“Thomas”

John 20:19-31

(sermon note: 04-12 sermon note)

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This morning’s reading reminds me of the one about how when God was created all the people of the world, He decided to make the Canadians a polite, peace-loving, and overall nice people. But the Devil said, “You are disturbing the balance of nature. They must be at war within themselves like all sinful people.” God thought about it and said, “You are right. But I don’t want to undo my work. What’s done is done.” To which the devil responded, “Well, there is only one way to fix this.” So God created Canadian Geese.

You know how loud and disruptive they are! You can always tell when they’re flying overhead during their migration from their loud honking. Hundreds of feet above and yet crystal clear! And don’t even bother trying to approach them on the ground. Like all geese, you’ll get quite the mouthful. No, Canadian geese definitely contrast with the Canadian people, the balance successfully restored.

Well, that’s a good start to what I want us to reflect on this morning, which is this notion of peace. Both times that the resurrected Jesus approached his disciples behind locked doors, he greeted them with the same phrase, “Peace be with you!” He understood that not only would they be shocked to see him alive after being crucified but that they would already be overwhelmed with emotions of grief over their presumed loss of him. They of all people were the most deeply affected by his gruesome death. They had followed him for three years, witnessing countless miracles and healings and teachings. They loved him just as much as family, probably more so. Jesus was their guide and friend and to have him tortured and killed so suddenly was a great shock to them. Needless to say, they were not at peace with their situation which makes Jesus’ words all the more necessary. He needed to restore peace first and foremost. To the disciples, his words may have come across as a slap across the face. “Peace be with us?! You’ve gotta be kidding! We are not at peace and won’t be for a long time if ever!” Sometimes people need to be slapped back into reality though. It is not good to be in a state of unrest for too long. It tears down your body and your mind and your spirit. We need peace with ourselves to survive in this world. We need peace in whatever situation we find ourselves. Jesus knows this this all too well. Why do you think his most often used phrase throughout all the Bible is, “do not be afraid?” Fear is the great mind killer, the great soul killer, the great body killer. Fear creates the greatest state of unrest and needs to be overcome if we are to survive and flourish in this world.

Paul tells us there are three gifts of the Spirit-faith, hope, and love-the greatest of which is love. I wonder what he might say the gifts of the Son are. No doubt the gift of love just like the Spirit, but I’d argue that peace is also one of Jesus’ gifts. It is the antidote to fear. It restores the balance just like the Canadian geese! And Jesus doesn’t simply tell us to maintain or restore our peace. No, Jesus IS the peace that we so desperately need in this world! There is peace in Jesus’ words, in his actions. Jesus restores balance and wholeness. Earlier in John’s gospel, we heard him say, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubles and do not be afraid.” (14:27) He’s given the world his life and ministry, his healings and teachings, his words and deeds ARE the peace! A little bit later in the gospel, we again hear Jesus say, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (16:33) He knows the trouble of this world, the suffering. He knows what we have to go through in this world. And he gives us an island to seek refuge on. All we have to do is believe and trust him. Just think of all that he’s done for us! He conquered sickness and death. He defeated sin and temptation. He stood up to hypocrisy and unchecked power. He taught us and showed us how to love each other. And he continues to do all these things because he’s alive and well and walking among us! The Easter resurrection reveals this to us. There is nothing in this world that we should be afraid of, Jesus conquered it all. Death, temptation, power, sickness, loneliness, despair…you name it, Jesus has conquered it. We can trust him and find peace in him.

Thomas and the disciples were a mess after the crucifixion. They thought that there was one thing that even Jesus couldn’t overcome-death itself. But Jesus came to them in their despair and proved that even death couldn’t defeat him. He came and restored their shattered peace. What a gift! Jesus gives that gift to you and me too. Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we can know and trust in his peace. Paul writes, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Col. 3:15). Let us let his peace rule in our hearts forever and forever. And let us give thanks for it! Thanks be to God!

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.