“That You May Believe”
Acts 5:27-32 John 20:19-31
John tells us that his gospel was written so that we may believe…so that we may believe that Jesus Christ is Lord…Master…and Savior. It wasn’t written to be a complete and accurate history or biography alone. It was written so that we would believe. The words we heard from John today show us that on that day shortly after the first Easter Jesus left five things for his disciples…and for you and me. He gave them His presence, His peace, a mission, a companion and a message of forgiveness. Jesus was there among them in that room whose doors had been shut and locked. No ordinary human being could have entered…but Jesus was there. They heard him speak. They saw his wounds. They knew it was truly Jesus who was with them. John wrote this so that we may believe. … believe that we are not alone…ever. Just like that night…despite the circumstances…Jesus is always with us. Jesus offered them a greeting that said he was bringing them peace. It was a standard Hebrew greeting… but from Jesus it had a deeper meaning. Jesus’ peace would not guarantee the absence of trouble…but it would supply the strength and comfort for the burdens to be carried. He gave the disciples peace that would help them through the troubles that were at hand…and to us he gave peace for the troubles that we would encounter. John wrote this so that we would believe. …believe that same kind of peace is ours no matter what troubles seem to surround us. Jesus gave the disciples a mission that is still for the Church today. As God has sent Jesus forth… so Jesus sends us forth. This means three things. 1. Jesus needs the Church, “the body of Christ”. Jesus had come with a message to be taken to all humans. He was now going back to the Father. His message could never be taken to all humans unless the Church took it. The Church was to be the mouth to speak for Jesus…the feet to run his errands…the hands to do his work. Jesus is dependent on the church. 2. The Church needs Jesus. Someone who is sent out needs someone to send him…needs a message to take…needs a power and an authority to back up the message…needs someone to turn to when he is in doubt and difficulty. For this the Church is dependent upon Jesus. 3. The relationship between Jesus and God was continually dependent on Jesus’ perfect obedience and perfect love. In the same way the Church is fit to be the messenger and the instrument of Christ only when she perfectly loves him and perfectly obeys him. The Church must never be out to propagate her message…she must be out to propagate the message of Christ. The church must never be out to follow man-made policies…and political agendas…she must follow the will of Christ. John wrote this so that we may believe….believe in our mission to make disciples and in the one who supports us in executing our mission. Our mission and support are clear. Jesus gave them a companion. Jesus breathed on the disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit. In using this metaphor John was thinking back to the story of the creation of humans…when God breathed into the nostrils of man the breath of life. Jesus gave the disciples a new life with a companion to guide and protect them on that life’s path. You and I have the same companion. John wrote this so that we may believe….believe that our guide and guidance are always with us. Jesus told the disciples to forgive the sins of others. This sentence does not mean that the power to forgive sins was ever entrusted to any man or woman. It means that the power to proclaim that forgiveness was so entrusted…along with the power to warn that forgiveness is not open to the person who will not repent. This sentence lays down the duty of the Church to convey forgiveness to the person who repents and to warn the person who doesn’t that they are forfeiting the mercy of God. John wrote this so that we may believe. …believe that forgiveness is there for us and for others…repentance and confession are all that’s needed. There was more that John wrote so that we may believe. You see…Thomas wasn’t with the disciples when they had their first encounter with Jesus. Though they told Thomas he doubted. Thomas was so broken-hearted that he had to be alone with his grief. He didn’t stay with the disciples. He initially refused to believe the news that Jesus had returned. He said he wouldn’t believe until he had seen the wounds. When Jesus returned a week later he challenged Thomas to touch his wounds. Thomas immediately believed and called Jesus Lord and God. Thomas’ character…like that of many… clearly stands out. 1. He withdrew from the Christian fellowship. He sought loneliness rather than togetherness. He missed Jesus’ first visit because of this. We miss a great deal when we separate ourselves from the Christian fellowship and try to be alone. Things can happen to us within the fellowship that will not happen when we are alone. When sorrow envelops us we often tend to shut ourselves up and refuse to meet people. That is the time when…in spite of our sorrow…we should seek the fellowship of Christ’s people. 2. Thomas had two great virtues. He refused to say that he understood what he did not understand… or that he believed what he did not believe. He was honest. He was not the kind of person to rattle off a creed without understanding what it was all about. His other great virtue was that when he was sure he went all the way. Thomas doubted in order to become sure, and when he did his surrender to that certainty was complete. John wrote this that we may believe. …believe even in our times of doubt and uncertainty. Though the words of John the gospel writer are before all to see…there are those who don’t believe…those who doubt like Thomas…those who laugh and jeer or maybe just roll their eyes…when you or I tell the story of our faith and what Jesus has done…and continues to do…in our lives. It is for the unbelievers and for us that John wrote the story of Jesus’ first visit to the disciples…a time when Jesus…though crucified…gave them His presence…His peace…a mission…a companion and a message of forgiveness…and John wrote the story of how the once doubting Thomas saw and believed. John has done his task. Our task is to read the story and believe. But…that’s just the beginning. We also must share the story so that others may believe. As we say when we come to the Lord’s Table we must become for the world…the world that touches us…and the world that needs our touch… the body of Christ…redeemed by His blood. We must be advocates for the outcasts…pray for reconciliation of all…examine our lives and the lives of those around us…and work together to break down the walls that divide us…even when others call for walls…division…anger…fear and hate.