I'm glad they've given me an extra couple of scripture passages in addition to the one from St. Luke's gospel for this step. I'm also probably going to refer back to the allusion to this episode from St. Mark. I want to take my time with details which Dr. Luke shares, and I have the luxury of doing so since I have only one additional step after this one before the Ascension.
But since I've just addressed the immediately following verses from Mark, let's go back to what came just before them, and use the appearance to the disciples as a bridge to the Emmaus story.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. - Mk 16:12-13
So that appears to be the Reader's Digest Extremely Condensed version of the Emmaus account.
It should likely be mentioned that some scholars hold that the original text of Mark's gospel ended at verse 8, with the angel announcing that he was risen, but no confirming appearances of our Lord to anyone. But in the "extended edition" which we have today, there are several, of which the verses above represent the second. What it shares with the first, his appearance to Mary Magdalene, is that the testimony of the witnesses is disbelieved by Jesus' other disciples. The "seeing is believing" mentality is not such a new thing, I guess, but we have the advantage of two millenia of folks who have believed; believing in Jesus' resurrection seems a normal thing to us, or at least an acceptable one.
This disbelief is the context for Jesus' words in verses 15 and 16: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." It's as if He is telling them: I have appeared to you that you might not be condemned, because you have not believed without this evidence.
God seems to meet us where we need for him to.
No comments:
Post a Comment