John 20:19-31
- A few weeks ago I was visiting my daughter who lives on the Rhode Island shore.
She's a nanny for a family with a three year old and an 18 month old. On this day, another
nanny had brought her 5-year old and three year old to play.
As will happen when you have that many little ones on the same swing set, someone was soon bumping into someone else. The two three year olds were the first to come in contact with each other. The little girl, Olivia, was on the swing and the little boy, Trey, was walking around her, having learned to keep his distance because of being knocked over a few times before.
But, although he tried to avoid being hit, Olivia pushed off with all her might and aimed right for him! Just before he would have made it safely across her path, she was able to reach out and push his shoulder — and down he went. Now, it wasn't THAT hard a push. But, both these three year olds are very good at drawing attention to themselves, as three year olds are supposed to do.
Trey went down on the dry brown winter grass, and Olivia's eyes got big and her mouth opened wide as she looked to the nannies to see how much trouble she was going to be in. The nannies just stood there and looked at her as if to say, "Well, what are you going to do now?" And it didn't take Olivia long to stop her swing, climb down and move toward her little victim.
Trey, of course, was whimpering in mock pain. And, she rolled him over and said, "I'm sorry." And, then she looked up at her nanny and smiled. Her nanny told her it didn't do any good to say she was sorry if she really meant to hurt her friend. Then the little girl began to cry. "But, I'm really, really sorry!" she insisted.
The nannies again looked at her just waiting to see what would happen next. Trey got up from the ground and dusted himself off and walked over to play with the bigger boy on the slide. Meanwhile, Olivia kept repeating, "I SAID I'm sorry. I SAID I'm sorry." And, then she began to cry.
It was really hard to stand back and watch these kids figure out what needed to be done, but it didn't really take too long. Finally, Olivia got the boys' attention. She said, "I'm sorry and I won't do it again." And, Trey came over to her and hugged her and said, "Okay. Now we're friends again."
Somewhere along the way, I think some of us grown- ups have forgotten lessons learned when we were three years old.
In our gospel lesson for today, John tells us about what happened during the week following Jesus' resurrection. First, he says that the very evening, on the very same day he'd risen from the dead, Jesus appeared to a group of the disciples. There he was showing them his hands and his feet. But, before they were ready to trust it was really him, Jesus said something that MADE them believe. "Peace be with you," he said. Now, they had heard him talk about peace at least twice before in John's gospel. This greeting reminded them of other times and other situations.
According to John, when Jesus told his friends that he was to die, but that he would not leave them alone in the world, he'd promised them peace. Another time, he promised to intercede with his Father on their behalf so that even though they would face doubts and unbelief, persecution and death, Jesus would provide them with peace. (Jn 14:27; 16:33) They had believed Jesus then, and they trusted him now. And so they were able to rejoice and accept the gift he was bringing into their lives.
But, not all Jesus' friends and followers were in that locked room that first Easter evening. And we all know at least ONE person who was missing. This fellow is one of the most maligned characters in the entire bible. Right there along with Mary Magdalene, we've heard Thomas' reputation trashed over and over again. Thomas wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared that first Easter evening. Where was he? Scripture doesn't tell us. We could speculate all sorts of things about his state of mind or his business dealings or his fears, but we won't find the answers in scripture. We just don't know why Thomas wasn't with his dearest companions that evening. Maybe it was all part of "the plan."
Jesus offered the disciples in that room his peace. This wasn't freedom from worry or persecution or doubt, but the peace that comes from knowing relationships are whole, unbroken and endless. It's more than a personal, inner tranquility. It's the way people and all creation and God will relate to each another when the end times come. That evening, in that room, those friends of Jesus had a taste of the true peace that passes understanding. And they would need that memory to sustain them through the rest of their lives.
In fact, these friends were going to need that promise of peace to help them keep their resolve just in dealing with their missing friend, Thomas. What if each time the disciples came together -- which I think would have been at least daily during the intervening week, they try to convince Thomas about what they have seen. Verse 25 tells us "The other disciples *kept telling* him, 'We have seen the Lord'." But, Thomas refused to believe them. It wasn't just God's word Thomas wasn't believing, but the word and experience of his friends. (1)
How do they keep a harmonious, peaceful relationship with a non-trusting friend? It would be nice if they had told us how they did that so that we could apply it in our congregations! Whatever they did, they didn't kick Thomas out of the fellowship. Eventually he had his own experience with the risen Jesus. In the meantime, how DID the disciples remain at peace with one another with such a major difference in experiences and beliefs? I wish I knew. The only thing the bible tells us is that they had Jesus' own gift of peace to sustain them through their trials.
