For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four readings prior to the Message. The readings assigned for today are: Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133:1-5; 1 John 1:1-2:2 and John 20:19-31
So here we are... One week ... after Easter.
How has this week been ... for you?
How are you this day, ... exactly one week.... after Easter?
Is the excitement of Easter.... still in the air ...or has it begun to fade?
Or ... Has it vanished ......all together?
I ask these questions ...because in our text, ...we find the disciples.... gathered once again ... exactly one week.... after Easter.
Before dealing fully with how we feel ... let us look together ... at how these disciples of the Christ are doing...... one week ...after Easter.
Our text from John.... gives us a glimpse once again of Easter Day ......to the splendid revelation of God's glory ......of Christ's resurrection.
The disciples are huddled in fear behind a locked door ...Jesus appears to them ... and when he does ...he not only reveals his resurrection, ...he also breathes ......an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.... upon them.
Now, ...for some reason... Thomas was absent from the other disciples.
He did not see Jesus... that night.
The others are sharing the wonderful news with him...... "We ... We have seen the Lord!" (John 20:25)
But what proof... do they bring? (PAUSE)
They can bring Only ... their words.
John earlier in his telling ...has already described this disciple named Thomas for us:
How... As a courageous pessimist, ....and as an honest skeptic, ....so it is not surprising at his response:
Hear God's Word BIBLE "I ... will not believe .... Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands.... And put my finger in his side. "END (John 20:25) (Pause)
In a Peanuts comic strip, ... Charlie Brown is talking with Lucy ... as they walk home ... on the last day of school.
Charlie Brown says to Lucy: ...... "Lucy, I got straight A's ... isn't that great!"
Lucy in her typical fashion shoots down poor Charlie Brown and says:
I don't believe you Charlie Brown.
Unless you show me your report card, .... I cannot believe you." (Pause)
Can you relate to Lucy?
Seeing is believing isn't it?
Most people have to see something ... before they can believe it.
A good friend of mine would always tell me: .... don't believe everything that you hear ......and only half of what you see.
This is often how the apostle Thomas is described ...yet is this really accurate?
Why does Thomas refuse to believe?
Why, ... because Thomas was a practical person, ...and he lived in a practical world.
He was shattered on Good Friday ...when Jesus was crucified.
Dead was dead, ... and that was it.
No one in their right mind ... would doubt it ... when the Romans said a prisoner was dead ... he was dead!
They were experts at killing!
Beloved ... It's not that Thomas didn't want to believe that Jesus was still alive.
But Thomas knew ... how the world worked.
Dead was dead, ... and that was it.
And honestly ... That is how our world sees Jesus' resurrection ... today.
Nice idea, ... but it did not really happen.
This catches us up ... with the heart ...of today's message.
One week after Easter, ...the very same room where Jesus appeared before... the disciples ...sit in excitement.
However, ...I find it quite intriguing ...... they are still behind locked doors......Yet I can imagine them gathered ...in ... excitement.
And I can picture Thomas... probably sitting with his arms crossed, ...ankles crossed, ... and brow furrowed.
The stage is set: ...Ten disciples ...who "know" .......and wait anxiously; ......one disciple who doubts, ......who only has the words of the others... to go by.
Beloved ... I think it is far too easy for us.... to judge Thomas.
I am convinced it is easy to make him into a "straw man" ...and blow him over ... with this often quoted verse...
BIBLE "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." END (John 20:29)
Those words must have pierced... the heart of Thomas.
Some may call it a sermon here ...and head home.
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)
Claim the blessing and go home.
Surely ... It is indeed ... a powerful ... blessing.
Yet... if each of us were honest, ...we would see that Thomas.... is not the loneliest Christian.
I would venture ...that every one of us ...at some point ...has walked side by side with Thomas ......in a state ... of doubt.
It is in our very nature ...to doubt ... what we cannot see.
It might as well have been us sitting there with the other disciples... arms crossed, ... ankles crossed, ...and Brow fur-rowed. (PAUSE)
Are you able to trust ......are you able to believe ... without seeing?
Yes.... Thomas doubted.
And yet, ......which of us can claim the right ......to throw the first stone?
Which of us ...has never had the smallest bit of doubt?
(Slow) Our relationships with others ...can cause us ...to be skeptical ... and ... and cause us to doubt. (Long Pause)
Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs ......to color ... for Easter.
"I'll give you a dollar ...if you let me break three of these raw eggs on your head,"...... said the older one.
"Promise?" asked the younger. "Promise!"
Gleefully, ... the older boy broke two eggs over his younger brother's head.
Standing stiff ... for fear that the gooey mess would get all over himself, ......the little boy asked, "When is the third egg coming?"
"It's not," ...replied the older brother.
"If I Broke the 3rd ...That ......would cost me a dollar." (Long Pause)
Life events ... have taught us, ... that at times ... it is difficult to trust others.
