Scripture:
Not long after the amazing events of the first Holy Week, the power of the Holy Spirit worked in the lives of tens of thousands to effect their conversion. Because this Jesus movement constituted a threat to the state, many were persecuted. Peter is writing to just such a group of Christians in Asia Minor, in the hope of offering them confidence to carry on. Perhaps his encouragement will speak to your condition as well. I read from the First Letter of Peter, chapter 1, verses 3-9:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, [7] so that the genuineness of your faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

One of the greatest mysteries -- and most powerful testimonies -- in all of scripture is the way in which a small band of frightened, confused and grieving men could be transformed into some of the most courageous, fearless and convincing witnesses the world has ever known. This transformation begins in a small attic where the men are hiding, fearful that they will soon be marched out and crucified in the same manner as Jesus. Amidst this sad state of affairs, Jesus appears -- and his words of peace transform their fear into joy, their retreat into courage, and their grief into uncompromising confidence.

As we listen to the message of the 20th chapter of the Gospel of John, open your hearts to the word of the Lord, that we might be transformed as well:

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

[24] But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

[26] A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [27] Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." [28] Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. [31] 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.

Sermon:


Thirteen years ago, Danico Sladoje arrived at the small Yugoslavian town of Pazaric to become the director of one of the country's premier mental hospitals. He and his staff of more than 100 doctors, nurses, specialists and therapists served the needs of 460 patients. Together, they took pride as their small country hosted the winter Olympic Games. Many of them were curious when four children in the small town of Medjagore were privy to a series of visions of the Mother Mary, which concluded with an urgent message for people of various religious persuasions to pursue peace. Mr. Sladoje's staff were no doubt trepidatious when President Tito's health failed, and he died. But when war broke out four years ago, Mr. Sladoje never wavered. He and his wife, together with a skeleton crew of 24 others, vowed to take care of their patients -- come what may.

The conditions in the hospital are as bad as anything you can imagine -- and have been that way for four years. But the love and devotion which permeates the chaos moves the heart beyond words. Humor remains alive as well. Every morning, when the 47 year old director walks down the main hall which is lined with his fan club, he shouts out: "Who is crazy here?" And each day, smiling from ear to ear, with an understanding which goes far beyond their measurable capacities, the patients shout in reply, "YOU ARE!"

I love that story. It perfectly portrays the persistence of life amidst the madness of war, and challenges us to take a careful look at the compass from which we take direction for our own daily decisions.

The dilemma which Mr. Sladoje faced when war broke out is reminiscent of the circumstances which the disciples faced following Jesus' crucifixion. Any sensible person would have bid farewell to the band of Jesus' followers, and slid off on their own, hoping to reengage a private life, out of the public eye. But the disciples were not only cowards, they were also fools -- fools if measured by normal worldly standards. They stuck together, huddling in secret, believing that the locked doors would keep them safe from the same powers which had seized and killed their friend. Suddenly, all of their precautionary measures are ruptured by the presence of Jesus, who is known to be present where his presence is thought to be impossible.

Apparently, Jesus' appearance, and his commissioning of the gathered disciples, was one of those: "I guess you just had to be there" experiences. The text offers no explanation or interpretation of how it was possible that Jesus appeared to them. Yet everyone both understood the message, and accepted the challenge.

Everyone but Thomas. Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared to the others, and because of this, Thomas stands in a special relationship to Christians of all subsequent generations, including ourselves. As he listens to the report of the other disciples, he is like every potential Christian who visits a church -- and like many who have attended regularly for decades -- but have never had any personal experience of the presence of God. He listens to their stories, but insists on the necessity of firsthand experience. (I might add that Thomas is perhaps particularly relevant to this congregation, since we are blessed to have so many lawyers in our midst -- and physical evidence appears to be Thomas' chief concern.)

What I find fascinating is that Thomas does not hesitate to establish the grounds on which he will believe. He knows exactly what it would take, down to the very last detail.

