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A sermon is a manner of oral communication and therefore words and sentence structure/order would be added, altered, or deleted at the moment of delivery. + In Nomine Jesu + The Rev. Evan Gaertner Second Sunday of Easter Doubting Thomas: An Evangelism Story Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia There are people we care about that were not at last week’s Easter Divine Service. They did not hear this year the joy of Mary, Peter and John as they were witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. As the pastor of this congregation I am saddened that people last week did not hear the good news that Jesus is alive just as he promised. The disciples also were concerned about their brother Thomas, the twin. They wanted him to know the same joy and peace they had found when Jesus came to the room and greeted them with the words, “Peace be with you.” They told Thomas how on the evening of that first day of resurrection, the doors were locked and Jesus came. He came to them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and his side. Then he told them, “Peace 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.” Jesus commissioned the disciples to share the good news of the resurrection. He gave to them the power of the Holy Spirit. Our heavenly father sent his son to restore us to the Thomas would not believe his friends. He said he needed to put his hands into the holes left by the nails and put his hand into the wound formed by the spear. The disciples wanted Thomas to share in the joy that they were experiencing, but Thomas needed more than just the words of his friends. Thomas needed Jesus. Eight days later, his disciples were again inside, but this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, and Jesus came and stood among them. Jesus gave the same greeting, “Peace be with you.” Then he spoke directly to Thomas inviting him to not only see but to touch the wounds in his hands and side. Jesus desired for Thomas to believe. Jesus desires for everyone to believe in him. The disciples during those eight days kept Thomas in the loop. They talked to him about Jesus and they brought him to the upper room. Thomas came to believe in the resurrection of Jesus when he saw Jesus for himself. But the disciples played a very important role in Thomas coming to believe. They did not shut Thomas out because of Thomas’ questions or doubts. The disciples took very seriously the commission from Jesus, “As the father has sent me so I am sending you.” Jesus was sent by the father to bring the lost back into the kingdom. Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep to highlight the role of the good shepherd to rescue. The disciples saw Thomas and told him about Jesus because they wanted Thomas to know the good news. The good shepherd would not find a lost sheep and then let that sheep remain lost. The disciples did not want Thomas to remain in his doubts so they continued to share with him their joy in the resurrection. When we consider friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members who do not know the joy of the resurrection of Jesus we do not give up or abandon them. We share with them our experience with Jesus. Just as the disciples shared with Thomas their experience we share our faith. We share our community. There should be no strangers in a community formed by Christ. And as we share the word of God the Holy Spirit will work to bring the presence of Christ into the lives of others. Thomas came to faith because he saw Jesus. Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The disciples on the first day and Thomas on the eighth day saw Jesus and believed in the resurrection. But we can be confident from Jesus’ words that faith in the resurrection is possible even if we don’t have experiences like those disciples. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God bringing us to Jesus. As we hear today’s gospel lesson we are brought to that upper room to witness the resurrected Christ appearing to his disciples. As you read the scriptures the Holy Spirit works to bring alive your faith in God. It is important that we go to God’s word to strengthen our faith. It is essential that as we seek to live out our commission to bring the lost back into the Everyday there are opportunities for you to share your experience with Jesus with others. Next Saturday there will be a workshop here at Grace to help prepare you to share Jesus in those everyday opportunities. I encourage all of you to come between The story of Thomas became an evangelism story because the disciples did not consider Thomas a stranger but someone that needed to be brought back into the kingdom. Won’t you consider your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers with the same eyes that the disciples saw Thomas? Soli Deo Gloria |
