Sermon - 2020 - 04 - 19

John 20:19-31 New International Version (NIV)

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.

I have heard people say that they struggle to understand the Bible and the events that they are talking about because we do not experience them.  Well today, we hear in the Gospel of the disciples who have locked themselves in a room to keep themselves safe from the outside world.  They are fearful of what others are going to do to them.  They are fearful that if they go outside, they could be beaten or killed.  So they have boughten supplies and are spending their time safe and secure within the confines of a room, together.  

Does this sound at all familiar?  Now, this is a gospel that we have heard over and over again but now that we are experiencing something similar to what is being described, we are able to better understand.  Now, remember, Jesus told the disciples that he was going to die and rise again but like Thomas, unless we can see, hear, feel and experience, only then does the words that are spoken to us actually begin to open our eyes, ears and we begin to realize more fully what it is God is doing among us.  

As Jesus enters among them, he gives them his peace.  Yes, this is the peace that surpasses all understanding, this is the peace that we often long for within our lives.  That we are enough.  That we have done enough.  That our fears and worries can now subside.  This is where many of us are longing for.  We are looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.  We are looking for the salvation that will deliver us from this prison that we are gripped by.  We long for the peace that can come to us to know that we are safe now.  

Our reality is sounding a lot of like our Gospel.  Good news has come that people are surviving, people are coming together in ways to love, care, and support one another, and we are able to BE the church together.  This past week following Easter, I have really been praying and thinking about what it is that we can learn and celebrate from this time.  What I have witnessed is so similar to our gospel.  We have people reaching out and caring for one another.  Not in person but over the phone, screen to screen.  I know it is not the same but as being face to face but I know now that God has been calling us out of our churches and into the mission fields of our very homes.  

Now we are living that out. Now we are learning and realizing how precious a gift our faith and faith community truly is.  We are able to see and hear from others the good news of being with Christ in our daily life.  We are experiencing the doubt that Thomas held.  We are wondering, where is God?  What is going to happen next?  We find ourselves hearing from people that things will return to normal.  Yet something has changed.  We have changed.  We have experienced what it is like to be part of the church, as disciples wondering where is God and what is God up to.  Our lives have been turned upside down and turned around just as the disciples themselves have experience.  

So when shall we return to normal?  I pray that we do not.  I pray that we come face to face to Jesus, to hear his calling, experience his peace, and go back out into the world and share the good news that Christ is our Savior and Lord.  Nothing will stop God’s Word.  Not a locked door, not fear, and not even our own doubt.  

So hear the good news. Christ is Risen, Christ is new life, and Christ brings that gift for you.  Amen.