St. John 20:19–31
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
12 disciples, minus Judas is 11, minus Thomas is 10. That first Easter evening the disciples kept the rule: no gatherings greater than 10 people—their own kind of quarantine… but a quarantine of fear. The doors were locked for fear of the Jews. They were afraid that they would be next, that they would be beaten, tried, and executed. And then the risen Jesus goes right through the doors. He shows up, bumps the number to 11 and, in more ways than one, destroys their quarantine.
That’s just how Jesus is. He’s generally not what we would call polite. He’s determined. He knows what’s right and what’s good, and He tells it like it is. He won’t be kept either, in any way. He won’t be kept down by death and hell. He won’t be kept out by doors and locks. He won’t be kept under control by the government, neither the Jews, the Romans, or the USA. He won’t be kept under control by our ideas or feelings or fears. Jesus lives. He defeated death for goodness’ sake, He can do what He wants. He goes right through the doors, messes with their quarantine, their attempt to control the situation, and He smashes their fears with His peace.
Then there’s Thomas—Doubting Thomas—or we could say Foolish Thomas, Stubborn Thomas. Those are the same as unbelief. Or we could say Fearful Thomas. I don’t think Thomas was simply the skeptic, the intellectual, the scientist who will only believe what he can see with his eyes. I think Thomas was also afraid. Like the other 10, he was afraid to believe. He might’ve been afraid to get his hopes up and then be disappointed. He could’ve been afraid of what this risen Jesus might be like—just imagine: the man you abandoned to die is now back from the dead! He might not be very pleased with you. And Thomas might very well have been afraid of what this resurrection story would mean for his life. If he goes around claiming that Jesus is risen from the dead, the Jews are going to be even angrier and more bloodthirsty. What exactly would the expectations be for Thomas if he goes along with this idea that Jesus is risen from the dead? If this is true, then obviously it’s important enough that it’s going to change his life, and probably in some uncomfortable ways. None of these reasons excuse Thomas. He’s afraid. And fear is also a kind of unbelief.
But once again, Jesus barges in. Jesus goes through the doors and brings that doubting, fearing Thomas to give the greatest confession of faith there is in the Gospels—the clearest, most emphatic statement of Jesus’ divinity. Jesus is God. Coming from Thomas, with all of his doubts, his confession comes across not merely as an emotional reaction, but a statement of absolute conviction in the face of irrefutable evidence: “You are my Lord and my God.” Like, 2 + 2 = 4, or “That’s the sun in the sky.” “You are my Lord and my God.” There’s the truth and fact of Easter and the whole Christian religion. Once again, Jesus breaks up the quarantine of fear. He stops Thomas’ attempt to control the situation. And He conquers fear with His peace.
As we all know, people are very afraid right now. Maybe we are feeling it too. But even if this crisis has got us shook up, I hope we can learn from it. We have seen what fear can do—how it can limit us and hem us in and keep us from living. We’ve had a little taste of what it’s like when the church isn’t here, at least not in the way we’re used to. I hope that wakes us up, and reminds us not to take it for granted. Churches could close due to this. Our church could close, probably not from this issue, but someday. And it’s not enough for us to say, “Oh, I trust God, that could never happen here.” God has given no promise that this congregation will last forever if we neglect it. You’ve seen how quickly things can change for society and church when we give in to fear. Well, when we take the church for granted, when we fear other things, care about other things, when we tell ourselves, “It’ll be there next week,” then it might not be very fast, but it might still go away. Are we going to let that happen? Are we going to let our fear control us, and limit us, and destroy our faith?
But Jesus lives, and He goes through doors. He goes through the doors we close ourselves, and the doors others close on us. He can show up in your quarantine too, whether it’s a quarantine of fear or a quarantine against sickness. Jesus can still show up and comfort you. He will never let us control the situation—He’s too good for that. And when we try to call the shots and make the demands like Thomas, He might just have to knock us down and bit, bowl us over with His resurrection power. As I said, He’s not really polite. He’s tough, because He knows what’s right and good. And He says that fear is forbidden—except for the fear of God, there is no fear allowed in the Christian religion. But still, He says it with the most gentle rebuke, coming from His love: “Do not be afraid. Peace be with you.”
So, Jesus also comes to embolden you. His peace gives you courage. After that second visit with the risen Jesus, we don’t hear any more about locked doors or fearful disciples. So, you also be bold, even in the midst of these unusual times. That doesn’t mean go risk your life by being stupid, or go out of your way to make people worried or mad. You can be bold while still washing your hands. But be bold as a Christian. Be bold with Jesus’ love and forgiveness. Don’t be afraid to help people. Don’t be afraid to show affection. Don’t be afraid to be human. And don’t be afraid to forgive those who have wronged you. Be bold with your life and conversation. Don’t be afraid to show and confess who this Jesus is to you: My Lord and my God.
You are a Christian. That means you have overcome fear, even if it may not feel like it. You have overcome sin and death and the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith… our faith in the Lord Jesus, our God.
The British author, Dorothy Sayers, wrote a series of plays on the life of Jesus. And in the final play, she gives us this beautiful conversation between the risen Jesus and His disciples on that first Easter evening.
Jesus says: “Come here, Thomas. Put out your finger and feel my hands. Reach out your hand and thrust it into my side. And doubt no longer, but believe.”
Thomas (with absolute conviction) says: “You are my Lord and my God.”
(The crucial word is spoken at last, and received in complete silence)
Then Jesus replies: “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
Peter (who has suddenly become aware of some appalling implications) says: “Master—when I disowned you—when we disbelieved and doubted you—when we failed and deserted and betrayed you—is that what we do to God?”
Jesus answers: “Yes, Peter.”
James says: “Lord, when they mocked and insulted and spat upon you—when they flogged you—when they howled for your blood—when they nailed you to the cross and killed you—is that what we do to God?”
Jesus: “Yes, James.”
John says: “Beloved, when you patiently suffered all things, and went down to death with all our sins heaped upon you—is that what God does for us?”
Jesus: “Yes, John. For you, and with you, and in you, when you are freely mine. For you are not slaves, but sons. Free to be faithful, free to confess me, free to be crucified with me, sharing the shame and sorrow, and the bitter cross and the glory. They that die with me rise with me also, being one with me, as I and my Father are one.”
John says: “This, then, is the meaning of the age-old sacrifice—the blood of the innocent for the sins of the world.”
Jesus says: “Draw near. Receive the breath of God. As the Father sent me forth, so I send you. The guilt that you absolve shall be absolved, and the guilt that you condemn shall be condemned. And peace be upon you.”
(The Man Born to be King, p.340)
Now, you, dear sons and daughters of the King, you also have peace with God. For your sins are forgiven. And your crucified and risen Lord and God is with you. Be free. Be bold.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
