The Third Sunday of Easter

Go

Acts 9:1-20
John 21:1-19

Jesus has a lot to say in the Scripture readings we heard this morning. He seems positively chatty in the readings from Acts and John. If our Scripture inserts followed the custom of writing the words of Jesus in red, there would be a lot of red ink this morning.

This is still Easter season, of course. The Scripture stories we hear are ones that take place after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Jesus who is talking to Paul and Ananias and the disciples in this morning’s stories is the Jesus who has been crucified and now lives again. The story in John takes place before Jesus’ ascension, so the disciples hear Jesus and actually see him in the flesh, the Jesus who was crucified and then rose from the dead. Paul and Ananias experience Jesus in a vision and hear his voice, but do not encounter him in bodily form. In both stories, the risen Christ has a lot to say.

We live in the world after Jesus’ death and resurrection. So, in a way, these stories take place in our world. These are models for how we might encounter the risen Christ. With that in mind, I went to all four Gospels and reread all of the descriptions of encounters with Jesus after his death and resurrection. It’s an interesting survey.

The Gospel of Matthew. On that first Easter morning, before anyone knew what was going on, Matthew describes the two Mary’s, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, going to the tomb. There is a great earthquake and first they encounter an angel who tells them that Jesus has been raised. Then Jesus himself appears before them and says, “Do not be afraid. Go.” Go. Go tell the disciples that I have been raised. Go tell them that I will come to them. Go.

A few verses later, Matthew describes the meeting between Jesus and the disciples on the mountain in Galilee. Jesus says to them, “Go.” “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Go.

Mark’s Gospel as it was originally written probably did not contain any post-resurrection appearances. There is the so-called “longer ending” of Mark that was likely added later by another author. In it, Jesus is described (not quoted) as upbraiding the disciples for their slowness of belief in his resurrection, then Jesus is quoted as saying to the disciples, “Go.” “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”

Some years on this Third Sunday of Easter we hear Luke’s story of Jesus’ appearance to Cleopas and his companion along the road to Emmaus. It’s a familiar story. Jesus has been crucified and the two disciples are leaving Jerusalem. A figure whom they don’t recognize walks with them and explains the Scriptures to them, helps them understand the story and its meaning for them. When Jesus shares a meal with them, in the breaking of the bread, they recognize them. When Jesus appears later to the assembled disciples, he offers them peace and again he explains the Scriptures.

The Book of Acts was written by the same author as Luke’s Gospel, so in this morning’s story about Paul’s conversion, we have another post-resurrection occurrence as described by Luke. Saul is on his way to Damascus and is literally blown off his feet by the presence of the risen Christ, who says to him, “Get up and enter the city.” Get up and go. Go into the city. And await further instructions. Go.

When Jesus appears to Ananias in a vision, the first thing he says is, “Get up and go.” And then gives him very specific directions. Go to number 47 Straight Street and lay hands on Saul to heal his blindness. Go. I have much for Saul to do, but first it is your job to heal him. Go.
John’s Gospel tells several stories of encounters with the risen Christ. On Easter morning, Mary meets him in the garden and he says to her, “Do not hold on to me, but go…” Go spread the news.

Then Jesus appears three times to the disciples. We heard the first two on the Sunday after Easter. Jesus appears to the disciples in the locked room, one without Thomas and then again when Thomas is present. Over and over, Jesus says to them, “Peace.” He breathes on them to convey the Holy Spirit, and he says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” As the Father has sent me to bring life and redemption into the world, so I send you to bring life and redemption into the world. Go. I send you. Go.

Today’s Gospel is the third time in John’s Gospel that Jesus appears to the disciples. He helps them fish so that they will be nourished. He shares a meal with them. Then, in the focal point of this passage, he speaks with Peter. “Feed my sheep. Tend my lambs. Feed my sheep.” Go. Care for my people. Go.

A few general observations about all of the appearances of the risen Christ. Jesus doesn’t cure anybody. Jesus doesn’t fix any problems. Jesus doesn’t perform any miracles (except, of course, the wondrous miracle of his living presence.) In fact, the risen Christ doesn’t really do much of anything. He does talk.

But as he talks, he doesn’t address any of the burning questions I would like to ask the risen Christ. What is it like, really, to die and then live again? What is heaven like? What last minute advice can you give about salvation? What should I be doing to strengthen my faith and deepen my spiritual life? What did you really mean when you said I should take up my cross and follow you? The risen Christ doesn’t answer any of these questions. In fact, he shows no interest whatsoever in the state of the disciples’ souls.

He just tells them what to do. The risen Christ may not do anything, but he tells the disciples what to do. His words are really more directions than conversation. Jesus doesn’t wait for the disciples’ questions. He initiates the dialogue and tells them what to do.

Go. Go out into the world and tell all people that he is risen. Alleluia. Go preach forgiveness. Go heal the sick and tend to the poor. Go baptize. Paul, go spread the good news to the Gentiles. Peter, go feed my sheep, care for my people. Go. Over and over again, the risen Christ says, Go.

There is a little more to these post-resurrection encounters. On the road to Emmaus Jesus pauses to explain the Scriptures. He helps the disciples fish. He doesn’t miraculously cause the fish to jump into the boat. The disciples do the fishing, but Jesus guides them, so they will not go hungry. Jesus brings peace to the assembled disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit. They find connection with him over a shared meal.

But what he says to them is, Go. I don’t imagine we should expect to hear anything different from the risen Christ. Go, Jesus says to us.

Come here, yes. Come here to this holy place and gather as the people of God. Come to receive the gift of peace that passes all understanding. Come for food, for physical and spiritual nourishment. Come to gain understanding of the Scriptures, to learn the story and its meaning for you. As important as all of these things are, they are just prep work. They are background, the foundation for the real stuff of Christian discipleship. We come here so that we may be enabled to do what Jesus really wants us to do: Go.

Go share the good news. Go baptize the lost. Go feed the hungry and care for the downtrodden. Go. Jesus wants us to go.