The story

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

It was too soon for these early followers of Jesus to grasp the resurrection. Forget whether they would believe it actually happened at some time in the future or whether Bible scholars would debate it's validity a couple thousand years later. These followers were still reeling from the death of their leader -- and now there were reports that he was back! This week's Bible reading is from Luke 24:36b-48.

I can imagine feelings of sadness, anguish, fear, helplessness and hopelessness from these followers. And then Jesus was with them and said, 'Peace be with you." I think it's the kind of statement that in this case diffused all the fear and sadness and uneasiness around -- or at least most of it.

Jesus still had some convincing to do. He showed them his hands and feet. He ate broiled fish (hopefully with some good spices) in front of them to prove that he was flesh and blood and not some kind of ghost. And this week's reading says that he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.

It must've been quite a rush. I don't know what they experienced, but I imagine something like a long-closed door opening to an undiscovered room in a house -- or maybe a fresh breeze blowing into a long-sealed cave.

Then Jesus gave them a job. "You are witnesses of these things." They were to go and tell the story.

What have you experienced in your walk of faith? How are you telling the story?