Sermon Index
March 30. 2008
The Sunday after Easter
GOSPEL LESSON: John 20:19?31 [Jesus appears to Thomas.]
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, gPeace be with you.h When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, gPeace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.h And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, gReceive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.h
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, gWe have seen the Lord.h But he said to them, gUnless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.h
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, gPeace be with you.h Then he said to Thomas, gPut your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.h Thomas answered him, gMy Lord and my God!h Jesus said to him, gHave you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.h
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!
Today we continue the celebration of Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord. Last week we talked about gThe Joy of Easter.h Today letfs look at the purpose and result of the death and resurrection of Jesus. When the Resurrected Jesus met the disciples on the evening of his resurrection, he greeted them and then gave them the commission to continue his work. He said, ggPeace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.h And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, gReceive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.hh Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins; his resurrection proves that his mission was successful. Now the disciples are to continue that work. He is sending them out. He is giving them the Holy Spirit so that they can proclaim the message of the cross and bring the blessings of the cross to other people. In other words, they are to proclaim the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. Whenever they proclaim that, sins are forgiven to those who believe in Jesus as their Savior.
Forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ is the only message that is purely Christian. Other religions and philosophies also speak of love and kindness and charity and peace. They also speak of cleansing and purity, even of forgiveness, but only if some sort of act is done or some rite performed. Only Christianity speaks of forgiveness as a pure gift of God. That is called "grace" or "mercy." Sure, Christianity speaks of love and peace and other things. But they are all tied into the cross of Christ.
What is the symbol of our belief? It is the cross. What happened on the cross? Jesus died. Why did he die? To forgive our sins.
It is the cross that gives meaning and power to the Christian message. It gives meaning and power to the life of the individual Christian, too. We are so thoroughly forgiven that we forgive other people. That is how the Holy Spirit works. The Holy Spirit makes us holy by forgiving our sins. Then in this holiness, we forgive others. The first result is love.
Let me explain. What is sin? It is more than just the bad things we do. Sin is like a wall between people. It is like a gap between us and God. But God bridged that gap when he sent Jesus into this world. Now we are close to God. When we have hatred or mistrust toward others, it is like a wall. Forgiving other people is like tearing down that wall. We can get close to them. In that closeness we can love them. In that closeness we can be kind, helpful, and charitable. We can also say that sin is like death, it is like a tomb. When Jesus rose from the dead, that tomb was broken. Sin was broken. Sin was forgiven. Now, neither sin nor death nor hell can keep us away from God. That is the message of the Holy Spirit. We are holy through Jesus Christ.
On that first Easter Sunday, Jesus spoke of forgiveness. On the following Sunday evening, Jesus forgave Thomas. Thomas did not believe the report about Jesus and the resurrection. This was sin of doubt and unbelief. Unbelief is a sin because it puts up a wall. Even if Jesus has destroyed the wall, doubt thinks that it is still there and acts that way. Unbelief is a sin because it refuses to accept the love and forgiveness of God. Thomas refused to believe that his sins were forgiven through Jesus' death. Jesus had to break down that wall though forgiveness. Jesus did not shut Thomas out. Rather he came to him in love and acceptance. gPut your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.h Thomas answered in words of faith. In those words he accepted Jesus as his Savior from sin and death. Thomas said, gMy Lord and my God!h Jesus knows how hard it is to believe. It was hard for Thomas who was a disciple. It was hard for Peter who denied Jesus. It is hard for us because we do not see the Risen Lord with our own eyes or touch him with our own hands. And so Jesus gives us a special blessing. He said, gHave you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.h
It is only in the Lord's Supper that we can see and touch our Lord. But even then, like Thomas, we must have the Holy Spirit to help us understand what it means. It means that Jesus died and rose again for the forgiveness of sins. This is the New Covenant. This is the new way of life we have with Jesus Christ.
The Apostles were sent out into the world. In the power of the Holy Spirit they proclaimed the cross. They proclaimed the forgiveness of sins. And as they did this, they also proclaimed God's love, joy, peace, grace, mercy, etc.
Today, the Sunday after Easter, we are gathered like the Disciples were. There may be a doubting Thomas or two here today. But the Holy Spirit is also here today. The Holy Spirit brings us forgiveness. The Holy Spirit brings us faith. We may not be able to touch the hands and side of Jesus, but the Holy Spirit touches our hearts. You are forgiven of your doubt and unbelief. And therefore all your sins are forgiven. And with Thomas we too say, gMy Lord and my God!h
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church