Yet ... we can have assurance in.... And We can trust ... our Father in Heaven.
Amen!
One day, ...while my son Justin and I were out in the woods, ......I heard a voice yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!"
I turned around to see Justin ...joyfully jumping off a large boulder ...straight at me.
It became an instant circus act, ...catching him.
We both fell to the ground.
For a moment ...after I caught him ......I could hardly speak.
When I found my voice again ...I gasped:
"Justin! ......Give me one good reason why you did that?"
He responded with remarkable calmness:
"Because...... you're my Dad."
His assurance that I would catch him ... was based on his understanding ... that his father was trustworthy.
I know ...that I have let down my children at times ...but we can have assurance in... and trust in ...our Heavenly Father.
We can assurance in ....and trust (Hold up Bible) His Word!
Perhaps this day ... you are like Thomas, ......and struggle to believe, ......wishing you could receive ...a firsthand revelation.
Well ... Fortunately for Thomas ....and for us, ...that is not the end ...of the text.
Thomas is not left sitting in doubt.
The text now turns to a wonderful message... of grace.
Jesus appears in the room with all the disciples ... and he directly turns to Thomas ... Thomas the one in need.
Jesus knew ...... that he had been excluded from the special revelation ... on the night he appeared ....to the others.
Jesus knew ...what that last week ...must have been like ... for Thomas.
Just ponder that for a moment... the only one of the remaining 11 ...left out.
The only one...with nothing but the words of others ...to ponder that week.
Thomas ... the one left out, ...spent that entire week...... wrestling ...... with his doubts.
Now, ......Jesus does not lecture him, ... Jesus does not chastise him, ......or discipline him ... for doubting.
Instead ... what happened?
Jesus gives him peace, ......and in his mercy, ...gives Thomas... that which he needed... in order to move ......beyond his doubt.
And now a marvelous event... is about to happen.
It is at this moment ...that something new ...is about to occur.
Throughout the book of John, ......Jesus is Lord... to his disciples, ....to Mary Magdalene, ...to all his followers... and now and only now, ......Thomas proclaims clearly, ... "My Lord ... My Lord ... and my God." (John 20:28)
Thomas received it ... and Thomas proclaimed it.
"My Lord and My God". (John 20:28)
Like Thomas, ......there are times ...we will be challenged.
Yes ... There are times ...when we ...will even doubt.
Yet ... the very best of news... is this...... (Slow) Jesus meets us where we are.
Jesus meets us ... at our need.
God will not let us sit there forever... arms crossed, ...ankles crossed, ...and brow furrowed.
In our time of doubt ... we will search, ... we will examine ... Yes, We will even question.
And when we do ...we will gain a stronger and deeper understanding......of ... and our relationship ... with the one we call Savior and Lord.
Remember God's promise "......Seek and you will find. Knock and the door.... will be open unto you." (Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9)
As human beings ...we are called to walk in both ...the flesh ...and ... the Spirit.
"...Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open unto you". (Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9)
This is an eternal promise ... that God has given to those who turn to His son ... for Salvation.
A promise...... that you can hold on too...without.... any doubt.
One week after Easter.
One short week.
Picture yourself for a moment ... in the room with the other disciples.
Where do you sit?
Do you sit with Thomas, ......as one still seeking?
Do you sit with the others ... still excited from the week before?
Or ... Perhaps you sit on your own, ...neither excited nor doubting.
Now picture Jesus as he appears in the room ... and as he stands before you ......inviting you to see the nail prints in his hands .... To place your hands in his side.
The reality of who is standing in front of you...... and His presence is overwhelming.
There are no words to describe your feelings other then: (Slow) "My Lord ...and ...My God." (Pause)
The Apostle Peter writes to those who have not physically seen the Lord,
Hear God's Word: BIBLE "Though you have not seen him, ...you love him; ...and even though you do not see him now, ......you believe in him ...and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ...for you are receiving the goal of your faith, ...the salvation of your souls." END (1 Peter 1:8-9)
The Apostle Peter goes on to tell us that those who preached the gospel to them did so...... "by the Holy Spirit ... sent from heaven."
And then he adds...... "Even angels long to look into these things." (1 Peter 1:12)
Imagine that!
Blessed are you ... who have not seen ... and yet have believed ... and have received the Holy Spirit!
Blessed are you ......who, ......together with the apostles, ...are captured ... by God's living Presence.
It is a glorious mystery, ...this faith of ours.
And it is more precious than silver ...and "of greater worth ......than gold"!!! (1 Peter 1:7)
Beloved ...What a reason to rejoice!
What a reason to live!
What a reason to gloriously proclaim: "My Lord and My God!" (John 20:28)
Amen!
I received much insight from a Sermon by Spencer Homan titled "One week after Easter (Back to normal)" and I commend it to you.
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