Kiss Jesus’s Crusty Blood
See, hear, touch, and smell him too
The Holy Spirit makes Jesus present to us.
You need to know that before you read the rest of this.
Jesus was raised bodily. By that I mean: the tomb was empty. There was no pile of bones, no rotting flesh, no skin or sinews left behind.
We humans are embodied creatures, which is why Jesus didn’t leave his body in the grave. On Easter, Jesus met his disciples in person—which is to say— in his resurrected body.
Jesus still wants to meet us in person. And the way to do that is through our bodily senses.
See, Hear, Touch, Smell, Taste.
See: See Jesus like the Apostles did. See him like the 500 brothers Paul tells us about saw him. And see him like Saul himself did on the road to Damascus. You might not recognize him at first, like Mary Magdalene in the garden or like the two on the road to Emmaus. Like Saul, you’ll likely be blinded at first. But just as Jesus did for all of them, he’ll make sure to open your eyes.
Hear: Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Jesus until he said her name. So, hear Jesus say your name. Hear him ask you like he asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Your answer will be “yes.”
Touch: Jesus told Mary not to cling to him in the garden, probably because, upon recognizing him, she hugged his neck. She was never going to let go (would you?). Hug Jesus. Touch him with the crowds hoping for healing. Like Thomas, you don’t need to wash your hands before touching his wounds—he’s immune to infection. Quite the contrary, the residue of his body and blood will disinfect you of death.
Smell: I’m pretty sure Mary Magdalene breathed deeply when she embraced Jesus in the garden. Maybe she was hyperventilating (wouldn’t you?). Either way, she got a whiff. Jesus had been embalmed: 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. So, meet Jesus olfactorily. He opens his arms from the Promised Land, which means he probably smells like milk and honey.
Taste: Jesus ate and drank with his disciples after he was raised, and they found that to be particularly remarkable. I imagine they thought of him every time they ate grilled fish, drank wine, or broke bread.
Taste Jesus now. Of course in the Supper, but also with the kisses of your mouth. Kiss the Son! Fall prostrate, kiss his resurrected feet. The blood of his wounds is dryly crusted, so it will flake into your mouth. Mmmhmm—the Lord is good.
Your Spirit Baptized Body
Jesus is not far from you. You don’t need to ascend to heaven to bring him down, or go to the abyss to bring him up. He is in your mouth and in your heart.
The Holy Spirit makes Jesus present.
He (Jesus) baptizes your body in him (the Holy Spirit).
Which is why and how we can meet Jesus in person.
Share this with someone who might need it, or teach it in your church