Sermon: Second Sunday in Easter, April 7, 2024
Preacher: Sarah Sullivan
Scripture(s):
John 20:19-31
Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to stream or record Sunday’s service. Below you’ll find the text from the sermon delivered by St. George’s member, Sarah Sullivan.
When Rev. Ryan asked me to preach, I accepted with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Learning to write and preach sermons is a passion journey that Rev. Ryan is mentoring me through. He gently gives feedback and suggestions for resources that may be helpful as I grow my skill. Initially, I remembered the joy I experienced the last time I preached a sermon but just like a mother quickly forgets the pain of giving birth as she holds her newborn baby, I seemed to forget the grueling work required and the anxiety that the message would fall flat or not pass the theological muster.
And when I read the scripture verses John 20:19-31 those nagging fears grew stronger. How could I possibly preach about doubting Thomas when many days I struggle to believe? Maybe the congregation will call me out as a fake! This led to weeks of writer’s block, procrastination, and then the dreaded, “I just need to research this a bit more-itis” that anyone who has written a university paper can relate to.
Yet, as with previous sermon writing experiences, the fruit of the exercise evolves from the labor. The process of praying for guidance, reading and re-reading the passage, comparing different translations, reviewing commentaries, and consulting reference texts transforms me. A picture develops of the geographical location. The individuals speak from the page with unique voices and their personalities emerge. I understand the theological context of the scripture in a deeper way. In my experience, writing a sermon is a faith builder. The process helps me move through doubt and like Thomas said in John 20:27, I get to a place where I, too, cry out, “My Lord and My God” (John 20:27).
In this week’s gospel, the disciples are gathered in a locked room. It is evening on the first week after Jesus’ death on the cross. The tension is palpable – an emotional mixture of fear, shame, and shock. Imagine the impact of watching their beloved leader tortured and crucified like a common criminal. They are filled with grief and self-recrimination for having repeatedly denied being disciples (John 18) and now they are afraid that their fellow Jews may come after them, too. They also must have been confused because Mary Magdalene reported seeing Jesus earlier that day. How could that be? Yet rather than joy this revelation led to anxiety and retreat.
And then in walks Jesus. From the text, it sounds like he appeared right through the door. No knocking. No talking through the door. “Who’s there?” No discussion among the occupants about, “Is that really Jesus? Should we unlock the door?” Can you imagine the shock!? They are commiserating, sitting together, likely they were eating an evening meal together, crying, and sharing memories. They are confused by Mary’s report – what’s going on? They’re afraid about what might come next. And then there is the Risen Christ right in that room with them! Poof! “He came among them.” The disciples are overjoyed. How that must have felt: the relief and AWE to see Jesus in the mystical flesh. And Jesus’ response to their stunned wonder and newfound joy was, “Peace be with you.”
John shares that Jesus showed them His wounds, as if to verify that He really was risen from the dead (John 20:19).
Yet one of the twelve was not there that night. And when the disciples share with Thomas, “We have seen the Lord” (John 20: 25), Thomas is skeptical. Nope, he says, unless I see Him with my own eyes, I don’t believe you. I want to see concrete evidence: the marks of the nails. In fact, he says, if I cannot put my fingers in the holes and my hands into his side, I won’t believe!
Well, I don’t know about you, but I kind of relate to Thomas. The disciples’ story sounds disturbing and questionable, to put it mildly!
As Easter comes and goes, many people struggle with belief in a Risen Christ. I know I sure do. This is especially an issue as our culture becomes more secularized and religious holidays are commercialized. An Easter filled with chocolate, daffodils, and hot cross buns is widely embraced by mainstream society. Heck, you can even get Cadbury Creme Eggs year-round now. And discussion about Christ being crucified on the cross isn’t beyond understanding for non-Christians because as repulsive and shocking as it sounds, especially when compared to visions of bunnies and pastel-colored eggs, history confirms this form of publicly displayed death. But when Christians start talking about Jesus rising from a tomb and floating through walls, our friends and neighbours start looking at us like we are religious fanatics and may share concern about our mental health.
Please don’t get me wrong. I have no doubts that Jesus is the Word made flesh who walked this earth sharing the gospel nor any reservations about following Christ. I struggle to believe the mystical, supernatural experiences – the resurrection, the signs, and wonders. And I bet there are a lot of you out there in the pews who do, too. It is easier to just fast forward through the days between Easter and Pentecost and not focus on it too much when sharing with non-Christians. It is much more comfortable for me to focus on the teachings such as loving my neighbour, giving to the poor, and looking after widows and orphans. I am a concrete, action-oriented person. In fact, that is one of the reasons why I love Jesus – He tells me very clearly how to live a good life.
