SCRIPTURE: Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4-8 & John 20:19-31
SOMETIMES I THINK THE CHURCH FORGETS OUR TRUE REASON FOR BEING.
WE FORGET THAT FROM THE VERY MOMENT OF INCEPTION WE WERE MEANT TO BELIEVE THE TREMENDOUS DIVINE AND UNIVERSAL FORGIVENESS THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE WORLD IN THE RISEN CHRIST. AND NOTHING REMINDS US OF THIS MISSION BETTER THAN THE STORY OF WHOM TRADITION HAS COME TO NAME “DOUBTING THOMAS,” EVEN THOUGH THE WORD “DOUBT” IS ACTUALLY NOT A PART OF THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE; BUT WE’LL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT.
IT’S EVENING ON THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION AND THE DISCIPLES ARE GATHERED BEHIND LOCKED DOORS—AFRAID. I’M SURE THEY WERE AFRAID THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO JESUS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM.
BUT INTO THE MIDST OF THEIR FEAR STEPS JESUS, DECLARING THAT PEACE IS WITH THEM AND SHOWING THEM THE SIGNS OF HIS CRUCIFIXION IMPRINTED ON HIS HANDS AND IN HIS SIDE. THE DISCIPLES ARE FILLED WITH JOY AND CELEBRATION, BUT JESUS IS THERE FOR SOMETHING MORE THAN A PARTY. JESUS ANNOUNCES THE PRESENCE OF PEACE AGAIN, AS IF TO DISSIPATE THE FEAR. AND THEN HE BREATHES HIS SPIRIT INTO THEM IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT GOD BREATHED LIFE INTO ADAM AT THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN LIFE ON EARTH.
JESUS REMINDS THE DISCIPLES THAT THEY ARE SENT INTO THE WORLD BY GOD IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE WAS SENT INTO THE WORLD BY GOD.
TO BE A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF CHRIST MEANS TO REMOVE ALL LOCKS FROM THE WINDOWS AND DOORS. THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST TAKES PLACE OUT THERE; OUT IN THE REAL WORLD.
NOW THOMAS WASN’T WITH THE REST OF THE DISCIPLES WHEN THEY WERE FIRST VISITED BY THE CHRIST. AND HE ISN’T ABOUT TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE SEEN THE LORD UNTIL HE GETS A CHANCE TO TOUCH THE WOUNDS HIMSELF AND SEE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GOOD FRIEND.
A WEEK LATER, JESUS MAKES HIS PRESENCE KNOWN AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DOORS ARE SHUT RATHER THAN LOCKED. THE DISCIPLES ARE SLOWLY LOSING THEIR FEAR.
AND SUDDENLY JESUS APPEARS AMONG THEM, BRINGING THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF PEACE AND OFFERING THE GIFT OF TOUCH AND SIGHT TO THOMAS, THE ONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE.
NOW AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IF WE LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF THIS PASSAGE WE WILL NOT FIND THE GREEK WORD FOR DOUBT. WHAT WE FIND IS A DIFFERENT WORD THAT IS LITERALLY TRANSLATED “NOT HAVING TRUST OR FAITH OR CERTAINTY.” AND TO ME THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH THAN DOUBTING. THE LITERAL TRANSLATION PUTS THOMAS INTO THE REALM OF QUESTIONING RATHER THAN DOUBTING, AND QUESTIONING IS A DEEPLY IMPORTANT PART OF FAITH DEVELOPMENT.
RABBI JACOB NEUSNER HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ENTITLED A RABBI TALKS WITH JESUS. IN THIS PROFOUND LITTLE VOLUME HE PLACES HIMSELF IN THE POSITION OF MEETING JESUS FACE TO FACE. AND THEN HE TELLS US HOW HE WOULD ARGUE WITH JESUS. HE TELLS US WHAT HIS QUESTIONS WOULD BE AND WHY HE COULD NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A WISE MAN. ONE OF THE MANY THINGS I LEARNED FROM READING NEUSNER IS THE FACT THAT QUESTIONING IS A LARGE PART OF THE JEWISH FAITH.
HE SAYS, “…WE REGARD THE USE OF THE MIND, THE INTERCHANGE OF THOUGHT, PROPOSITION, REASON, EVIDENCE, ANALYSIS—WE REGARD ARGUMENT AS AN EXERCISE IN THE USE OF WHAT WE SHARE WITH GOD, WHAT MAKES US LIKE GOD, WHICH IS OUR MINDS.” (PG. 30)
NEUSNER’S IDEAS HAVE DRASTICALLY ALTERED MY INTERPRETATION OF THIS EXCHANGE BETWEEN JESUS AND THOMAS. WHERE I USED TO IMAGINE JESUS AS ALMOST ANGRY AT THOMAS FOR HIS UNBELIEF, I CAN NOW SEE JESUS – THE RABBI – AS QUITE ENGAGED IN THE EXCHANGE AND DELIGHTING IN THOMAS AS HE SEARCHES OUT A TRUE FAITH. THOMAS IS USING HIS MIND AND HIS INTELLECT TO MAKE A DECISION THAT WILL CHANGE THE REST OF HIS LIFE. THOMAS IS AT A CROSSROADS. WHAT WILL THOMAS BECOME?
SO JESUS IS SAYING TO THOMAS, “DO NOT BECOME UNBELIEVING, BUT BELIEVING.”
“DO NOT BECOME UNFAITHFUL, BUT FAITHFUL.”
“DO NOT BECOME UNCERTAIN, BUT CERTAIN.”
AND IN THAT MOMENT THOMAS BECOMES THE ROLE MODEL FOR CHRISTIAN FAITH DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS.
HE DOESN’T EVEN HAVE TO TOUCH JESUS TO ANNOUNCE, “MY LORD AND MY GOD.”
BECAUSE OF HIS QUESTIONING MIND THE LIFE DECISION IS MADE, AND THE STORY CONTINUES.
NOW, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, JESUS DOES NOT COME TO THE DISCIPLES FOR A PARTY. JESUS COMES TO THEM WITH A SPECIFIC MISSION IN MIND.
IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN JESUS MAKES THE POST-RESURRECTION VISITS TO THE DISCIPLES IN ORDER TO DEFINE THE MINISTRY THEY WILL BE ABOUT AS THEY GO INTO THE WORLD. AND THAT MINISTRY IS DEFINED BY TWO VERY TROUBLING STATEMENTS. FIRST, JESUS SAYS, “IF YOU FORGIVE THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE FORGIVEN THEM; IF YOU RETAIN THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE RETAINED.” AND SECOND, HE SAYS, “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET HAVE COME TO BELIEVE.”
NOW I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THE KIND OF POWER TO FORGIVE OR RETAIN SIN SEEMS LIKE JUST A BIT TOO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME.
I DON’T REALLY WANT TO BE BESTOWED WITH THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS IN THAT WAY AND I OFTEN WONDER WHAT THE DISCIPLES MIGHT HAVE BEEN THINKING. WHAT COULD JESUS POSSIBLY BE SAYING? WHAT DOES HE MEAN?
IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND JESUS AT THIS POINT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE AUTHOR OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. YOU SEE, JOHN’S GOSPEL DOES NOT SPEAK OF SIN AS A MORAL OR BEHAVIORAL TRANSGRESSION. FOR JOHN SIN IS MORE OF A THEOLOGICAL FAILING. IT’S WHEN WE FAIL TO SEE THE REVELATION OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST. SO THAT FORGIVING THE SINS OF ANY IS ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE WILL PERCEIVE GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. AND RETAINING THE SINS OF ANY MEANS NOT TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS. WHEN WE DON’T SHOW OUR BELIEF WE HELP PEOPLE TO CONTINUE IN SIN BY NOT SHOWING THEM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD. AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE OF WHOM JESUS SPEAKS WHEN HE SAYS THE SECOND TROUBLING STATEMENT, “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET HAVE COME TO BELIEVE.”
THIS ISN’T JESUS PLACING A JUDGMENT UPON UNFAITHFUL CHRISTIANS IN A POST MODERN WORLD. RATHER, THIS IS JESUS CALLING ALL WHO HAVE COME TO BELIEVE TO A SPECIAL MINISTRY OF SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT JESUS’ LIFE AND TEACHINGS WERE ALL ABOUT. THIS IS NOT US FINDING FAULT WITH THE BEHAVIOR OF FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AND CONDEMNING THEM. THIS POST RESURRECTION VISIT FROM JESUS IS ALL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS CONTINUING TO ACT IN THE SAME WAY JESUS HAS ACTED. THIS IS A CALL FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TO CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD. IN THE WORDS OF JOHN 3:17, “INDEED, GOD DID NOT SEND THE SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT IN ORDER THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED THROUGH HIM.” AND IN THE POST RESURRECTION VISIT JESUS IS TELLING DISCIPLES OF EVERY AGE THAT THE JOB IS NOW OURS. WE ARE NOT TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, WE ARE TO SAVE IT. WOW!
NOW YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TITLE OF MY SERMON IS A LITTLE BACKWARDS. USUALLY WE SAY “SEEING IS BELIEVING” WHICH IS WHAT WE NORMALLY ACCUSE THOMAS OF; NEEDING TO SEE IN ORDER TO BELIEVE.
BUT MY SERMON TITLE FOR TODAY IS “BELIEVING IS SEEING.” THE ACTION HAS SWITCHED PLACES. IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS OUR DEPTH OF BELIEF THAT HELPS US TO SEE THE FULLNESS OF THE TASK WE HAVE BEFORE US AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST. WE BELIEVE BEFORE WE SEE, AND IT IS THROUGH OUR BELIEF THAT OTHERS COME TO SEE.
MY FRIENDS, GOD NEEDS TO BE REVEALED THROUGH US IN THE SAME WAY THAT GOD WAS REVEALED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. AND THE ONLY WAY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN IS FOR US TO BELIEVE SO DEEPLY IN THE RESURRECTION THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THE BELIEF IN US, AND COME TO BELIEVE IN GOD’S GREAT GIFT OF PEACE AND LOVE AND FORGIVENESS BY SEEING IT IN US.
CASE IN POINT BEING THE DISCUSSION WE HOSTED IN OUR PARLOR ON PALM SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST IS A MOVIE THAT HAS CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF CONFLICT TO ERUPT WHEREVER IT IS BEING SHOWN. PEOPLE HAVE VERY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT IT, BOTH NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE. I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYONE SAY THEY WERE NOT EMOTIONALLY TOUCHED BY THE PASSION’S CONTENT. AND MOSTLY THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THIS MOVIE HAVE BEEN HEATED AND EMOTIONAL.
BUT THE PEACE OF CHRIST WAS QUITE PALPABLE AS JEWS AND CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS GATHERED TOGETHER IN OUR CHURCH PARLOR TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND A VIEWPOINT DIFFERENT FROM HIS/HER OWN.
THE MOST PERSONALLY STIRRING MOMENT FOR ME WAS WHEN A WOMAN, WITH ROOTS IN BOTH JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY, BEGAN TO TELL US THE HISTORY OF PASSION PLAYS IN GERMANY AND AROUND EUROPE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES. SHE REMINDED US THAT THE PASSION PLAY WAS INVENTED AS A WAY TO TELL THE STORY OF THE SUFFERING OF JESUS TO A POPULATION OF BELIEVERS WHO COULD NOT READ. AND SHE ALSO REMINDED US THAT FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION OF THE PASSION PLAY, ANGRY SPECTATORS WOULD OFTEN RAID THE JEWISH GHETTOS IN ORDER TO EXTRACT PUNISHMENT UPON THE JEWS WHO “KILLED JESUS.” I HAD NEVER HEARD THIS PIECE OF HISTORY BEFORE, AND REALIZED IMMEDIATELY WHY ANY PRESENTATION OF THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST WOULD BE PERCEIVED AS ANTI-SEMITIC. AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE NEARLY 70 PEOPLE GATHERED IN OUR PARLOR ALL HEARD AND CAME TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL.
IT WAS AS IF JESUS HAD ENTERED THE ROOM AND STOOD BEFORE US WITH HIS WOUNDED HANDS REACHING OUT FOR US TO SEE AND TO TOUCH.
“PEACE IS WITH YOU,” HE SAID. DON’T YOU THINK THE LAST THING JESUS WOULD WANT US TO DO IS ACCUSE THE JEWS OF KILLING HIM?
WAS JESUS EVER ABOUT REVENGE; ABOUT ATTACKING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING JUST TO TAKE CARE OF HIS OWN ANGER? ABSOLUTELY NOT—THAT’S NOT WHAT HE BELIEVED! AND IT’S NOT WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT HIM, EITHER. IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR BELIEF IN THE LOVE AND FORGIVENESS OF CHRIST THAT JESUS COULD BE SEEN AND BELIEVED IN THAT GATHERING ON PALM SUNDAY. PEACE WAS WITH US AND IN US.
NOW THIS IS ONLY ONE EXAMPLE OF THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH OUR BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTED CHRIST WILL CAUSE GOD TO BE SEEN THROUGH US.
I’M SURE WE CAN ALL THINK OF MANY OTHER EXAMPLES. SO I WOULD CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO BELIEVE. WE NEED TO BELIEVE OUR WAY INTO SEEING AND FIND THE MULTITUDE OF WAYS IN WHICH GOD CAN BE SEEN BY THE WORLD THROUGH US.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!