THAT YOU MAY COME TO BELIEVE The Second Sunday of Easter (Year A)! May 1, 2011

Transcript

1 THAT YOU MAY COME TO BELIEVE The Second Sunday of Easter (Year A)! May 1, 2011 This Sundayʼs Lessons Acts 2:14a, Psalm 16 1st Peter 1:3-9 St. John 20:19-31 Pastor David J. Risendal facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, Colorado voice: 303/ fax: 303/ facebook Saint Peter Lutheran Church Prayer of the Day Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Christ is risen. Christ is risen. Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed. Amen. R/ Christ is risen, indeed. R/ Christ is risen, indeed. R/ Christ is risen, indeed! despite fears and doubts that you may come to believe John s purpose and ours Sermon If I was to mention the names of certain disciples to you, and ask you to think of the first word that comes to mind, you probably wouldn t all come up with the same words every time. For instance, if I mentioned Judas, some of you would think of the word "betray," and some of your would think of traitor, and others may come up with another word or two. If I mentioned Simon Peter, some of you would think of the word "faith," or leader, or impulsive, or something else. If I mentioned James and John, you might think of brothers, or sons of Zebedee; those of you who really know your scriptures might think of sons of thunder,". However, if I mentioned Thomas, there is little question about the word most everyone would hear in their minds. That s right: doubt or doubter. We have so closely come to associate Thomas with this word, that even many who are not connected with the Christian church in any way understand what the phrase, "He s a Doubting Thomas" means.

2 The Second Sunday of Easter Year A (May 1, 2011) " 2 Thomas, of course, is the focus of attention in this morning s Gospel, as he is every year on the first Sunday after Easter Sunday. Doubting Thomas he is called. And without taking a close look at the text, some have come to believe that it casts the doubt of Thomas in an exceptionally negative light. The curious truth is, in fact, that the Biblical story seems to make exactly the opposite case. Thomas may be the only one St. John describes as doubting but everyone in this story begins from a place of no faith. First we have the women, Mary and Mary, on Easter Sunday morning. As we said last week, they arrive at the tomb expecting death. They don t come with burial spices, or a fresh set of clothes or enough lunch to share with Jesus. They come, fully expecting to find a sealed tomb and a crucified Lord. When they arrive, they are shocked to find that things aren t quite as they expected them to be. An angel appears, accompanied by an earthquake. As the stone is rolled away, it becomes evident that Jesus is not there. The Angel tells the women of the resurrection, and sends them off to share the good news with the others. They do so, but on their way to find the disciples, suddenly Jesus appears to them. As they meet him, their lives are completely changed. Now, filled with hope and joy they run to where the disciples are gathered. Then we have the disciples, on Easter Sunday morning. They, of course, are sad and defeated and frightened after what happened to Jesus. They aren t believing in the resurrection. They aren t even imaging the resurrection. They are only imagining what might happen to them if the authorities tie them too closely to Jesus. So they lock themselves into a room, and wait to see what happens. Mary and Mary come bursting in. Just as the Angel announced the good news to them, they announce the good news to the disciples. But it seems to make no difference. (Perhaps they were doubting!). By evening they are still frightened and hiding away in a locked room. Suddenly, Jesus appears to them. He greets them with peace, shows them his wounds, and gives them the breath of the Spirit. As they meet him, their lives are completely changed. Now, filled with relief and gratitude and peace and joy, they too believe in the resurrection, and begin to imagine what comes next. Finally, we have the disciple Thomas. Just as the Angel announced the good news to the women, and just as the women announced the good news to the disciples, the disciples announce the good news to Thomas. What comes next, of course, is what came before. The disciples might be convinced after seeing Jesus alive again, but Thomas isn t with them. He wasn t there when Jesus came on Sunday evening. (Some have started giving Thomas credit for that lately: he seems to have been the only disciple who wasn t cowering in fear. At least he was out doing something!) Regardless, he too seems unable to believe, just because they said it was so. A week later, that all changes. They are gathered together again (still, interestingly enough, sequestered behind closed doors). Suddenly Jesus appears to them, greets them with peace, shows them his wounds, and invites Thomas into a resurrection faith. As Thomas meets Jesus, his life is completely changed. Now, filled with hope and joy he becomes the very first one to cry out, My Lord and my God! You see, the same thing happens to Thomas that happens to the others. All the evidence in the world seems insufficient. All the convincing, first-hand testimonies seem to fall short. It is only when the believer actually has an encounter with Jesus that things change. This story is not about the doubts of one disciple, as if to despair those who have their doubts. This story is about the proper mission of the church the proper mission of those who believe in Jesus. Among our central tasks is the responsibility to help those who don t believe, so that they might come to believe. What s more, we see in this Gospel that people aren t necessarily going to believe just because we tell them they should. No, it is when a person is directly touched by the Risen Christ that faith springs to life, and a person is changed forever. It happened with Mary and Mary. It happened with the ten disciples. It happened with Thomas. It has happened with most of us here in this room. And here s our calling: through our ministries at Saint Peter, and through our own personal witness, we pray that it might also come to happen for many, many more. A central purpose of our life together must be to help people be directly touched by the presence and power and promise of our Risen Lord. John says as much in the paragraph that sums up this morning s Gospel reading. He writes: Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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. [verses 30-31]

3 The Second Sunday of Easter Year A (May 1, 2011) " 3 Jesus was willing to do anything he had to do in order to help Thomas believe. John s entire Gospel was written to help the reader believe. Perhaps we ought to ask what we are willing to do, to help others come to know Jesus. It really all boils down to our mission statement, doesn t it? We want this to be a community where we are all welcomed into God s love, just as we are. In other words, our intent is that when you or I or anyone else experiences Saint Peter Lutheran Church, we experience first-hand the presence and power and promise of God, as we know it in Christ. Through the word, through the meal, through the Spirit that calls us together, through the forgiveness we share, through the support we receive from one another through these means, we experience the Risen Christ, just as truly as those first century friends of his did. This is not theory! This is not a theological exercise! We believe that in these ways, we experience the real presence of God. God comes to us, forgives us, renews us, strengthens us, and empowers us for a life of faithfulness. And then what happens? We are sent. Sent into the world to be a reflection of Christ s love. To invite others into a first-hand experience of God s grace. To invite others to receive forgiveness and renewal and new strength. Because when they do, we know that their lives will be completely changed. Filled with faith and hope and joy, they will experience an entirely new life. Ultimately, it really doesn t matter where we start out, does it? It doesn t matter if doubt is present, or disbelief, or confusion, or skepticism, or disillusionment. What matters, is that experiencing Jesus can change all of that. That s what Jesus did with Mary, and Mary, and the ten, and Thomas. That s why St. John created a written record of it all. As he said,...these [signs] are written [in this book] 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. [verse 31] Amen. May it be so among us. as well. David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text: 1 20:19 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. 2 1 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at 2 St. John 20:19-31, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

