Worship for Easter
This Meditation was inspired by the painting 'The supper at Emmaus' (1958) by Ceri Richards (1903-1970), included in Set 3 of the cards from the Methodist Church Collection of Modern Christian Art.
Bob Johnson is a preacher in the Watford Circuit
Risen indeed
The Preparation
The image may be displayed via a digital projector on the front wall of the Church. Alternatively, it may be displayed in a picture frame placed on the Communion table. Optionally, printed copies of the image may be distributed amongst the congregation. The congregation are invited to fix their gaze on the image and listen to the words spoken by the preacher.
The Meditation
Who is this man? WHO is this man? Who is this MAN? As we walked the road from Jerusalem, he was there. Suddenly, without warning, he was beside us. Had he crept up on us? How could he? Yes we were talking, but surely we should have heard his approach? Like a thief in the night but this was afternoon and in the dry open country! He couldn't have run behind us. We would have heard that for sure and he wasn't even out of breath. Indeed he was calm, cool and collected you might say serene.
Who is this man? WHO is this man? Who is this MAN? He came from Jerusalem and yet he seemed not to know of the events of those last three days. How could he not? Events so momentous that everyone in the City young and old, Jew and gentile, local or visitor all had heard. No room in the Inn for other discussion, or on the street. Events so extraordinary that the entire world soon would know! Where had he been while that unjust 'justice' ran its course? When that act of treachery had boiled over into vile and vicious punishment? When that innocent, gentle Rabbi had hung between two criminals on a crude wooden cross? Where had he been when they cut him down and laid him in that garden tomb?
Who is this man? WHO is this man? Who is this MAN? Speaking of the Word foretold by prophets not like he learned by heart, but much more that he inspired, lived and is the very substance of the Scripture. A charismatic preacher, a natural teacher, a gifted communicator with inside knowledge! Though seeming ignorant of the present he somehow links together past and future as though he has always been and always will be. How can he know so much? No, not know!
This is no ordinary man. All who met him knew he was special, exceptional even, nay unique. But surely he is dead? He died two days ago, two days, that is, of a man's life or was it death?
But here we are and here He is! No trick of light, no sleight of hand, no apparition. The Bread broken for us broken with love, broken in a way that tells us all we need to know. HE IS ALIVE! CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!
The Son of Man who lived a human life and died an inhuman death the Son of God who showed that we might live. Live in hope, and die that we might be united through His love in an eternal life with Him. The living God, the loving God, the God made Man.
What was it about that act of breaking bread that opened our eyes to see? As if by its very brokenness we became whole. Perhaps that's it! Only by the broken body of Jesus Christ can we become whole once more, part of the Body of which our Lord is the Head. How different we feel. We have seen for ourselves, we know, we are assured. Jesus is the same for everyone He gives assurance, assurance of forgiveness, and a promise of eternal life a place with Him in His Father's House.
(Preacher picks up and breaks bread roll in the sight of the congregation)
Truly this MAN is the SON OF GOD!
Silence