A Case of Mistaken Identity

April 7, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family

If I didn’t know any better, there are parts of the gospels that I could easily mistake for an episode of Three’s Company. Misunderstandings, hidden identities, and clever confusions seem to jump off the pages like the escapades of Jack, Janet, and Chrissy.

Take Matthew for example. His parable of the final judgment between the sheep and the goats is a classic case of mistaken identity. The master reprimands his servants for not serving him when they were on earth. “But when did we ever have a chance to see you?” the bewildered servants asked. “When you’ve done it to the least of these,” the master responds, “you’ve done it to me.” Jesus is revealed as one who is evident among the naked, hungry, and imprisoned – just where you least expect to find him.

Mark’s version of the gospel is filled with Jesus urging his disciples to keep a secret. “Don’t tell anyone what you’ve seen or heard, until the time is right.” It is not until the very end of the gospel, with Jesus dying on the cross, that the Messianic secret is revealed by – of all people – a Roman centurion.

John is the only gospel to record a post-resurrection encounter between Mary and the risen Jesus, except Mary mistakes Jesus for the gardener. It is not until Jesus calls Mary by name that his identity is revealed, and Mary experiences the resurrection first hand.

And then, there is the text for this week. Luke alone records the story of the two men on the road to Emmaus, when they are suddenly accompanied by a traveling companion. After discussing with them the events of the crucifixion and reports of the resurrection, Jesus reveals himself to be the mystery stranger.

Luke is very clear: the moment of revelation occurred as Jesus was breaking bread with them, an act that Luke intends to connect to the sacrament of communion. Jesus shared this meal only twice during his time on earth. The first occurred before he died, when no one, including the disciples could understand its significance. And the second time is here, when the reaction by these two followers was entirely different:

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’

This resurrection revelation around the shared table reminds me of Jurgen Moltmann's description of Easter:

Easter is the feast of freedom. It makes the life which it touches a festal life. “The risen Christ makes life a perpetual feast,” said Athanasius. But can the whole of life really be a feast? Even life’s dark side – death, guilt, senseless suffering? I think it can. Once we realize that the giver of this feast is the outcast, suffering, crucified Son of Man from Nazareth, then every “no” is absorbed into this profound “yes,” and is swallowed up in its victory.” (The Power of the Powerless)

This Sunday, we will gather around the communion table and share in this holy feast. And it is my prayer that when we partake of the bread and the cup, the mysteries of Christ’s resurrection will be fully revealed to you, and that you might not mistake the identity of the one who has come set your hearts on fire.

See you on the road,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org



Luke 24:13-35

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,
16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17 And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad.
18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’
19 He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.
21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.
22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,
23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’
25 Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!
26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’
27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.
29 But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.
32 They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’
33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.
34 They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’
35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.