"Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder (Luke 24:41a, NLT)." Whoa! One of these three words—disbelief, joy and wonder—does not belong with the other two. (This comes from the dad who has spent way too many hours near a school-issued computer as an assistant or all-on teacher to children who became at home students during Covid.) Then again, maybe the three synchronize.
Here at the end of the physician’s gospel, the disciples do what they do best, showcase our own fantastic and floundering faith. They experience the risen Christ in the flesh but are confused by him—still. In prep for the April 18 sermon, I propose we focus on these three words—disbelief, joy and wonder because, when we are quiet enough to listen and think, we begin to see these three outputs speaking well to each other. Disbelief leads to joy. Joy, in turn, speaks to wonder.
When unafraid and unashamed, we open real and raw conversations with Jesus about whatever disbelief we may have in Jesus, or more so, what disbelief we have in ourselves. From these conversations, joy follows. (Who doesn’t celebrate after a one-on-one with our three-in-one God?) Eventually, joy leads to further wonder, and, depending how close we walk to the edge again, perhaps joy and wonder fringe of disbelief again.