4 The Second Sunday of Easter Year A (May 1, 2011) " 4 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 20:19 Οὔσης οὖν ὀψίας τῇ ἡµέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ µιᾷ σαββάτων καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισµένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ µαθηταὶ διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ µέσον καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς εἰρήνη ὑµῖν. 20 καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῖς. ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ µαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν κύριον. 21 εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς [ὁ Ἰησοῦς] πάλιν εἰρήνη ὑµῖν καθὼς ἀπέσταλκεν µε ὁ πατήρ, καγὼ πέµπω ὑµᾶς. 22 καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησεν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς λάβετε πνεῦµα ἅγιον 23 ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁµαρτίας ἀφέωνται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε κεκράτηνται. 24 Θωµᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόµενος Δίδυµος, οὐκ ἦν µετ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς. 25 ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι µαθηταί ἑωράκαµεν τὸν κύριον. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἐὰν µὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλον µου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων καὶ βάλω µου τὴν χεῖρα εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ µὴ πιστεύσω. 26 Καὶ µεθ ἡµέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ µαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωµᾶς µετ αὐτῶν. ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισµένων καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ µέσον καὶ εἶπεν εἰρήνη ὑµῖν. 27 εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωµᾷ φέρε τὸν δάκτυλον σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖρας µου καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρα σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν µου, καὶ µὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός. 28 ἀπεκρίθη Θωµᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος µου καὶ ὁ θεός µου. 29 λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἑώρακας µε πεπίστευκας; µακάριοι οἱ µὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες. 30 Πολλὰ µὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σηµεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν µαθητῶν [αὐτοῦ], ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραµµένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ 31 ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόµατι αὐτοῦ. 3 First Lesson; English Text: 2.14a But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them 2:22 You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him, I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. 29 Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 4 First Lesson; Greek Text: 2.14a Σταθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος σὺν τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐπῆρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπεφθέγξατο αὐτοῖς, 3 St. John 20:19-31, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart). To display the Greek text correctly, choose Palatino Linotype font. 4 Acts 2:14a, 22-32, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

5 The Second Sunday of Easter Year A (May 1, 2011) " 5 22 Ἄνδρες Ἰσραηλῖται, ἀκούσατε τοὺς λόγους τούτους Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον, ἄνδρα ἀποδεδειγµένον ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς ὑµᾶς δυνάµεσι καὶ τέρασι καὶ σηµείοις οἷς ἐποίησεν δἰ αὐτοῦ ὁ θεὸς ἐν µέσῳ ὑµῶν καθὼς αὐτοὶ οἴδατε, 23 τοῦτον τῇ ὡρισµένῃ βουλῇ καὶ προγνώσει τοῦ θεοῦ ἔκδοτον διὰ χειρὸς ἀνόµων προσπήξαντες ἀνείλατε, 24 ὃν ὁ θεὸς ἀνέστησεν λύσας τὰς ὠδῖνας τοῦ θανάτου, καθότι οὐκ ἦν δυνατὸν κρατεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπ αὐτοῦ. 25 Δαυὶδ γὰρ λέγει εἰς αὐτόν προορώµην τὸν κύριον ἐνώπιον µου διὰ παντός, ὅτι ἐκ δεξιῶν µού ἐστιν ἵνα µὴ σαλευθῶ. 26 διὰ τοῦτο ἠυφράνθη ἡ καρδία µου καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο ἡ γλῶσσα µου, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἡ σάρξ µου κατασκηνώσει ἐπ ἐλπίδι, 27 ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψεις τὴν ψυχήν µου εἰς ᾅδην οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιον σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν. 28 ἐγνώρισας µοι ὁδοὺς ζωῆς, πληρώσεις µε εὐφροσύνης µετὰ τοῦ προσώπου σου. 29 Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἐξὸν εἰπεῖν µετὰ παρρησίας πρὸς ὑµᾶς περὶ τοῦ πατριάρχου Δαυὶδ ὅτι καὶ ἐτελεύτησεν καὶ ἐτάφη, καὶ τὸ µνῆµα αὐτοῦ ἔστιν ἐν ἡµῖν ἄχρι τῆς ἡµέρας ταύτης. 30 προφήτης οὖν ὑπάρχων καὶ εἰδὼς ὅτι ὅρκῳ ὤµοσεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς ἐκ καρποῦ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ καθίσαι ἐπὶ τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ, 31 προιδὼν ἐλάλησεν περὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὅτι οὔτε ἐγκατελείφθη εἰς ᾅδην οὔτε ἡ σὰρξ αὐτοῦ εἶδεν διαφθοράν. 32 τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀνέστησεν ὁ θεός, οὗ πάντες ἡµεῖς ἐσµεν µάρτυρες 5 5 Acts 2:14a, 22-32, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart). To display the Greek text correctly, choose Palatino Linotype font.