“As they were speaking, Jesus—the one and only—stood in their midst and said to them ‘Peace to you'” (Luke 24.36).
I’ve long forgotten the comedian, but one of his bits has stuck with me for over thirty years. At the piano, he begins to play a dark melody and tells the audience that when he was a child, his parents told him a story that terrified him. He then, in an ominous tone, sings the words to “Santa Clause is Coming to Town.”
It’s the turning of something so happy, so cheerful into a message of horror that I loved (and still do) about that bit of comedy. The jolly old man becomes, instead, a dreaded visitor who can see you when you sleep, know when you lie awake. He knows your actions; so, be good for goodness sake.
You can do something similar with Jesus’ visit to the disciples. In Luke’s telling, there are no locked doors, but Jesus does appear out of nowhere. His visit is unexpected, coming on the heels of the testimony of the travelers to Emmaus. And, read one way it is another wondrous revelation, but with just a change in tone…well, as the next verse tells us, it’s as though we’ve seen a ghost.
Undoubtedly, this story is meant to elicit in us joy at the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. But, I think an alternate, more unsettling reading is just as valid. This is the same person, as Mark records, that planned to walk right by the disciples upon the nighttime sea.
Jesus motive isn’t really terror, but I think he was going for unsettling. Like the comedian’s twist with the Christmas song, Jesus is out to challenge, to get those near him to start thinking in new ways. He knows us well enough to understand that sometimes we need to be surprised into seeing, hearing, and living in ways we might not have imagined before.
And, who knows, maybe he wanted to keep everyone on edge, wondering when he might show up next.
Anointed One, there is no telling where and when you may appear. You even warned us that we might be serving or neglecting you without realizing it. As I continue through this season of celebration, may I remember to keep watch and recognize you at least some of the times you appear in my midst each day.