Sermon; Easter 3B; Luke 24:36b-48

Happy Easter, everyone.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Here we are on this third Sunday of the season of Resurrection. Looking ahead, today's gospel is the last resurrection story we will hear this season. That is, in my opinion, an unfortunate bit of poor planning on the part of the lectionary committee. But that is neither here nor there.

Since this is the last resurrection story we get in this season of resurrection, I want to focus on that – resurrection. So, let me ask a question: show of hands – How many of you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? For those who didn't raise your hand, we need to talk. And a followup question: Do you have faith in resurrection?

The reason I ask is because there is a difference between belief and faith. For today I want to posit that faith is greater than belief.

As an example, think back to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. There's a scene in which Indy has to cross a great chasm in order to reach the Holy Grail. The only way across is by a foot bridge. Although he can't see any bridge, he believes a bridge is there. But belief that a bridge is there won't get him across. What will get him across is stepping out in faith. Faith, then, is belief in action. Faith takes courage, perseverance, and a willingness to confront our fears.

Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Yes, certainly. We have accounts of that event from several sources that have become holy scripture. There are many accounts of people meeting the risen Christ. I have no doubt that Jesus was raised from the dead in a new and different way that is resurrection and not simply resuscitation.

The question, “Do you have faith in resurrection?” is a totally different scenario. It's different because it's not simply a belief in the resurrection of Christ, but it's having the faith to see the power of resurrection at work in the world. The resurrection of Christ was a one-time, verifiable event in Jerusalem about 2000 years ago. Faith in resurrection, on the other hand, is a continual transformational experience. Resurrection is the power of the Spirit in action. Resurrection, as was the resurrection of Christ, is frightening.

Today's gospel reading seems to be a mash up of several resurrection stories. Jesus appears and says, “Peace be with you,” shows his wounds, and invites the disciples to touch him, recalling the story of Thomas in John's gospel. The thought that Jesus was a ghost goes back to him walking on water, which some scholars think is a misplaced resurrection story. And the eating of the fish also recalls John's breakfast meal at the end of that gospel.

Today's story, in the sequence of Luke, comes after Mary Magdalene and the other women tell the disciples about the empty tomb. It comes after Peter ran to the tomb to verify the “idle tales” of the women. It comes after two disciples meet the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. And it comes while those two disciples were telling the others how Jesus had appeared to them.

Jesus says, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

I will contend that the disciples weren't frightened and doubtful about the resurrection of Christ. They had eyewitness accounts not only of unreliable women, but of several very reliable male disciples. They had to be coming to the realization that the resurrection happened. Instead, what made them frightened and doubtful was resurrection. What made them frightened and doubtful was the transformational change resurrection caused. What made them frightened and doubtful was that they would now have to act on their belief and step out in faith – like Indiana Jones stepped into the abyss with the faith that the bridge would be there.

This is the same thing that frightens us and cause us to doubt today.

“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations . . .”

The first part of that phrase reiterates belief in the resurrection of Christ: It is written that the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. Okay, fine. I can believe in this singular event from history.

The second part of that phrase reiterates resurrection faith: repentance and forgiveness is to be proclaimed. Wait . . . What?

I, and many other preachers and teachers, have stated that we are a resurrection people. But being a resurrection people doesn't strictly mean that we believe in the resurrection of Christ. It also means that we step out and live into a resurrection faith. It means that we look for resurrection opportunities in our own lives. It means we look for how the Spirit is leading us into a new life of transformation.

It also means that we are called to proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Not just me from the pulpit, but WE, all of us, me and you, are called to proclaim this good news.

Proclaiming repentance isn't like the old joke where the unrepentant sinner shows up at the pearly gates and St. Peter says, “How did you get here?” The sinner replies, “Someone jumped in front of me, yelled, 'REPENT!!!' and scared the hell out of me.”

To repent is to make a change. There are at least two places I can think of off the top of my head where God himself repents of a planned action – God changes his mind. The call to repentance is to proclaim a change in behavior that more closely aligns with the will God.

We are also called to proclaim the forgiveness of sins. We are not called to berate people for sinful behaviors but to let people know that they are loved and they are forgiven.

Belief in the resurrection is one thing. Faith in resurrection is something else entirely and calls us to live differently. We are called to a life of transformation. We are called to live into how things could and should be, not as they are. We are called to proclaim the good news of repentance and forgiveness.

This is the difference between believing in the resurrection and resurrection faith. This is why we are frightened and have doubts.

So let us proclaim the good news of repentance and forgiveness. Let us live with resurrection faith. Let us be not afraid.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Let us be transformed.

Amen.