What’s the first impression you want to give people?
If people’s first impression of you is that you are friendly, competent, and trustworthy, they are more likely to feel comfortable around you. They are then more likely to consider you a friend and open up to you. People you meet are also more likely to remember you and recommend you to their friends and coworkers.
MEETING SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME, VISITING SOMEWHERE, EATING AT A RESTAURANT, GAINING A NEW EXPERIENCE; FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE IMPORTANT.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE DIFFERENT THAN PRE-CONCEPTIONS, PRE-CONCEIVED IDEAS, PRE-JUDGEMENTS, PREJUDICES, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE ARE MADE BEFORE THE FACT – BEFORE EVER MEETING SOMEONE, GOING SOMEWHERE, DOING SOMETHING.
BUT FIRST IMPRESSIONS, WHILE CERTAINLY NOT THE WHOLE STORY, AND NOT ALWAYS TO BE TRUSTED, DO CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT WITH US.
WE’LL GIVE MOST ANY RESTAURANT A TRY – ONCE – BUT A FIRST-TIME BAD EXPERIENCE PRETTY MUCH MEANS WE WON’T BE GOING BACK; AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE GONE BACK, GIVING THEM A SECOND CHANCE, OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.
MOST OF US ARE A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDING WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE.
EVEN IF OUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF SOMEONE ISN’T PARTICULARLY GOOD, WE’LL USUALLY GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT; A SECOND CHANCE; ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WRITING THEM OFF COMPLETELY.
HOWEVER, THERE’S A LOT OF TRUTH TO THE OLD SAYING: WE DON’T GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE IMPORTANT, POWERFUL, AND OFTEN A MAKE-IT-OR-BREAK-IT PROPOSITION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE CONTINUE WITH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.
MANY A JOB HAS BEEN LANDED OR LOST BASED UPON FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
MANY A FRIENDSHIP HAS BEGUN OR NEVER GOTTEN OFF THE GROUND BECAUSE OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
MANY A RELATIONSHIP HAS STARTED WITH “LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT,” BUT MANY MORE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN BEYOND THAT FIRST CUP OF COFFEE.
“BURN ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU; BURN ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME.”
THE FACT IS WE BEGIN IMMEDIATELY MAKING JUDGEMENTS ABOUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS BASED UPON OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS: WHAT WE SEE AND HEAR, HOW WE FEEL OR ARE TREATED, OUR GUT REACTION.
IT BEGINS AS SOON AS WE WALK INTO A PLACE – A RESTAURANT, A STORE, A CHURCH, A PARTY, WITH A GROUP OF NEW PEOPLE, YOU NAME IT.
THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF SOMEONE’S MOUTH CAN SET THE TONE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY OR NIGHT; THE REST OF THE MEETING; THE REST OF THE DATE.
SO WHY AM I MAKING SUCH A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS ANYWAY?
IT’S JUST THIS – THE FIRST TIME JESUS’ DISCIPLES SEE HIM AGAIN AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION;
THE FIRST TIME THEY MEET HIM AS THE RISEN CHRIST, WHAT HAPPENS IS IMPORTANT.
AND FROM MY READING OF THIS MORNING’S PASSAGE, OF THIS PARTICULAR RESURRECTION APPEARANCE, IT IS WHAT JESUS SAYS AND WHAT JESUS DOES THAT LEAVES A FIRST LASTING IMPRESSION ON HIS DISCIPLES, AND ON US.
THE FIRST THING JESUS SAYS IS: “PEACE BE WITH YOU.”
THE FIRST THING HE DOES IS: TO SHOW THEM THE WOUNDS IN HIS HANDS AND IN HIS SIDE, AS PROOF THAT IT’S REALLY HIM.
THEN ITS AS IF THE HE STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN: “PEACE BE WITH YOU.”
THEN THIS: “AS THE FATHER SENT ME, SO I SEND YOU.”
RIGHT TO IT; NO HOWDY DO, NO DRAWN OUT CONVERSATION, NO TELLING THEM WHAT THE LAST THREE DAYS HAVE BEEN LIKE, NO DESCRIBING TO THEM WHAT DEATH AND HELL ARE LIKE; HE JUST GETS RIGHT TO IT.
“RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT,” JESUS SAYS, “THEN HE BREATHES ON THEM THE BREATH OF GOD; THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; THE INSPIRATION AND THE ENERGY BY WHICH THEY WILL LIVE THEIR LIVES OF FAITH;
AND BY WHICH THEY WILL CARRY OUT THEIR (HIS) MISSION AND MINISTRY.
AND FINALLY, A WORD ABOUT FORGIVENESS: “IF YOU FORGIVE THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE FORGIVEN THEM; IF YOU RETAIN THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE RETAINED.”
THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THIS PASSAGE IS ABOUT JESUS GIVING HIS DISCIPLES SOME SORT OF SPECIAL DISPENSATION TO FORGIVE SINS; THE SORT OF POWER ONLY GOD THE FATHER, AND GOD THE SON, HAVE;
BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASES WHERE JESUS IS JUST TELLING IT LIKE IT IS; JUST SAYING HOW THINGS ARE OR WILL BE;
LIKE WHEN HE TELLS US THAT “THE POOR WILL BE WITH US ALWAYS;”
AND THAT “AS WE DO IT OR DON’T DO IT UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE, WE DO IT OR DON’T DO IT UNTO HIM;”
OR HOW WE ARE TO “LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES.”
WHEN IT COMES TO THE FORGIVENESS OF ANOTHER’S SINS, OR NOT FORGIVING THEM, I THINK JESUS IS SIMPLY SAYING THAT WHEN WE DO FORGIVE, THEY ARE FORGIVEN BY US; AND WHEN WE DON’T THEY ARE RETAINED BY US.
AND AS WE HAVE SAID BEFORE WHICHEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO – FORGIVE OR NOT FORGIVE – USUALLY HAS A BIGGER IMPACT ON US AND OUR LIVES THAN IT DOES FOR THE ONE WHO HAS OFFENDED US.
THEY OFTEN GO ON THEIR MERRY WAY, NEVER GIVING IT AS MUCH AS A SECOND THOUGHT – IT’S WE WHO STEW IN OUR OWN JUICES ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY HAVE HURT US. FORGIVENESS IS HOW WE FREE OURSELVES.
AS FOR THE HEAVY LIFTING HOWEVER, THAT IS, FOR THE FULL, COMPLETE, AND ETERNAL FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THAT STILL REST WITH GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT.
WHAT INTRIGUES ME MOST ABOUT THIS PASSAGE IS WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING:
FIRST IMPRESSIONS – THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE RISEN CHRIST; HIS FIRST ACTIONS; HIS FIRST INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DISCIPLES, UPON SEEING THEM ALL OVER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THE FIRST LASTING IMPRESSION.
CHRIST’S FIRST WORDS: “PEACE BE WITH YOU.”
CHRIST’S FIRST ACTIONS: “AS THE FATHER SENT ME, SO I SEND YOU.”
CHRIST’S FIRST COMMANDMENT: “FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER.”
CHRIST’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS: PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
PRETTY POWERFUL STUFF FROM A GUY WHO HAD JUST BEEN BEATEN, CRUCIFIED, DEAD AND BURIED;
A PRETTY IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION FROM THE NEWLY RISEN CHRIST: PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
PRETTY EXPECTANT MARCHING ORDERS FOR THE DISCIPLES HE IS SENDING OUT IN HIS NAME: PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
SOMEHOW THOSE WORDS HAVE BECOME SO FOREIGN TO OUR EARS, OUR LIPS, OUR LIVES, THAT THEY ARE KIND OF DIFFICULT FOR US TO PROCESS.
HEIDI NEUMARK SERVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS THE PASTOR OF A LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE SOUTH BRONX, PERHAPS THE POOREST OF ALL POOR NEIGHBORHOODS IN AMERICA.
HER FIRST SUNDAY AS PASTOR, HEIDI UNDERSTOOD WHAT KIND OF CHURCH SHE WAS SERVING WHEN SHE FOUND UNDER THE ALTAR, A BOX OF RAT POISON NEXT TO THE COMMUNION WAVERS.
THE LEADERS AND OFFICERS OF HER CONGREGATION INCLUDE FORMER ADDICTS AND UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS, THE UNEMPLOYED AND THE RECENTLY HOMELESS.
IT IS THE KIND OF CONGREGATION THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE WROTE:
“CONSIDER YOUR OWN CALL, BROTHERS AND SISTERS; NOT MANY OF YOU WERE WISE BY HUMAN STANDARDS, NOT MANY WERE POWERFUL, NOT MANY OF NOBLE BIRTH. BUT GOD CHOSE WHAT IS FOOLISH IN THE WORLD TO SHAME THE WISE.” (I CORINTHIANS 1:26-27)
DURING HOLY WEEK SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THIS CONGREGATION DECIDED TO REENACT IN A PASSION PLAY THE WHOLE SWEEP OF HOLY WEEK, FROM PALM SUNDAY TO EASTER.
THEY BEGAN BY DRAMATIZING JESUS’ ENTRY INTO THE CITY, BORROWING A LIVE DONKEY AND, LED BY AN ACTOR PLAYING THE PART OF JESUS, PARADED IN A LONG PROCESSION AROUND THE BLOCK OF SHABBY STOREFRONTS AND RUN DOWN APARTMENTS SHOUTING, “HOSANNA!”
WHEN THEY GOT AROUND THE BLOCK AND BACK TO THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH, THE PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION RAN INTO A STREET DEMONSTRATION PROTESTING POLICE BRUTALITY.
IT WAS FITTING, REALLY, AS JESUS AND THE PROTESTERS, THE CONGREGATION AND THE STREET CROWDS, THE SHOUTS OF “HOSANNA!” AND THE CRIES OF SOCIAL OUTRAGE MINGLED TOGETHER IN A SWIRL OF MOVEMENT AND NOISE.