According to a recent Barna study, 52% of American teens and adults have doubts about their faith at least sometimes. More specifically, 50% of self-reported Christians in the study shared that they had prolonged periods of doubt during their lifetime. Doubt is a normal part of the human experience. Doubt is a normal part of our faith journey.
Now, before you rescind my St. George’s United Church membership, please consider “What Would Jesus Do?” about my doubts? Well, how did He respond to Thomas’ doubt?
A week after the first encounter, “Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:26) John clearly states, “the door was shut” so I get the impression that this was another floating through the walls scenario. He then invites Thomas to touch him and get right in there, “Put your fingers here and see my hands.” Jesus doesn’t shame or condemn Thomas for his doubt. His first words offer comfort and then a willingness to allow Thomas space to confirm His existence with encouragement to “Do not doubt but believe.” (John 20:27). And Thomas’ response was immediate and overwhelming, “My Lord and My God!” (John 20:28). Jesus responds saying, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (John 20:29)
It is noteworthy that in this relatively short passage, Jesus says, “Peace be with you” three times. The first time he offers this blessing when he visits the room and appears to the disciples without Thomas. His calming reassurance appears to ease their shock and incredulity. The second time is in verse 23 after he shows them his hands and sides and the disciples rejoice, “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.” And he said “Peace be with you” a third time when he visited again and Thomas was present. In this passage Jesus reveals the depths of His patience, love, compassion, and devotion to His disciples. He sought them out despite their doubts, despite their betrayal. He offered them peace, over and over again.
And as if in anticipation of all of us doubters, he went on to do “many signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31).
Did you catch that? There is no expectation in this scripture for immediate belief or lack of doubt! This message is for me, for you, for all the world. Jesus knows that it will take time to believe and that is exactly why he floated through walls and did other supernatural actions in the presence of witnesses who went on to document their testimony. Furthermore, Jesus gives a blessing for “those who have not seen and COME to believe.” And John wrote his gospel so that, “you may COME to believe that Jesus is the Messiah.” Both verses include “Coming to believe” and this takes a huge load of pressure off all the doubters out there, the curious, the seekers, and the non-believers because “coming to believe” is about a process.
And the good news is that we don’t have to walk this journey towards belief alone. We have been given the testimonies of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. But we’ve also been given each other. A regular commitment to private or group bible reading and meditating on God’s word immerses us into Jesus’ teachings. Audio versions of the Bible are available, too, making it much easier to spend time with God. Find a trusted friend or small group to share and talk about God’s word. Through community and fellowship we can talk about our doubts and pray together for wisdom. Many of the small groups developed through The Way spiritual formation program continue to meet regularly because we all need community and support in our faith journeys. We also have our spiritual teachers like Rev. Ryan to pray, counsel, and guide us. Jesus assumes we will have doubts and gave us each other to carry our faith when it is lacking. Collectively, we, the church, carry each other burdens (Galatians 6:2) and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25).
But most of all the process of “coming to believe” is filled with the blessing of Jesus, of God and the Holy Spirit. Jesus loved us so much that he willingly sacrificed his life for us. And even after the torturous death and betrayal, he gives us peace. Over and over, he gives peace. And by doing “many signs in the presence of his disciples” after His resurrection, He shows the disciples that He really was the Messiah, not just a prophet. The gospel testimony of the resurrection is what transforms my doubt to belief. Sure, Jesus when he was alive taught us how to be good people, but His death and resurrection elevate Jesus from a self-help guru to the Messiah.
And the Holy Spirit is the power that enables the believer beyond human failings and limitations. Giving a donation to the food bank and baking a cake for our neighbour – these are good and worthy things, of course, but Jesus gives us strength for the truly difficult things in life like forgiveness and being a peace maker. This world can be a tough place. There is war, poverty, illness, and natural disasters. But Jesus told the disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you. When He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” He was sending the disciples out into the world to share the Gospel, to live the Gospel, and giving them the power to do it. And when we come to believe, we also receive the Holy Spirit who gives us the capacity to spread peace and love that is beyond human understanding.
Friends, it is normal to have doubts. Jesus knew his disciples would doubt so he visited them after his resurrection so that they would believe. And he knew that we would have doubts because we wouldn’t be able to touch and see his wounds. And John knew we would have doubts and he detailed his eyewitness account for our benefit so that we may come to believe. Because as John writes when we “come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,… (we) may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
In the words of Jesus: “Peace be with you”.