Thomas Meets the Risen Lord
Preacher: Marcia C. Wilkinson

April 15, 2007

John 20:19-29

Dr. David Jenkins, a former bishop of Durham England, caused an uproar in the 80’s when he claimed that Christ did not rise from the dead physically- only spiritually.  When a television interviewer suggested to him that this statement might cause some Christians to be disillusioned, he replied that it really shouldn’t because a spiritual resurrection was sufficient.  But is it?  If Christ rose from the dead spiritually only, then only the spiritual is redeemed.  If the physical part of Christ is left out of resurrection then flesh cannot be redeemed.  If flesh is not redeemable, then God does not hold power over our material sinful selves.

Our faith is founded on God becoming flesh in Jesus, that the incarnation, the physical and material aspect of God goes hand and hand with the spiritual.   No wonder Jesus did not want to leave Thomas wondering if his disciple friends were telling the truth.  This story is not meant to isolate Thomas from the rest who believe.  Thomas’ response of doubt is not the focus but rather Jesus’ affirming response to him.

Those of us who believe in the resurrection and read the Gospels from the other side of Easter must keep in mind how hard it was for the disciples to believe.  The empty tomb didn't convince them, because it was just that- empty.  And, the resurrection was understated.   There was no sensationalism.   Only the initial reporting that “he is not here.” Each disciple needed to see for himself to be convinced that this was true.

So Jesus appeared to them in the most ordinary circumstances:
* When Mary Magdalene wept at the empty tomb because of her grief, she recognized Jesus’ voice when he called her name.
 *Two people walked away from Jerusalem Easter night, and, later while sharing a meal they recognized it had been Jesus with them all along.
*Disciples were at a private dinner when Jesus just showed up.
*Then there were the fishermen working at the lake and Jesus joined them, and asked if they had any fish for him to eat.  Regular, ordinary places and events , but extraordinary because Jesus knew it was important for them to see him and know that his resurrection was real.

There were plenty of rumors from the women and Peter, that Jesus was alive- yet, each disciple needed a personal encounter. Thomas was no exception.  The disciple who is portrayed as the pessimist, the ‘eyore’ (Winnie the Pooh) of the disciples was a skeptic but he was consistent.  When in John 14 Jesus says he is going away to prepare a place for them, Thomas answered: "Lord we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"  When Jesus died, it just confirmed Thomas' mindset.  He wouldn’t believe something he did not see or understand.

Thomas may have deliberately stayed away that Easter night to keep to himself.  Skepticism often hides an element of self- preservation.  Belief is more than mental agreement.  If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, then Thomas would not only have to think differently about Jesus, but his own identity as well.

Thomas is an example of conditional faith being a reality.  There is fear of being gullible, taken in by something that is farfetched and seemingly untrue.  And, as for death, people want to believe that death does not have the final say.  Look at all the ways we hold on to life and try to stay young, and fit.  So, while we want to be protected from death or believe that death is not forever, we want tangible proof.

We know of agnostic intelligent people who have carefully examined critical and historical evidence about Jesus’ resurrection yet still turn from it as truth.   And this is why Jesus’ response to Thomas is so important to us.  Faith requires the possibility of rejection or it is not faith.  The truth of Scripture, however, is not about proving the gospel message. The power of scripture is to make the presence of God in Jesus available and known to individuals and the faith community in each new generation.  Each person is unique and Jesus is about coming to each one of us in His own way that will speak to our hearts and minds.

And, this is the extraordinary thing about the simple and personal ways Jesus showed himself.  He knew Thomas and accepted him where he was just as he accepted the others.  Thomas' attitude of "show me concrete evidence of your presence Jesus" did not receive a reprimand from Jesus.  Instead, Jesus graciously revealed the results of the cross and welcomed Thomas to touch the scars on his hands and side.  That freedom and loving invitation from his master, Jesus, was what he needed!  The rationalist, Thomas knew him: “My Lord and my God.”  From the mind to the heart, everything changed at that moment.

What does it mean to you and to me, to our world, today, that Christ has risen- that God did something magnificent in that graveyard?  What does it mean to those who scoff, and to those who want to believe yet cannot?  How does God reverse what seems to be irreversible?  Turn us from unbelief to faith…  How is death reversed into new life…?  Who gives hope to replace despair?

The meaning of Easter is simple: Jesus was let loose on the world.   Frederick Buechner says, “Easter means we can never nail him down again, not even if the nails we use are real and the thing we nail him to is the cross.  It is complete. Through the life changing transformation of a band of unreliable, ragtag followers into fearless evangelists, eleven men who had once deserted and questioned Jesus went to martyrs' graves proclaiming their faith in Christ resurrected.  These few witnesses, bold with the Holy Spirit, managed to set loose a powerful force in Jerusalem and then Rome, which spread into the world.

This life changing business/transformation continues down through the ages through personal witness that Christ is alive and that the power of God’s Spirit is available to the believer.  C.H. Dodd says of the resurrection:  it is "not a belief that grew up within the church; it is the belief around which the church itself grew up and the 'given' upon which its faith is based."  All along Jesus planned to carry on his work in other bodies- believers bodies, our bodies- His church which is the new body of Christ.

In this gospel we have the birth of the church, and the sign that Jesus is returning to God in glory.  The completion of his hour has come, Jesus' work on earth has been done, and his followers will continue.  In the resurrection stories, in this story of Thomas needing the personal touch from Jesus, John goes to the crux of the gospel.  All things came into being with him... What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people."

As with the disciples, Jesus is still involved in the fabric of our lives.  And, he tells us- each one of us who comes to him- touch me, question me, wrestle with the truth of me, but whatever you must do, don’t stay away.  I will show you.  If scripture and the story of Thomas do not convince you this morning, go to the Lord directly and ask him to meet you wherever you are.  You will not be disappointed.  For it is in him to show you there is abundant life.  “ I am resurrection and I am life.”  And, that is the bold truth.

Amen.