Now at this point I would like to address a misconception that often accompanies this story. It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to hear the name of the Apostle Thomas invoked without associating this fellow with a doubting and skeptical attitude. One of the reasons this story is so well known is that even as children, when we heard about "doubting Thomas", we knew what that meant.

But is it accurate to describe Thomas as a doubter? I don't think so. And not only that, but those who do conveniently avoid a much more profound and important point. Thomas wants only what the other disciples have already received: contact with the One who was crucified, and is now apparently risen. It is this desire for historical concreteness which drives Thomas. He wants to establish continuity between the dead one who loved him and was killed on a cross, and the living one who is now appearing. Such continuity is crucial for faith, and Thomas insists on this continuity.

In this regard, Thomas is completely modern. And so it's well worth our while to examine God's response. Consider, for a moment, what might have happened when Thomas made clear his criteria. The disciples could have ridiculed him and ousted him from their group. Jesus could have taken offense over Thomas' arrogant self assertion. How dare Thomas think that he can establish the criteria of belief. Or Jesus himself could have chosen the way in which he would reveal his truth to Thomas.

But in fact, Jesus ACCEPTS Thomas' demands, and satisfies the conditions which Thomas has set for his belief. As it turns out, all that's necessary for Thomas to believe is that Jesus merely offer himself -- make himself available and vulnerable to Thomas. As soon as Jesus does, and before Thomas actually accomplishes what he had been holding out for all along, Thomas offers an astonishing testimony. He becomes the only person in the entire New Testament to address Jesus as both Lord, AND GOD.

Having taken a fresh look at Thomas, we might look again at ourselves. There are many lessons to take from this story. First, don't reduce belief or faith to an "all or nothing" matter. Faith is much too important to be dismissed or avoided on these grounds. Second, don't assume that doubt must be discarded from the life of faith. Often, what looks like doubt is nothing more than a clearly articulated desire for concreteness. Third, all who would walk as pilgrims with the living God must accept that there will be mistaken turnings, confused demands, and vague longings. We must realize that misunderstanding and a bumpy ride are par for the course. Fourth, let us take heart from this remarkable story, as we realize that when we are bold enough to express our spiritual longing and needs, God will respond.

The arresting truth of this post Easter story is that once again, just as he did when he allowed himself to be taken to Pilate, Jesus puts US in charge. It is up to us to draw a line a in the sand, not to make God prove anything, but to make us acknowledge that these matters of faith and belief are of ultimate importance to us.

One of the clearest ways in which we demonstrate the depth in which we are caught up in matters of faith is by the questions we ask. Over the past two weeks, our worship has been dominated, not by easy answers, but by difficult questions. On Palm Sunday the question was: Will you not stay awake? On Maundy Thursday the question was: Who is Jesus for you? On Good Friday, the question was: Who will roll away the stone? And on Easter Sunday, the question was: Whom are you looking for?

If you have come here this morning with more questions than answers, then you're in good company, . . . right alongside Mary Magdalene, the Apostle Thomas, and all the disciples. Just make sure your questions are well-meaning, and that you sincerely seek a response. And if you do, then whether you're the kind who is hiding passively in one of the rear pews, or like Thomas, you're full of chutzpah, and demand your due -- just wait. Because today is the day when the One whom we are seeking finds us. He quiets our fears with an offer of peace. He accepts our demand for evidence, and shows us his wounds. He sends us forth, breathing on us the same power and spirit which fueled his own mission of healing and reconciliation. And finally, he gives us power to forgive one another, and withhold such forgiveness.

If we were to characterize the Christian faith to someone who had never heard of Jesus and never known a Christian, he or she might describe us the same way Mr. Sladoje's patients referred to him. Pouring our lives out for others, working to heal the brokenness of the world, and offering forgiveness at every opportunity -- who ARE the crazy ones in this world?

Be that as it may, to all who claim him as Lord -- whether out of confident assertion or the deepest, most questioning place -- Jesus offers peace: a peace that penetrates the locked doors of our hearts, and frees us to realize possibilities beyond our dreams.


Amen.