Sermon Index
The Second Sunday of Easter
(aka Quasimotogeniti Sunday)
April 23, 2017
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, “Peace be with you.” 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, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless 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.”
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, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
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.
Hallelujah! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!
What is the Gospel Message of Easter? What Good News should we proclaim? Let’s start with these four proclamations.
First. At Easter, let’s proclaim the resurrection of the body. Jesus was not a spirit or ghost. He seemed to be able to go through locked doors, but he had a body that could be seen and felt. The wounds were real. He told Thomas to touch him to make sure. He was hungry and ate and drank with the disciples (Luke 24:41, 42; Acts 10:41). He had a real, physical, solid body. We have the same real, physical, solid bodies. These are the bodies that God loves and for whom Jesus died to save. And that is why we say and confess in the Creed, “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.” After we die we do not become ghosts or spirits. This is something about Christianity that is different than other religions. We have something to look forward to after we die. We look forward to having bodies that will not die. We proclaim life.
Second. While we proclaim the life we have, at Easter, let’s proclaim the death of Jesus. The birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus are a package. Jesus was born in order to die on the cross. He died in order to rise. He came down at Christmas in order to ascend again to heaven. Some Christians are embarrassed about the cross. They do not like to see a crucifix, a cross with the body of Jesus on it. They like the empty, Easter cross. Actually, we should be horrified to see a crucifix, we should be scared to see what our sins have done, and we should grieve when we are reminded that Jesus died. At Easter we celebrate that Christ overcame death and so we decorate the cross with flowers. But in the Holy Communion, when we receive the Body and Blood of our Savior, we do so in remembrance of his death. We remember that it was given and shed for us and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. On that first Easter Jesus showed the disciples the wounds in his hands and feet and side. Forty days later at his ascension the wounds would have started to heal, but ugly scars would have started to form. When Christ returns, he will show us his scars again. As the Book of Revelation tells us, he remains forever the Lamb of God who had been slain (Rev. 5:6). “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.” The death of Christ, the Lamb of God continues to bring blessings of life and healing and salvation.
Third. At Easter, let’s proclaim the faith, and not assume that everyone in the congregation has faith. Very few people in the church are blatant, hostile, articulate atheists. But like Thomas, people have doubts and are on various levels of belief and unbelief. There is incomprehension, misunderstanding, pride, and stubbornness. There is fear that we would have to change our lifestyle, worry that our sins are so great and so engraved that we cannot change our lifestyle, worry about sickness, death, the troubles of life, and worry about our futures. Jesus proclaimed peace, “Shalom,” he said. Today also he proclaims “Shalom” to broken lives and broken hearts and broken minds and broken faith and broken promises and broken dreams. During Easter, we preach life in the face of death. We proclaim the faith not just because we believe, but in order that we may believe. As we proclaim the faith, our faith is strengthened and reassured. We become like Thomas and say, “My Lord and my God!” As the conclusion to John Chapter 20 says, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).
And Fourth. At Easter, let’s proclaim the faith with confidence. The Word of God overcomes all incomprehension. There are mysteries: How can the dead arise? How can Jesus pass through locked doors with a physical body? How can his death forgive my sin? How can his death and resurrection ensure my death and resurrection? How can bread and wine be the true Body and Blood of Christ? How can Baptism wash away my sin? How has the Holy Spirit created faith in my heart? How has the Holy Spirit given love and joy in my heart? These are mysteries, but one thing is not a mystery. God’s love is not a hidden. Therefore we proclaim the Easter Good News with confidence and faith and with joy and peace. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Amen.
（There is no Japanese translation of this sermon.）
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church