Bold Thomas – John 20:19-22, 24-29

Being on this side of the resurrection, it is hard to imagine what it must have felt like to be one of Jesus’ disciples or even someone who had followed Jesus and listened to his teaching. The events that led to the death of Jesus would have given even the most ardent follower cause to doubt that Jesus’ prophecy about his resurrection could come true.    As we read the account that John has written, we find no hint that the disciples are in expectation of Jesus’ return in any form.  They have retreated to their own homes for fear that the authorities will come after them in order to fully eliminate any possibility that the message brought by Jesus would ever be heard again.

The empty tomb found by Mary first leads to the conclusion that Jesus’ body has been taken away but for what purpose.  It would not be advantageous to the religious leaders as the disappearance would have led to people believing the prophecy.  And while it is revealed that one of the disciples on seeing the empty tomb believed – it is only with Mary’s revelation that she had seen the Lord and shared with them the words that Jesus spoke.

And so, they find the courage to gather in a house with locked doors. What their conversation was among them is not recorded but there is no expectation that they will be visited by Jesus.  Imagine trying to make sense of Mary’s encounter with Jesus who had predicted his resurrection but was still something that had never occurred in history. Was Mary so overwhelmed by grief that she mistook Jesus for the gardener? Did she so want to find him alive that she concocted this story of seeing Jesus and hearing him speak?  The disciples had no way of verifying her story, even if they wanted to believe it was true.

Suddenly – with no knock on the door and no turning of a key in the lock, Jesus is with them. He reveals to them the wounds that he suffered showing them his hands and his side to allay their suspicions that this is some elaborate hoax.  But it is so real.  They probably still cannot believe what they are seeing but their love for Jesus and their faith in his promises is so strong that they can do nothing but rejoice at his presence. It is in this moment that they hear again the promise of peace – peace for their minds and their souls – a peace that only the Lord could give.  And in that moment, he gives to them the authority and the mission to go and spread the good news as Jesus did.  The mission from the Father to the Son is now the mission of those who had become brothers with Jesus

But they will not be left to their own wisdom or courage or strength to continues this mission.  And so, Jesus breathes on them and bestows upon them the Holy Spirit.  As he had been sent with the Holy Spirit of God, so he gives to them the same Spirit so that they could indeed do what he had done and even more.  With his breath, the creative and redeeming Spirit of God was put into them, the same Spirit that had begun creation and had begun the process of redemption now was given to them so that they might have the strength and the wisdom to teach, heal, guide, and forgive the sins of all who would hear Jesus’ words and come to believe in the work and mission of God.

But Thomas had not been able to be with them that day.  He wanted to believe but he needed to see for himself. But his desire to see for himself has been the subject of much ridicule over the years.  His reaction has caused anyone who has struggled with believing the unbelievable to be marked with the nickname Doubting Thomas.

Imagine the struggle Thomas felt in his heart and mind over the appearance of Jesus to the others.  I am sure he desperately wanted to believe it was true but could not bring himself to a point of believing without being able to physically see and touch Jesus for himself. Surely it is not unreasonable to have doubts about the veracity of such a story – one which tells of a friend once dead now alive!

And so it is that eight days later with all the disciples gathered together that Jesus comes again to them. He greets them with his peace and then says to Thomas: “Put your finger here and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side; do not be faithless but believing.”

Why was it so important for Jesus to come back so that Thomas could experience his resurrection? Thomas’ need to confirm for himself   removed any doubt that might have lingered in the minds of the disciples.      Remember that Mary never hesitated to believe he was really alive in the flesh, and she reached out to hug him. The disciples were more restrained - perhaps even fearful - but Thomas wanted to be sure.  He wanted not only to see and hear Jesus but to touch Him. He wanted to sense the presence of the risen Lord in every way.  And so, he is allowed to touch the hands of Jesus where the nails were and put his hand into the side of Jesus where the spear had pierced him. Only then could he declare that this is his Lord and his God!

Thomas’ boldness adds to the record of the resurrection in a significant way for no longer can anyone say that Jesus’ appearance to the disciples was merely that of a ghostly apparition.  Further proof of the reality of the resurrection will come when Jesus shares a meal with the disciples and speaks words of restoration to Peter.

Thomas may have been a doubter at first. But for those who find faith in the God who came in the person of Jesus, who suffered, died a human death, and yet was resurrected to life difficult to fathom, Thomas is a point of contact and assurance.  As a church community and as the people of God, we need to remain open to the fact that not everyone experiences God in the same way; and God respects our need to approach him from where we are.  I want us to remember that it was not Jesus who gave Thomas the nickname of doubter; nor did Jesus condemn him for his boldness. It was those who commented on his actions that gave him that label. In God’s eyes, he was not a doubter; he was a seeker, a seeker for the truth that no one could ever contradict.

Indeed, it is true – as Jesus says – that many more people would never have the opportunity to touch his hands or his side and yet believe.  And we who have come to faith in the time after these events are blessed for believing without seeing; but let us not disparage Thomas, for Thomas is the touch point for many who struggle with things unseen.

Faith in God has never been an easy thing no matter what generation or time in which we live.  In each generation, people need to come to their own decision about God and to find their own path through this life as they seek to discover each day what it means for them to be in relationship with God.

And whether we find God first in our mind, our heart, through sight, sound, or touch, let us ever remember that God’s desire is for us to believe his promises are true, that he is not dead but lives and that there will ever be a place for each of us in his heart and his world!

AMEN.