John 20:19-31 04/19/2020
19 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.
Thomas has shown us great comfort in being a disciple who did not believe. In our own moments of doubt, we find solidarity with Thomas. We could often see ourselves in this vocal and needing proof disciple. That is why this passage is often referred to as Doubting Thomas. But one commentator points out there is so much more to Thomas than doubting. In chapter 11 we might call him “Courageous Thomas” for saying he would go with Jesus and die with him. (11:16). Or we might call him “Confused Thomas” who in chapter 14 does not know the way that Jesus is going, saying “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (14:5). (Feasting of the Word, A2, p. 395).
But when I read this passage this time, something very different spoke to me. Rather than focusing on Thomas, I turned my attention to our risen Lord. This is the first moment Jesus appears to the disciples, having appeared to Mary Magdalene that morning at the tomb. The Easter message we read last week, with Peter and beloved disciple racing to the empty tomb and Mary thinking he was the gardener, before realizing her Lord had risen from the dead. Mary had told the disciples, but they responded to that news by locking themselves in the house where they gathered. Something we can relate to when it feels like we are locked in our homes right now. We are locked in for fear of the corona virus, but the disciples were locked in for fear of the Jews. The same Jews who yelled, “Crucify Him!” and had taken away and killed their Lord. The disciples were fearful for their lives, and in shock regarding the unbelievable news. They had devoted their lives to Jesus and now he was gone, and they had no idea what would happen next.
Our beloved Jesus knows their fear, their shock, and comes to them in their time of need. “Peace be with you.” Jesus says. Four simple words that transform their reality. Peace is the heart of the matter. Not doubt, not fear, but Peace that comes from Jesus.
Peace is the antidote to their fear.
Peace soothes their shock and disbelief.
Peace quiets their hearts and minds long enough for them to grasp that Jesus is alive and standing in front of them. Jesus know they might need more, that seeing him alive and present with them might need some proof. So Jesus shows them his wounds; his scars from his crucifixion. Seeing the place where Jesus endured pain, realizing that this truly is Jesus, risen from the dead, the disciples rejoice! Joy fills their hearts for their Lord is alive!
Later when Thomas has his moment with Jesus, Jesus offers him peace. Peace that satisfies fear and disbelief. Thomas asks to see exactly what the disciples had already seen, and Jesus complies. Peace comes first. We may not get to touch the scars of Jesus, but we have his peace!
Ralph Turnbull tells the story of “a friend visiting an elderly woman badly crippled by arthritis. When asked, “Do you suffer much?” she responded, “Yes, but there is no nail here,” and she pointed to her hand. “He had the nails, I have the peace.” She pointed to her head. “There are no thorns here. He had the thorns, I have the peace.” She touched her side. “There is no spear here. He had the spear, I have the peace.” That is what the atonement (and resurrection) of Jesus Christ means for us—He gave of himself so that we might have the peace.” (Sermons.com)
Right now we have fear- fear of a virus that can take our life. We have disbelief that our powerful nation is brought to its knees by a virus. Just this week someone said to me, “I can’t believe this is happening.” Disbelief in the lack of testing, leadership and preparedness. Into our circumstance Jesus brings peace! The peace of the resurrection, the peace of hope and the peace of God in all our troubles. Scripture declares, “The Lord of peace Himself gives you peace always by all means” (2 Thess. 3:16).
Jesus gave them peace, but he also reinforced it by giving them the Holy Spirit. Sending the Holy Spirit means they are not in this alone and neither are we. Jesus’ peace and the granting of the Holy Spirit means God is still with us! And Jesus, like God breathing life into the first human, breathed on the disciples, infusing them with peace and power. We have that same amazing power today!!!
The peace Jesus gives to us through the Holy Spirit is more than we can ever imagine:
Peace means the cessation of all warfare, but it also means much more.
Peace means a feeling of inner well-being, but it also means much more.
Peace means an end to psychological tensions, but it also means much more.
Peace means halting interpersonal conflicts, but it also means much more.
Peace means the settling of silence on the soul, but it also means much more.
I experienced that peace after Easter. I had been anxious with all that is going on and trying to learn Zoom and find ways to keep us connected. But Monday morning following Easter I had an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Grateful for our church family, grateful we are all well, grateful that we are walking through this together as people of faith. I also seemed to move into a place of acceptance that this is our new normal for now. I feel a great sense of peace.
After granting peace and Holy Spirit Jesus speaks of forgiveness. Through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have forgiveness and ultimate path of peace; the righting of wrongs and the way of being made one with God. Our risen Lord forgives our sins and brings us peace through the Holy Spirit.
There is a painting titled “Peace in the Midst of a Storm.” At first glance, the painting looks anything but peaceful. Black clouds and lightning cover the sky. Waves crash down a jagged rocky hillside with raging waters below. How could this be peaceful?
Now take a closer look at the painting. Just beneath the waterfalls (and just above the river of water) you will notice a bird with her nest of babies tucked underneath the edge of a rock. In the midst of a giant storm, this bird found a sanctuary, a safe place to rest her wings. That is peace.
The heart of the matter is Jesus’ peace. Peace comforts our fears. Peace transforms our disbelief. It reveals the truth of the resurrection! The heart of the matter this Easter season is that Jesus is alive living in your heart and breathing peace into your soul! Amen.
