St. John 20:19 – Quasimodo Genti 2012
Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, McHenry, IL
April 14-15, 2012
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Alleluia! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Thomas and doubt. They go together. When you think of Thomas, you think of doubt. Doubting Thomas.
More accurately, less pithy, would be Unbelieving Thomas. I will-not-believe Thomas. I-refuse-to-believe-Thomas.
As Thomas himself says, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and thrust my finger into the mark of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
The Greek word is ballo – to put, to throw, to thrust. It’s graphic. It’s emphatic. It’s not just “seeing is believing,” but reaching into the wound where the spear was driven into Jesus’ dead corpse with your hand. Sticking your finger into the holes where the nails were driven into His hands. As the kids would say, “eugh.. gross.”
And Thomas doesn’t just say he doubts, He says emphatically, “If I don’t do these things, I will not believe.” What Thomas confesses is the negative of faith – it’s rejection. It’s crass unbelief.
Today’s Gospel begins on the evening of Easter Sunday. Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to Mary Magdalene. She ran and told the Apostles, “I have seen the Lord!” and told them all that He had done.
But “His brothers” didn’t believe her. Nope. Evening comes and they locked themselves in the upper room. Locked – for fear of the Jews.
Fear. You know, like the Jews were gonna do to them what they did to Jesus. Fear – like Jesus was really still dead.
Then… Jesus shows up in their midst, inside the room – with the doors being closed. One second He’s not there, the next second – poof – He’s there.
Thank God He just showed up too! Can you imagine if He’d knocked first? “Knock. Knock.” “Who’s there?” “It’s Me, Jesus, open up!” That door would have never been opened!
They were terrified. They were no condition to ever open that door for anyone, especially someone claiming to be Jesus, whom they were certain was still dead.
Jesus shows up in their midst – in the midst of their fear, despair, and unbelief, and He peaces them.
“Peace be with you, my Brothers. Death cannot harm you. No, I died for you. I rose for you too. Because I live, you have nothing to fear – ever. Not from the Jews who will persecute you. Not from the world that wants to destroy you. Not from your sins. Not from even death itself. I’ve overcome it all for you. Brothers, look at My hands and My side.”
He then gives them the Holy Spirit. Breathes it on them – the very breath of God which enlivened man to life back at creation now enlivens them with His peace, His forgiveness, won for them on the Cross.
The One who died on Good Friday and rose again on Easter morning now sends them – no more hiding in an upper room. No more fear. No, He sends them out to forgive sins.
And there is no wiggle room either – Jesus is emphatic about this. If you forgive sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you withhold forgiveness, they aren’t forgiven.
Sounds Roman Catholic? No, completely Lutheran. Check with Jesus. Or better… if you are troubled by something you have done, grab your pastors and ask them to forgive you. Their forgiveness isn’t their forgiveness, but Jesus’. Then, go away at peace with God.
Now.. back to the disciples. They the disciples were glad. Jesus had done what He promised. They had seen Him. With their own eyes – His hands and side. He was alive and had saved them!
All but Thomas.. He wasn’t there that night. He didn’t see Jesus’ hands. He didn’t see Jesus’ side. He heard the word of the Apostles. He didn’t believe. He should have believed. He didn’t. Refused to. Wouldn’t.
Eight days later, same story. Doors were locked again. Disciples were inside. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus again shows up. Not there. Then, poof there. “Peace be with y’all.”
“Thomas, take your finger here, and see my hands. And take your hand and ballo it, thrust it into my side. Be not unbelieving, but believe.”
Unbelieving no more, Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and My God.” Not only had the Lord died for Him, rose for Him, and lives for Him, but He also word-for-word answered His unbelief and saved even Thomas.
“Thomas, did you believe because you saw Me? Blessed are those who do not see me, and yet believe.”
Thomas should have believed without sight, without fingers in wounds, or hands in side. He should have believed the enlivening words of the Apostles.
Today, the Lord has engaged you with His Words. He has come into your ears with the simple message, “The Lord has risen!” He has risen indeed. Alleluia.
Jesus has forgiven all your sins. Breathed life into you with His words. Washed your sins away. Fed you life eternal in the Sacrament.
Yet, you still live the way you live – locked in fear of your sins. Filled with doubts about that you are actually forgiven. Can Jesus really answer for what you have done? Can He forgive even you? Can He give you heaven? Do you believe enough?
Expecting to make up for it all before God, you work to save yourself from the hell that you can’t save yourself from. You hope for rescue, pray for some sign, that God loves you – even you. If He’d just show you – His side, or His hands, you’d believe and you’d know that you don’t have to save yourself.
Today, He calls you out of your sins, out of your despair, away from your doubts about His word, His washing, His Body and Blood. He reminds you that there is nothing to fear anymore, nothing left to lock yourself away from.
His Baptism actually does wash all our sins away. His Word actually delivers His nails-and-spear-pierced peace. His Absolution really delivers forgiveness – from your Pastors as from Christ Himself. His Supper really does give us eternal life in, with, and under the bread and wine.
Jesus is alive – risen from the dead. You haven’t seen Him, but you have heard about His resurrection from His eyewitnesses. The words of the Apostles are certain and sure. They deliver life – breathed out by Jesus Himself.
You are forgiven. You are alive. To splash an unbelieving world with them what He has done for you. To forgive – everyone and anyone with the cross-delivering words of Christ.
Think about what you have – peace and forgiveness for everyone around you. For your family… for your friends.. for your enemies. Over and over again forgiving their sins away as God has forgiven your friends this morning.
“My Lord and My God,” says St. Thomas. No more doubts for Thomas. No more doubts for you or me either. No more Unbelieving Thomas only Believing Thomas.
“Alleluia! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” In the name of Jesus. Amen.
