Remember How He Told You

 Remember how...

Not, remember what...

The angel told the women who came early to prepare Jesus' body. His mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and maybe a few other women while the men hid in the house frightened they would be next. 

Remember how he told you, the angels say to these frightened women, but have the courage to venture out and stand in the presence of these heavenly and frightening beings. "Remember how he told you in Galilee that the Son of Man must be handed over to hands of the sinners and on the third day rise again." 

Remember how after being baptized he spent forty days in the wilderness to prepare for his ministry and then proclaimed that the kingdom of God is near, so we should repent, turn toward God. 

Remember how he preached in his home church the prophet Isaiah's words, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bring release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor." And almost got thrown off a cliff because Jesus told his family, friends, and neighbors that it wasn't just for them, but for everyone. 

Remember how he healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath, proclaiming it to be the time to do good. As well as the man with the withered hand, and so many others. 

Remember how he proclaimed the poor, the hungry, and those who weep will be blessed while those who are rich will have nothing, those who are full will be hungry and those who will laugh will mourn. The kingdom of God is the great reversal. That we are to love our enemies, turn the other cheek, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and give to those who ask. 

Remember how Jesus taught not just by quoting laws and scripture, but by telling stories to help us see the broader picture and asking us what we think? How he often engaged with those who disapproved of him and his ministry, how he touched and ate with those considered unclean and unworthy. How he himself said that he had the reputation of a drunkard and the gluten. To me this means that he could also have some fun and enjoy himself, not being so serious all the time. 

Remember how when Jesus traveled, it was not just with the twelve disciples, but also some women like Mary Magdalene who became the first to proclaim that Jesus had risen and she had seen him. 

Remember how Jesus feed the five thousand after they came out to hear his words, how he sent out the twelve disciples to spread the kingdom and then the seventy-two. 

Remember how Jesus stepped in front of a woman about to be stoned and proclaimed that, "He who is without sin should cast the first stone." And after they all left, he told her he doesn't condemn her but she should go and sin no more. 

Remember how Jesus affirms the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God will all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your body/strength. And then told the parable of the Good Samaritan to show that it applies to everyone, not just to certain people at certain times when it is convenient. 

The angels tell us to remember how Jesus told them, not just what he told them. Yes, Jesus often preached in the synagogues as was his routine. But he also connected with people wherever he went and wherever he met them. Jesus didn't give blessings and healings and teachings from up above, but in the wilderness, in the muck and the mud, on stormy seas, in crowded streets, in places of sacredness and places of ill repute like the house of a certain tax collector. 

In our church here in Grand Marais, we are a gathering of people who don't have to believe what was written, certain doctrines or explanations of what resurrection is or means. I do hope that we try to follow in the footsteps of him whom we call the Christ, the Teacher, in however we follow, we serve and heal and feed and teach and proclaim with love and for the good of all. Amen.