LUKE 24:35-48

[36] As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

[37] But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

[38] And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

[39] See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

[40] And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

[41] And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

[42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

[43] and he took it and ate before them.

[44] Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

[45] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

[46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

[47] and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

[48] You are witnesses of these things.

It happened when I was in seminary.  We were sitting in a classroom waiting for the professor to arrive. While we were waiting a fellow student came in hobbling on crutches.  Unfortunately, she had broken her leg and it wasn’t long before people were offering all kinds of sympathy.  “I’m so sorry to see that you broke your leg.”  “How did it happen?” “Let me know if you need any help.”  While that was going on another classmate suddenly offered a different perspective on the unfortunate turn of events.  “Oh,” she said.  “This is wonderful. Now you’re going to be able to understand what it’s like for your elderly parishioners who are frail and can’t take care of themselves.”  I remember thinking “Are you crazy?  She broke her leg!  I don’t think she wants to be told that her pain and suffering is really a blessing in disguise.”

What happened that day was similar to what happened when a florist received a phone call from an angry customer.  “What are you doing to me?” the customer complained.  “What do you mean?” the florist asked.  “What do I mean?” the customer shouted.  “The flowers that I ordered for my friend’s new business arrived with a note that said, “We extend to you our deepest sympathy.”  “Oh no!” the florist shouted. “That means the flowers that went to the funeral said, “Congratulations on your new location!”

People generally don’t like to be told that their pain and suffering is really a blessing in disguise. However, that’s exactly what Jesus might tell you.  I say that because of what happened when Jesus appeared to the disciples after he rose from the dead.  The disciples weren’t sure it was him at first. So, Jesus had to prove it to them.  There were lots of ways he could have done that. Did he do it by jogging their memories and reminding them about the time he raised Lazarus from the dead or the time he walked on the water?  No. Did he talk about all the people he healed?  No.  Did he take a stroll down memory lane with them and reminisce about the grace filled moment they shared at the Last Supper or they way people shouted “Hosanna!” when he rode into Jerusalem on the back of that donkey?  No. Did he perform a new miracle for them?  No.

Jesus proved it was him by showing the disciples his hands and his feet.  He showed them his wounds.  Now that’s really amazing when you think about it because that’s not the way it’s supposed to work after you’re resurrected.  The Scriptures make it very clear that in the life to come that there will be neither weeping nor crying nor sorrow anymore.  All of the pain and suffering of this world will be left behind.  That means your child who had muscular dystrophy and was confined to a wheelchair will come running to meet you in the life to come.  It means you sister who was blind will be able to see you and your father you died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s will smile and call you by name when you’re reunited in the life to come.

So, if all of that is true why does Jesus still have the wounds in his hands and feet after he’s resurrected and why do he put the spotlight on those wounds when he appears to the disciples? The answer to that question is simple. Jesus did that because he wanted the disciples to remember the wounds. Jesus did that because he wants you and me to remember those wounds.  Jesus wants us all to remember those wounds because for us they really are a blessing in disguise.  That’s because in those wounds you’ll find the love that leads to forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.  In those wounds you’ll find the love that will lead you to healing and hope, the love that will lead you to grace and the peace that passes all understanding.

In those wounds you’ll also find an invitation and maybe even a challenge to look at your own wounds a little differently and it doesn’t matter if it’s a physical wound, an emotional wound or a spiritual wound. In his book “Man’s Search For Meaning” Victor Frankl talks about what it was like living in the concentration camps during World War II. At one point he writes these words, ““We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”

What he’s basically saying here is that your wounds can be a blessing in disguise if you choose to make them a blessing in disguise.  Your wounds can add dignity and meaning to your life.  Your wounds can make you a stronger person and a better person if you don’t run away from them or wallow in them. 

Tom Sullivan will tell you that.  Tom Sullivan is a well known blind musician.  One day he met Arnold Palmer and challenged him to a round of golf.  “I can beat you,” Sullivan said.  “I know I can.  It doesn’t matter that I’m blind. I’ll bet you $1000 that I can beat you.”  Arnold Palmer was surprised by the boast.  “Tom,” he said, “You know I respect your accomplishments…but you can’t beat me…I’d be stealing your money.”  Sullivan refused to back down though.  So, the legendary golfer finally accepted the bet. “Okay,” he said.  You’re on. When do we tee off?”  At that point Sullivan smiled and said, “I’ll meet you at the first tee at 10:30…Tonight.”

Your wounds can be a blessing in disguise.  They can add dignity and meaning to your life.  They can make you a stronger person and a better person.   It happens when you’re treated unfairly and you refuse to hold a grudge.  It happens when you’re diagnosed with a disease that can’t be cured and you refuse to be bitter about it. It happens when your son or daughter breaks your heart and you refuse to stop loving your wayward child.

All of this is why there’s a little wisdom in a whimsical little poem called “The Oyster.”  It goes like this:

There once was an oyster whose story I tell. 

Who found that some sand had gotten under his shell.

Just one little grain, but it gave him much pain.

For oysters have feelings although they’re so plain.

Now did he berate the workings of Fate?

Which had led him to such a deplorable state?

No, not at all for as he lay on the shelf, he said to himself:

“If I can’t remove it, I’ll try to improve it.”

So the years rolled by as the years always do.

And he came to his destiny and was found in a  stew.

But this small grain of sand which had troubled him so,

Was a beautiful pearl now, all richly aglow.

Now this tale has a moral – for isn’t it grand.

What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand?

Now what could you do if you’d only begin

With all of the things that get under your skin.

Your wounds can bring dignity and meaning to your life.  You wounds can also bring healing and hope to the people around you.  A young minister saw that many years ago when he was just starting out.  It happened when he was asked to visit an elderly woman who was dying of cancer.  When he arrived at the house he was surprised to see the woman’s children waiting for him.  It surprised him because he knew that there had been a falling out in the family many years earlier.  The feud was so bad that the children didn’t even like to be in the same room together much to the dismay of their mother.  Shortly after the young minister arrived the children ushered him into the living room where the mother was lying in a hospital bed.  They then left the room so the minister and their mother could talk in private.  One of the first things the mother said was, “Is it real?”  “What do you mean?” the minister said. “Is what real?”  The mother looked at him and said, “They’re talking to each other. For the first time in years they’re together and they’re talking to each other.  Is it real?”  “Well,” the minister said, “there’s a lot of healing that still needs to take place but yes.  I think it’s real.”  With that the mother slowly nodded her head and said, “Good.  If I can accomplish in my death what I couldn’t accomplish with my life then it’s worth it.”

Jesus said, “‘Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see…And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.”  Just as the wounds in the hands and feet of God’s only begotten Son bring the blessings of God’s love to you, your wounds can make God’s love real to yourself and others.   Your wounds can be a blessing in disguise.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

April 22, 2012