“Now What?”

It’s the week after Easter, and after the intensity of Holy Week, grief and despair have been blown away by the joy and celebration of Christ’s resurrection. If we’re asking, “Now what?” we have a lot in common with Jesus’ disciples in those early days following the resurrection. This was a tight-knit group, closely bonded during the years they traveled with Jesus, learning his lessons, and coming to understand that he was God’s Son. After the shock and trauma of seeing their beloved teacher tortured and murdered, they naturally huddled together in fear and sorrow. 
     The events of that miraculous morning are told in the Gospels with a few variations, but there are common themes of bewilderment and disbelief. Matthew, Mark and Luke all include phrases that prod the disciples toward understanding and hope: “as he said,” “as he told you,” “Remember how he told you…” Jesus had told the disciples in many ways what lay before him, and they heard his words, but had difficulty processing what he meant.  The account of Jesus cleansing the temple in the Gospel of John tells us:
     Jesus said: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he (Jesus) was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.  (John 2;19, 21-22)
     During those first few days, we read in Luke of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and their inability to recognize him until he blessed and broke the bread at mealtime.  In Mark we find accounts of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene and the eleven disciples, and John features the “doubting Thomas” story.  If we’re looking for well-organized stories of meetings of Jesus and his followers following the resurrection, we won’t find them in the Gospels.  Apparently the writers didn’t consider them important or crucial to the central message.  The Gospel of John 20:20-21 tells us:  “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”
     So if we’ve been asking “Now what?” here’s an answer: “Life in his (Jesus’) name.”  If we bear the name of Christian, we are blessed with opportunities to serve, to provide care and comfort, to do Christ’s work throughout the world.  There is fear and loss everywhere, and a message of hope can seem weak and flimsy in the face of such catastrophic events.  But the message is strong, and the light is bright, and the promise is eternal from the One who overcame death and the grave!

I know that my Redeemer lives!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers