Opening and Introduction
Our Gospel lesson today starts with words that set the tone for todays’ message. It starts with, “the doors were locked for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19, ESV).
Fear is something that’s been around us for this past year as we all had to adjust to a virus run rampant across the globe. Everyone I know, adapted in some way.
Things are different today than they were before the virus. For some this is an awkward time. For some this is inconvenient time. For some, this is a scary time. Although COVID is a relatively new thing, fear is not. People fear all sorts of things.
Today, we’re going to look at the fear of the Disciples.
We’re going to look at the many struggles in life that we deal with.
And we’re going to dig into how God can grant us peace too.
Fearful Disciples
Let’s start by looking at why the Disciples were so afraid.
These eleven men were a close band of brothers. Each chosen by Jesus Himself. They were chosen from some of the humblest of lifestyles.
Andrew, Peter, James and John were all fishermen. But, Matthew… he was a hated tax collector and an outcast of society. His profession had the reputation of stealing and cheating fellow Israelites by abusing power… and taking more taxes than were owed.
Yet here, even the Tax Collector found acceptance into the inner circle of Jesus’ followers, and found a home in the company of men would become an extended family.
They bound together and shared what they had, sometimes living off the land, and sometimes living through others’ hospitality.
They faced problems together, followed their teacher together, witnessed miracles together, including Jesus’ healing the sick and raising the dead.
When Jesus was arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night, they even felt fear together.
Fear overtook them as they scattered away from the threat of imprisonment. And that fear continued up to the crucifixion. Scripture only mentions the disciple John at the foot of the cross. The others likely watched from a distance.
Fear remained after Jesus’ death, and they came back together, locked in a room, still fearful of the world outside their door.
For these eleven remaining disciples, life was torn upside-down. They lost their leader, lost their teacher, lost their friend. And yet, the same forces that threated Jesus, threaten them too. Where they scattered in fear just a few nights ago, they clung together in fear tonight. Door closed. Door locked. Protected for the moment, from anything getting in.
Challenges Around Us
In some ways, we might be like the disciples. We might cling tight to a few close friends and family, while we lock the dangers of the world out. For many, a wrench has been thrown into a life they were just getting through.
For the past year, there have been an untold number of wrenches out there. Many have been hit with problems they didn’t see coming. Some of these problems have been around us for well over a year now.
We might not struggle in the same way the Disciples did. But we still have our own problems that we face. What difficulties are you facing today?
The Disciple Thomas faced a problem of belief. When he doubted, he was able to talk openly and freely, with 10 of his most trusted friends. He was able to express his uncertainty.
Then Jesus showed up in a way he never expected, and tried to put him at ease by saying “Peace be with you,” (v26) Jesus gave Thomas exactly what He needed. He showed him that He was still alive, that He was still there for Thomas, that His words were still true… and that nothing would stop Jesus from doing anything that He said He would do.
Thomas felt that PEACE and showed his understanding when he said, “My Lord and My God!” (v28) Sometimes it takes difficult situations to convince us that God is near us.
Like Thomas, God gives us what we need too. We might have days where things don’t go the way we plan. Things might happen that don’t make any sense. Together, they can fill us with worry, concern, anxiety, and perhaps even a little bit of fear.
Gaining Peace, Even in Turmoil
In the time that we have remaining, I’d like to look at three ways that God treats us like Thomas, eases our troubles, and bestows us, with the PEACE that we need.
First, God gives us peace by talking with us. He can speak to us in common and ordinary ways that we might not always recognize.
Sometimes, God puts people in our lives to support us, to influence us, and perhaps keep us from falling astray of His Word.
Those people around us that guide us to do the right thing; those people that hold us accountable to our actions. We need that sometimes, to get us to avoid the sinful things, and to continue to follow God’s will. Sometimes God speaks to us in the people around us.
In other times, God speaks to us in dreams. The Bible is filled with people who had visions. Abraham, Daniel, Isaiah and many others had dreams. The Apostle John wrote the entire book of Revelation about a vision from God.
Many of these dreams predicted the future. But those dreams didn’t stop with the Bible. The book of Acts specifically addresses dreams. Acts 2:17 reads:
“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17, ESV)
We’re told to expect visions and dreams. God can deliver messages through them.
Then there’s this thing called intuition, a gut feeling, or our conscience. Every person has a conscience that tells us right from wrong. Ever walk out of a store with something in your hand you forgot to pay for? I have. It’s your conscious that tells you something’s wrong. It’s your conscious that tells you to do the right thing. It was my conscience that told me to go back in and pay. God built this system of right and wrong into our biology.
The book of Hebrews talks about this, the ability to tell right from wrong. In Hebrews 5:14 it reads:
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14, ESV)
We can choose to listen to that conscience, and do the right thing. Or we can push that feeling aside and ignore what it has to say. God speaks to us, through that inner voice too.
Regardless of how God speaks to us… the people around us, our dreams, or that little angel and devil sitting on our shoulders… God is alive and well in the world and wants us to connect to Him, wants us to look for Him…wants us to listen to Him.
The first point is that God gives us peace by talking to us… And
Second, God give us peace through the miracles that happen. We probably see them all the time, but don’t attribute them to God. Many of those miracles involve healing.
One example is an LCMS pastor named Paul Teske. Paul routinely stops by San Antonio so I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Paul a few times. He was a Navy Chaplain for 20 years and after military service, it was his goal, to retire and play golf with his wife, Rivers. But God had a different plan.
In 2004, while Paul was speaking to 200 businessmen, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that immediately left his left side paralyzed. While in the hospital, God spoke to Paul and told him that he would be healed in 21 days. When he left the hospital, doctors told him that even after physical therapy, he would have to wear a leg brace, and use the wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Exactly 21 days after the stroke, Paul’s wife, Rivers, drove him to Baltimore, MD to attend a large healing crusade. On that day, exactly as the Lord had promised, Paul was completely healed.
Without any prior knowledge of his condition, or that he had been healed during the service, the minister leading the service, called Paul and Rivers to the platform. In front of thousands of people, he was presented “a mantle for a healing and deliverance ministry”.
Since that miracle in 2004, Paul has traveled far and wide to over 60 countries on 6 continents. He is a mainline Lutheran pastor doing work that is very different from what we see in most of, more conservative churches. Yet, I’ve spoken to people in San Antonio, that are certain, that Paul’s prayers, on their behalf, resulted in their unexplained healing.
Scripture tells us that miracles are going to happen. In the book of John 14:12, Jesus said:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12, ESV)
Jesus told us that works, or miracles, were going to take place. God works through the people and the things around us. But it’s still God’s miracles, not Paul’s, not the doctors’, not ours, but God’s… And those miracles still happen today.
So, First, God grants us peace by speaking to us.
Second, God grants us peace through miracles around us, and…
Third, God gives us peace, by taking care of our needs.
In Jesus’ time, many struggled with food and shelter. Lots of people were anxious to see where their next meal would come from. They were worried, scared, and maybe didn’t know where to turn.
Jesus talked about this and wanted to ease the peoples’ fears. He wanted to let them know that God still took care of them. So, He compared the people to something that they could relate too. Sparrows… which were worth next to nothing. In Luke 12:6-7, Jesus said:
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7, ESV)
Jesus was saying, that God takes care of the birds. They’re not that important, yet He takes care of all of their needs. People, on the other hand, are so important that each and every hair on their head, is known and numbered by God. If God takes the time to care for the sparrows, that are not very valuable, He’ll take care of you too, with your infinite value.
I’d like you to close your eyes for just a moment. Think about your week since Easter Sunday. Think about the blessing that you’ve enjoyed during that time. How has God taken care of you? And how has that care, allowed God to share His PEACE with you?
It’s ok to open your eyes again. God wants us to look around, and see how He’s blessed us… not just today… but each and every day.
Just like the people that Jesus talked to, we all can be anxious about many things. But, God wants us to know that He loves us more than the world around us. Nature, with the plants and animals, are all taken care of. Yet, we matter more.
Paul summed up how God’s peace can FLOW over us. In his letter to the Philippians 4:6-7, he wrote:
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV)
Conclusion
As we look back on our Gospel lesson today, we can see that the disciples scared.
Jesus gave Thomas the faith that he needed to ease his burdens. He gave this doubting disciple something to be thankful for. He spoke to Thomas and asked him to touch the wounds of His hands. He spoke to the disciples through His words, and the miracle of His presence. God showed that He can provide Peace when we least expect it.
God gives us peace by talking to us and leading us in the right direction.
God gives us peace by bringing miracles into our lives.
God gives us peace by taking care of our daily needs.
Peace be with you. That’s what God wanted for Thomas, and that’s what He wants for us, each and every day.