IN FACT, SOMEONE PASSING BY ON THE STREET, SEEING THE CONFUSION AND FEARING TROUBLE, EVEN CALLED THE POLICE, WHOSE ARRIVAL BROUGHT A BIT OF ADDED COLOR AND DRAMA.
SOMEHOW THE PROCESSIONAL MANAGED TO MAKE IT INSIDE THE CHURCH, WHERE, AS THE PLAY UNFOLDED, JESUS WAS TRIED, CONDEMNED, AND EXECUTED.
BUT THEN WOMEN RETURNED EARLY IN THE MORNING OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK WITH THE AMAZING WORD OF THE EMPTY TOMB AND THE ASTOUNDING NEWS, “HE IS RISEN!”
THE ACTORS PLAYING THE DISCIPLES REMAINED TRUE TO THEIR ASSIGNED PART, EXPRESSING DISBELIEF AND CONFIDENCE THAT THIS NEWS FROM THE WOMEN WAS BUT AN “IDLE TALE.”
BUT THEN THE SCRIPT CALLED FOR THREE MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION TO STAND UP AND GIVE TESTIMONY, TO BEAR WITNESS IN COURT AS IT WERE, TO THE TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION.
“I KNOW THAT HE IS ALIVE,” EACH ONE WAS TO BEGIN. THE FIRST WAS ANGIE.
“I KNOW THAT HE IS ALIVE,” SHE SAID, “BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE IN ME.”
SHE THEN TOLD HOW SHE HAD BEEN ABUSED BY HER FATHER, HOW SHE FELL INTO DESPAIR AND ALCOHOLISM, BECAME HIV-POSITIVE.
BUT THEN SHE RESPONDED TO THE WELCOME OF THE CHURCH, SHE STARTED ATTENDING WORSHIP, THEN A BIBLE STUDY, AND BIT BY BIT SHE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE OF HER LIFE.
NOW SHE’S A SEMINARY STUDENT, STUDYING TO BE A PASTOR.
“I AM NOW ALIVE BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST LIVES IN ME AND THROUGH ME,” ANGIE SAID, HER FACE AGLOW. “I AM THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
THE OTHER TWO WITNESSES STOOD IN TURN, EACH RECITING THE ASSIGNED PART OF THE SCRIPT: “I KNOW THAT HE IS ALIVE, BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE IN ME.”
THEN THAT PORTION OF THE PLAY WAS DONE, AND IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON.
BUT THE TESTIMONY WOULD NOT STOP. OTHERS IN THE SANCTUARY BEGAN TO RISE SPONTANEOUSLY.
“I KNOW HE IS ALIVE,” THEY WOULD SAY, “BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE IN ME.”
HOMELESS PEOPLE, ADDICTS NOW CLEAN, THE LEAST AND THE LOST, STOOD ONE BY ONE. NOTHING COULD STOP THEM.
“I KNOW HE IS ALIVE,” THEY ALL SHOUTED, ALL GIVING CORROBORATING TESTIMONY TO THE WITNESS OF JESUS, ADDING THEIR OWN WORD TO THE GREAT WITNESS OF EASTER, TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT THEY HAD SEEN AND HEARD.
IF WE’VE NEVER BEEN THERE; NEVER BEEN DOWN AND OUT; NEVER BEEN ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY; NEVER ABUSED, ADDICTED, POOR, OR A STRANGER;
IF WE’VE NEVER DIED, JUST A LITTLE BIT; IF OUR HOPES AND DREAMS HAVE NEVER BEEN VANQUISHED; IF WE’VE NEVER KNOWN WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE UNLOVED;
IF WE’VE NEVER HAD TO RISE FROM THE GRAVE OF A LIFE GONE BAD; IT MIGHT BE HARD FOR US TO IDENTIFY WITH THOSE WHO HAVE;
AND WITH THEIR ABILITY TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS ALIVE BECAUSE HE NOW LIVES IN THEM.
WE WHO CAN COUNT OUR BLESSINGS ONE BY ONE, IF NOT BY THE BUSHEL FULL;
AND CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WE’VE NEVER BEEN WITHOUT THE GRACE OF GOD OR THE LOVE OF OTHERS;
NEVER BEEN THE OBJECT OF ABUSE, OR THE TARGET OF HATRED, OR AN OUTSIDER;
YOU’D THINK IT WOULD BE WE WHO WOULD HAVE NO DOUBTS ABOUT CHRIST BEING ALIVE, BECAUSE HE’S ALIVE IN US.
YET FOR SOME REASON, THAT’S NOT HOW IT SEEMS TO WORK. THAT’S STRANGE, ISN’T IT?
CHRIST’S FIRST WORDS POST-RESURRECTION: PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
OUR FIRST MARCHING ORDERS: PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
OUR MESSAGE TO OTHERS AND TO THE WORLD: PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
A FIRST LASTING IMPRESSION.