TIME TO REACT: Believe In our new sermon series we're talking ...
TIME TO REACT: Believe In our new sermon series we’re talking about the ways we react to the resurrection of Jesus. The four Gospels give us several examples of reactions to the news, not all of them worthy of praise. For example, we began this series last Sunday by talking about the account in Mark of the reaction of the women who were the first to find the tomb empty. They said nothing because they were too frightened. That’s not a good reaction. We will examine several other reactions during this series, but for today we turn to the disciple whose reaction to the resurrection created a derisive title people have used for decades, probably centuries: Doubting Thomas. His story is near the end of the Gospel of John, and is not difficult to tell. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples, and John says the disciples were filled with joy when they saw him. To close that appearance scene, Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit and tells them something about forgiveness. That was a powerful moment for the disciples who witnessed it; but not every disciple was in the room. Thomas was elsewhere, and so was Jesus by the time Thomas returned. His friends tell Thomas they have seen the lord. Thomas infamously says (Jn 20.25)..... and so became doubting Thomas. Eight days later, the disciples are gathered together again, this time WITH Thomas. Jesus returns to their company, offers them peace, and then says to Thomas (Jn 20.27).... Thomas exclaims his belief, and then the scene ends with this comment from Jesus..... (v.29) What does that mean, “those who believe without seeing him”? It can’t mean blessed are those who don’t get to see his hands or the wound in his side because earlier in the chapter John tells us that during his previous visit with the disciples - when Thomas wasn’t there - Jesus showed his hands and side without their even asking to see them. So we gotta believe Jesus doesn’t think it’s a bad thing for them to see proof. So what does he mean, blessed are those who believe without seeing? I’m thinking he means something far more profound than just those who don’t need to see the crucifixion marks on his body. I’m thinking he means blessed are those who believe, even though they have no reason to believe. Blessed are those who believe even though they live with little evidence of God’s favor, God’s blessing, God’s company in their lives. Blessed are those who live with broken hearts, and wounded spirits, and a foreboding sense of despair and STILL believe. Blessed are those whose lives are hard, and yet they believe. Thomas’ request to see the marks on Jesus’ body wasn’t all that unusual. He just wanted to see proof that the person in front of him was really Jesus. Remember the children of Israel when Moses led them out of Egypt? On several occasions there was no water to drink, or the available food was awful. What did they do? They protested. Hey, Moses! Why did you take us out of Egypt where we could see the blessing, where God’s favor was obvious? Now we’re out here in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to drink, and boring stuff to eat. Show us reason to believe that this mystery tour you’ve got us on is worth it. In the same trip, Moses at one point says to God, if we’re going where you want us to go, you have to come along. And, by the way, for good measure, show me your glory. Show me you’re real. Show me you’re all you’re cracked up to be. Hear it? Moses wanted proof. Or Gideon, another Old Testament character. God wanted him to lead the battle against a group called the Midianites. Gideon says this to God (Judges 6.17).... Show me a sign. Show me. Show me. Show me. The Bible is filled with Missourians! Show me your glory. Show me a sign. Show me you’re with us. Show me! We all want that at some time or the other. We all want to know, to have proof, to be certain that the path we’re on, the choices we’re making, the changes we’re making in our lives are
the right ones, are the ones God has in mind for us. Whether aloud or under our breaths, we’ve all said, God, show me that this is your will, that you’re in this, behind this, that what I’m thinking of doing right now has your approval, ‘cause if it doesn’t have your approval, if it doesn’t have your blessing, I don’t think I want to do it. So we can identify with Thomas when he says he won’t believe unless he puts his hands in Jesus’ side. We all want proof. We all want God to show us. You might have some “show me” situations in your life right now. We have them as a congregation. That’s why we pray every Sunday before worship up front. God, what are you calling us to do? Where are you leading us to go? This is an uncertain season in which the choices aren’t easy. Show us.
When Jesus says to Thomas, blessed are those who believe even though they haven’t seen, I think he might be referring to people who struggle and doubt and worry and fear and protest about their lives, but who never give up the faith, people who don’t have to have proof of God’s company at every instant, people who can go through rough patches and arid places with their faith still within reach, because in their hearts they know God has never abandoned them. When I was a kid my dad drove a semi over the road, did so for 30 years. As a result he was gone from home a lot - five, six days a week, fifty weeks a year - hauling canned and frozen foods all over the country. But I never doubted that he was my dad, never wondered whether he was going to come back, even though he was away from home MUCH more than he was at home. Jesus is saying blessed are those who know he’s alive even though, at the moment, they can’t see evidence of the new life in their lives. That doesn’t mean we’re not blessed if we want to see the proof! It means when all hope is lost, when there’s no reason to believe, when you’re ready to surrender the fight, you can still believe, you can still know he’s alive. And when you manage that hard thing, you will be blessed. The resurrection is the ultimate proof of this truth, isn’t it? When all was lost, when life was gone, God raised Jesus to new life. Blessed are we when we believe God will raise us when it seems our lives are lost or hopeless and without purpose of meaning. We can react to the resurrection in many different ways. Blessed will you be when you believe in its power and the God who made it happen, especially when you are MOST in need of it, when you most hunger for God to show you.
the right ones, are the ones God has in mind for us. Whether aloud or under our breaths, we’ve all said, God, show me that this is your will, that you’re in this, behind this, that what I’m thinking of doing right now has your approval, ‘cause if it doesn’t have your approval, if it doesn’t have your blessing, I don’t think I want to do it. So we can identify with Thomas when he says he won’t believe unless he puts his hands in Jesus’ side. We all want proof. We all want God to show us. You might have some “show me” situations in your life right now. We have them as a congregation. That’s why we pray every Sunday before worship up front. God, what are you calling us to do? Where are you leading us to go? This is an uncertain season in which the choices aren’t easy. Show us.
When Jesus says to Thomas, blessed are those who believe even though they haven’t seen, I think he might be referring to people who struggle and doubt and worry and fear and protest about their lives, but who never give up the faith, people who don’t have to have proof of God’s company at every instant, people who can go through rough patches and arid places with their faith still within reach, because in their hearts they know God has never abandoned them. When I was a kid my dad drove a semi over the road, did so for 30 years. As a result he was gone from home a lot - five, six days a week, fifty weeks a year - hauling canned and frozen foods all over the country. But I never doubted that he was my dad, never wondered whether he was going to come back, even though he was away from home MUCH more than he was at home. Jesus is saying blessed are those who know he’s alive even though, at the moment, they can’t see evidence of the new life in their lives. That doesn’t mean we’re not blessed if we want to see the proof! It means when all hope is lost, when there’s no reason to believe, when you’re ready to surrender the fight, you can still believe, you can still know he’s alive. And when you manage that hard thing, you will be blessed. The resurrection is the ultimate proof of this truth, isn’t it? When all was lost, when life was gone, God raised Jesus to new life. Blessed are we when we believe God will raise us when it seems our lives are lost or hopeless and without purpose of meaning. We can react to the resurrection in many different ways. Blessed will you be when you believe in its power and the God who made it happen, especially when you are MOST in need of it, when you most hunger for God to show you.