But, let's get back to Thomas. The gospels don't tell us exactly when Thomas was called to be a disciple, or where it happened or much else about this devoted follower. And, he WAS a devoted follower of Jesus, as we'll soon be reminded.
Thomas was with Jesus at the raising of Lazarus, we know; but there is really little other mention of him in scripture. Church history tells us he became a missionary to Parthia, which is modern day Iran and Iraq. And, some legends record his missionary journeys spreading the gospel as far as India where he is said to have been martyred and buried at Mylapore near Madras. That's a pretty good record of preaching for someone whose most widely known personality trait is doubt.
But, what of Thomas' reputation as a doubter. If we keep reading the gospel lesson we find Thomas experiencing the risen Christ himself, just a week after his friends had lived through the same shocking event. There's Jesus, inviting Thomas to explore his wounds. But, Thomas doesn't need to touch the savior to make the boldest confession in all of scripture. "My Lord and my God!" Thomas proclaims.
This is actually the first time any of the gospels record someone equating Jesus with his Father. Others had pronounced him the Messiah, even Peter, who had denied knowing him on his last day. But, Thomas knows beyond a doubt that his friend and teacher is none other than God in the flesh.
If any of Thomas' friends had been reluctant to forgive his questions before, there was probably no one waiting to include the repentant Thomas within their circle now. Thomas is so much like all of us. There are times when we question our faith. Can we trust God to love us when we know we've broken a relationship? If we have an incurable disease, does that mean God isn't in control of the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do some people die "before their time?" All of these are questions many of us have struggled with through the years.
Does that mean we have LESS faith or that we do not believe in God's mercy at all? No. When we are in a loving relationship with another, it's easier to ask certain questions. And, in love we accept certain answers as the right ones. We may not be able to explain all God does, or why God does certain things in a time frame that doesn't make sense to us, but we haven't given up on having a relationship with our Creator.
It's necessary to ask questions about God and about faith, or you and I will just be coming here out of habit, or because we want to be with our friends in some type of club, or because our parents would be appalled if we weren't here and following in their footsteps. These may be the FIRST reasons why started coming to church, but over the years, we've had enough life experience, had enough opportunities to question our faith, to know the real reasons why we are here.
You and I are here in this place because we are broken people. We offend each other. We hold grudges. We refuse to forgive one another. We gossip. We wonder out loud about each other in front of others. We do hurtful, relationship- breaking things to each other all the time.
But, we come together within these walls to be healed. We come to find forgiveness, true forgiveness. We come to say, "I'm really sorry and I won't do it again." And, we come to hear Jesus say, "Try again. I'm not going to stop loving you. You are forgiven." It's that warm-hug-forgiveness we seek within these walls. And, our risen Lord, the one who invited even Thomas to touch his wounds, offers that forgiveness to us all.
Think of someone you know right now to whom you need to say you're sorry. Think of someone who you'd like to have the chance to forgive. What are you waiting for? Jesus reached out and included even Thomas in his love. Can we do any less? The peace that passes understanding keeps our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus, and gives us courage to try again, forgiving and forgiven, to live as our Lord has taught. Amen
(1) Some ideas from Brian Stofreggen, "Gospel Notes for Next Sunday," Note #5199, Ecunet, April 15, 2001.
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people according to their needs:
Great High Priest, you have filled the world with your teaching. You have redeemed us through the blood of your son, Jesus. Inspire us, as your first disciples were inspired, to spread the good news of your forgiveness of sins to everyone we meet. Make us witness to your grace through your own Holy Spirit. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Acts 5:27-32)
Strong and Mighty God, you have been victorious over the greatest of foes. You have conquered death and raised Jesus, the firstborn from the dead. You have opened to us the gates of righteousness and welcomed us into your kingdom. We praise you and give thanks to your for your generous mercy and your steadfast love which endures forever. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Ps 118:14-29)
Alpha and Omega, Lord God, you are the ruler of the universe. But, we forget your wisdom and reject your guidance and build walls between ourselves. We battle against you and among our neighbors. We beg you to bring peace to our households, to our nation, to this world you love so dearly. Help us to work together to find peace in you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Rev 1:4-8)
Lord of our first days and our last days, you hold our lives within your tender grasp. You know our needs and meet them with your love. Now, we ask you to be present with these, your children, who need your gentle care. ...
Are there others we should include in our prayers?
Guide them and relieve their doubts and fears. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Jn 20: 19-31)
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Comments to Linda at Linda_Kraft@Ecunet.org.)
Linda Kraft, Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Stafford Springs, CT
Secretary, Slovak Zion Synod, ELCA
Board Member: ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools