Sermon - 3rd Sunday of Easter - Year B

Luke 24:36b-48                

Being A Witness 

You are witnesses of these things. 

The role of witness is one with which we are rather unfamiliar.   We watch a lot of re-run episodes of Law & Order at our house.  After a few hundred or so, you begin to develop the impression that everyone is somehow involved in a legal case.  But I don’t think I have even known anyone who actually was a witness in a court case.  On a couple of occasions, over my thirty-eight years of ministry, I have offered myself as a witness in domestic cases – but to date I haven’t been deemed important enough to be called to the stand. 

The role of witness is one with which we are rather unfamiliar. 

 Why is it that so few of us have ever been called upon to testify?  Like myself, you know things, don’t you?  You have seen things, right?  And yet, like me, I assume most of you have never served as a witness.  Why is that?  Like me, I imagine you would be glad to tell what you know – if someone were to ask.  I would be more than happy to tell what I had seen – if anyone thought what I had seen was worth retelling. 

The role of witness is one with which we are rather unfamiliar.   Maybe that is why is tough for us to live out these final words of Jesus.  Perhaps that is why it is hard for us to truly be witnesses of these things.  There is a story here worth retelling.  We know something that others need to know.  The question set before us is whether we are going to re-tell it.  Will we witness to what we have seen and come to know? 

This is the third week of Easter.  It is the third set of lessons which are aimed at making it possible to believe that something worth telling has happened.  For three weeks, we have read of appearances (or absences) which have the capacity to instill faith.  Each of these readings has contained a pivotal point at which the initial participants (and those who read the story) are called upon to decide if we will believe what has happened - or dismiss it.  For three weeks, we have read these stories and been called upon to either throw out own hats into the ring or get up and walk away. 

Something has happened.  That something which has happened is worth retelling.  But these stories are merely repetitions on a theme unless something occurs as a result of their retelling.  Today’s reading attempts to set the hook.  These stories – written to make it possible for us to believe - also begin to demand of us that we take on the role of re-telling. 

I like the way this one develops.  The disciples believe they have seen a ghost.  Now if they had seen a ghost, they would have had an interesting story to tell.  But they aren’t seeing a ghost – they see a resurrected Jesus.  

I do not know how many of you have seen a ghost.  I am sure that all of us have heard someone speak of seeing what they thought was a ghost?  When someone “sees” a ghost, they can hardly keep their mouths shut.  Even a second hand re-telling of ghost sightings can get pretty animated.  Seeing a ghost loosens ones lips and demands of the “seer” the frequent and boisterous retelling of the tale.  If you had seen a ghost, you’d be pretty quick to tell someone.   Wouldn’t you? 

Seeing a ghost would be an amazing thing.  We would be quick to tell someone about it.  But we claim to have “seen” something which is far more amazing than a ghost.  Together, in this community of faith, we have nodded in agreement at the suggestion of “seeing” the resurrected Jesus.  We have confessed together having seen a resurrected Jesus in the faith of another; of seeing him in the beauty of scripture; or seeing him in the quiet confidence of a believer facing death.  If you agree that the resurrected Christ is seen in these places, then you need to agree with me here.  The agreement I am looking for is an acknowledgement that while seeing a ghost would be an amazing thing, seeing a resurrected Jesus is more amazing still. 

If we would be eager to tell someone about having seen a ghost, why are we so hesitant to tell someone about seeing the resurrected Jesus?  Isn’t this an even more marvelous sight?  One worthy of retelling? 

We are unaccustomed, unprepared to tell the story.  We are unfamiliar with the role of witness.  We would be more than happy to speak - if someone asked us.  But we seldom (if ever) put ourselves forward and take the responsibility to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 

I think the metaphor of a witness can be milked one more time.  We would be willing to serve as a witness, should someone ask.  Trapped in this mindset, we begin to think that if our speaking would serve some purpose, then someone will ask us; someone will contact us; probably serving us with a subpoena.  Some Police Officer or Lawyer will track us down and ask us, please, to tell what it is that we know. 

This is exactly what we do when it comes to witnessing to the resurrected Christ.  We believe, if someone wants to know about Jesus, they will ask.  We assume that there is no need for us to tell the story until someone asks us to share what it is that we have come to know. 

You can hear the irony in this, can’t you?  Hopefully, you are beginning to see how ridiculous it is to wait for someone to ask?  Might you even nod your head in agreement with me as I point out that those who have never experienced the depth of God’s love will never, ever be able to ask for it?  Grace comes.  It isn’t requested any more than it can be demanded. 

One of the fears associated with witnessing is the mistaken notion that witnessing begins with criticism.  The witnessing we have experienced all too often fits the pattern of, “Here is where you have screwed up your life – now get right with Jesus.”   That may be our experience, but it is not the style employed by the witnesses in the Bible. And it is not the kid of witness Jesus is asking us to be.  Look back again at today’s reading from Acts 3.  Peter tells the crowd where it is that they went wrong.  But unlike the images in our negative stereotypes, he does not use their past to condemn or accuse.  He speaks to them of the love which overcame and overcomes any wrong that we might do.  Peter witnesses to them because unless he speaks, they will remain forever ignorant of the marvelous thing God has done.  They will never know how close they have come to receiving from God the abundance of His grace and love. 

They need to know.  And they will never know unless someone tells them.  They cannot ask for that which they have no idea exists.  Those who have never experienced the depth of God’s love will never, ever be able to ask for it.  Grace comes.  It isn’t requested any more than it can be demanded. 

Don’t make someone come looking for you, searching you out and begging you to take the witness stand.  You know something that needs to be repeated.  You are aware of things that must be told.   Speak of what you know.  You are witnesses of these things.  Speak of them so others may come to know, too. 

Amen.