. What to make of all this? You and I need to realize that more than a body was entombed with Jesus following his crucifixion. Hope was sealed in that tomb as well. All the hopes and dreams the followers had for Jesus seemed defeated as well. On the road to Emmaus the two travelers explained they thought Jesus was to redeem Israel. Now that was no longer possible.

All the dreams, hopes, and expectations followers of Jesus had for themselves, the world, and humanity as well as Israel seemed lost. Love of neighbor? The Romans crucified that love. Turn the other cheek, share your coat, live for each other? Killed by the Romans and entombed with Jesus. Not only was Jesus gone, it was all over. At least their movement ceased to exist and was now dead along with the one leading it.

Ah, but resurrection came. It raised Jesus. It also raised all the hopes, dreams, and expectations of his followers. A life lived with and for others was now possible. All of us being neighbors to one another…that too was raised with Jesus. Jesus lives! The teachings of Jesus lived! The will of God as seen and understood in and through Jesus was raised to life again! The tomb of Jesus is no longer a prison for hope. It is the place where God did God’s greatest work.

Sometimes our human spirits are greatly bruised, even crushed. We can identify with those disconsolate followers of Jesus after the crucifixion. But God is at work even in our misery, sometimes even using that misery and never fearing to enter into it with us.
The stone was rolled away from more than a body. It opened to let hope free and reveal God as the one who determines and brings hope to all that seemed to be endings. Christ, and all that was and is about Christ is risen! Risen Indeed!