Flesh and Bone and Broken Bread

“While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” Luke 24:15,16

The famous pair on the road to Emmaus didn’t recognize the resurrected Jesus even though he came near. Neither did they see while he interpreted the scriptures for them (v27). They didn’t get it until Jesus sat with them at the table and broke bread. Jesus then vanishes, so they hurry back to Jerusalem to find “the eleven and their companions gathered together”(v33), and tell how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus then breaks in on the whole surprised bunch. “They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.” Addressing their doubt and fear at the appearance of one who was supposed to be dead, Jesus appeals to their physical senses, “Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost 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” (vv37-40).

He just wont let them ignore the tangible nature of this reality, so he asks for food and eats it while they watch. It is only after these physical demonstrations that he “opened their minds to understand the scriptures” (v45).

“ Look…and see…Touch me and see”. Or, “Taste and see” as the psalmist says (Ps 34:8). You can touch because God will not be untouchable. Our faith is not confined to ghostly concepts, theory and second-hand. You can feel your way to faith because God is made available to touch in this self-revelation.

Sometimes even truthful words seem like an “idle tale” (v11), without a firsthand tandem experience. So this is no “Touch not; taste not; handle not” (Col. 2:21) religion. It awakens not only the “spiritual” senses, it awakens ALL the senses.

“The word was made flesh,” (Jn 1), so we are encouraged to go about “handling the word of truth” (2Tim 2:15). The Word will forever be available in the flesh because of the resurrection. Jesus is experienced in the flesh still today through his body, the church (i.e., you and me). Those struggling to believe need to hear the words of scripture, but just as important, they need to be with (touching and being touched), at the table, breaking bread, eating in the presence of companions.

Wrapping your mind around the reality of God made known (intimately known) in this physical world may require getting your hands on it, and sinking your teeth into it.

For some, their motive for touching may be for no good, “the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners”(v7), but the offer to touch still stands. For even in broken bread he is made known (or, especially in broken bread). Taste and see.

A Long Way from Home

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, AND FOR ALL WHO ARE FAR AWAY, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’” Acts 2:37-39

You can start from “far away” - faraway in time, geographically faraway, faraway in heart…. The “call” spans the distance of language, culture, predisposition, prejudice and plain ole stubbornness. It breaches the barrier of crossed-armed cynicism, eases up to wounded hearts, enlivens the conscience with fresh awareness and a liberal offer of forgiveness and family.

The Spirit that hovered over the chaos at creation (Gen.1), hovers over the chaos today for re-creation. This is no absent or disinterested deity, but a vulnerably present, invested Lover/Author who risks speech.

The simple words, “Let there be light”, could not be resisted by the darkness. A barren world could not prevent those generative words, “Be fruitful”. This is THAT Spirit. Making up for the mess and improvising with the imperfect, the Spirit (if necessary), is resigned to start again. New birth. New name. New life. New you. A new us…and we start from here.

What if you believe? Believing creates possibilities that didn’t exist before. Sometimes believing is the only difference between “over the top” and “going under”. If you hear the call, don’t wait. Say “yes” before it gets away. What have you got to lose? Believe the “gift” is for you. Why not you? You are not too far away.

The Spirit specializes in the stretch, loves the long-shot, partial to the no-chance, the hard-to-handle and the too-far-gone. You will breathe again, sit up and see again, take fresh hope and live again. If the Spirit is jamming you up it is to win your heart. Give it up. “Lay your weary head to rest” and let him carry you. The time for walking will come, but for now, let go, weep, and let him carry you.

You’re in a position where you need help. He is in a position to give it. You need a miracle. He can make that happen (and one miracle is all you need!).

When you are called, you are called by name. It’s a personalized invitation, calling you to new possibilities, to place, to community… calling you home.

Learning to Wait

“Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’” Acts 1:6

Obvious, but overlooked? Meeting new people is an event, but developing real friendship is a process. A wedding is an event, while healthy marriage is a process. The birth of a baby is an event. Nurturing the child into maturity is a long, long process.

Events create their own momentum, gratify now, make for photo ops and easy sound bites. Process?…not so much. Process requires intentionality, stamina, thoughtful commentary, discipline, delayed gratification, and faithful endurance.

Finding a verse of scripture that jumps out at you is an event. Learning and living the long story that is the biblical narrative is a lifelong process. Coming to faith may be more like an event, but Christian maturation gets no anniversary date. Maturation is a lifelong journey that can be eventful, but must also endure the uneventful growth of sunny days, cloudy days and days with no comment.

News flash: Three-steps-forward, two-steps-back is normal! So if you feel like no overnight success don’t panic. If you have nothing sensational to post on social media, that’s fine. A strikeout is not the ballgame. You stumble - you get up. When you miss a note - improvise. Natural growth is touch-and-go as you feel your way through, goof up, learn and try again. Perfectionism is an unrealistic slave driver that you can never finally please. Unfriend perfectionism!

Motivational speakers say failure is not an option. That might sell books, but it just ain’t so. Failing is part of growing - so is mercy (And there is more mercy than you can imagine). When you were chosen, the Maker wasn’t buying a lottery ticket with crossed fingers. He knew what he was signing up for when he committed to you. He is committed to process and to waiting. Are you?

Process implies time…sometimes lots of time. But we have been made to believe we shouldn’t have to wait. The ability to endure delayed gratification used to be considered a virtue, and we taught it to our children. Yes, we need change. And there are some things that can change now, but the more impactful, long-lasting change requires time. It will not go viral today. It will not make your newsfeed. The sustenance that will keep you for the long haul is probably not trending, but there is hope, meaning and purpose in the waiting.