Second Sunday after
Easter
Preached at
By Pastor Dennis R. King
The Grace and Mercy of the Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you all.
Mark Twain, the great American
humorist and writer, penned a classic piece titled “The Notorious Jumping Frog
of Calaveras County.” In this yarn, Twain narrates an
encounter that he had with a man named Simon Wheeler. Twain is interested in
learning about a fellow named Rev. L. W. Smiley. This story is ultimately a
long rambling narrative about nothing. Instead of telling Twain
about the Rev. Smiley, Wheeler spins a long-winded story about a certain Jim
Smiley. Wheeler’s narrative goes nowhere and moves from one unrelated story to
another.
As we gather today to continue our
celebrate of the
resurrection of Jesus, it is worth pondering its interaction with our lives: Is
it the center of our lives or is the story of the first Easter morning simply
another detached narrative that we store along with any number of other stories
that we have heard over the course of our lives? Is it simply a story or is it
the story? What difference does it make in our day-to-day lives that Jesus was
raised?
How has this truth
changed us? Would our lives be any different if Jesus had not been raised?
For Jesus’ earliest followers, the
reality of Jesus’ resurrection changed everything. It transformed a group of
frightened and doubting people into a revolutionary movement that impacted the
entire Roman world. It elevated an obscure Jewish teacher into a figure worthy
of universal worship. It sent common fishermen to the far reaches of the world.
It can transform our lives today if we have ears to hear and eyes to see.
Unlike Simon Wheeler in the Twain
story, the writer of John’s gospel does not mince words or spin tales for the
sake of hearing himself talk. The story about Jesus has a purpose. This purpose
is life altering and uncompromising. The story of Jesus’ life, death and
resurrection points to only one conclusion: Jesus is the only true way to live
the life that God created us to live.
This is crucial information. This
needs to become the “word on the street.” The Gospel about Jesus Christ is not
a myth. It is good news. The various stories about Jesus that circulate are not
the isolated “Christian” equivalent of Aesop’s fables or like-minded stories
intended to teach virtue or ethics. John has gathered these stories together
for one purpose and one purpose only: to inspire a life-altering,
paradigm-shifting, world-changing belief in Jesus as the long-awaited good news
from God, from the God who makes it possible to enjoy life in all of its
fullness forever with him.
This
is good news for all people. Students of John debate the meaning of “so that
you may come to believe” in verse 31. Some Bible versions translate the phrase
as though John is writing for the purpose of persuading outsiders to the faith
to experience a moment of conversion. Other versions translate the phrase as
“so that you may continue to believe.” In this case, the gospel serves to
strengthen an already present faith.
In either case, the intention of the
John’s gospel and the Gospel message is clear — the story of Jesus’ life, death
and resurrection is missional. The Gospel seeks to
change everyone who hears it and to shape each person into a follower of Jesus
Christ. It calls to those on the outside to become part of the community and it
continues to call those on the inside to live fully in light of its good news.
Have we embraced God’s mission? Have
we experienced the life that God desires for us to enjoy forever? If not, what
is holding us back?
Our scripture lesson suggests that
there are at least two stumbling blocks to embracing fully a life-altering
belief in Jesus Christ — fear and doubt.
Fear can be paralyzing. Imagine the
lives of the disciples in the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion. Their dreams had
been crushed. Their movement squelched. Their very lives seemed threatened.
They must have asked themselves, “Will we be next?”
To see its true paralyzing nature,
we need to set the fear of the disciples in its context. In the first
two-thirds of John 20, we learn that Jesus’ tomb is empty. Peter and John race
to check it out. They find an empty tomb but they are unable to make sense of
it. They return home. Only Mary remains at the grave. She encounters Jesus.
Jesus sends her to share the good news with the disciples. She returns to the
disciples and announces, “I have seen the Lord.”
Apparently, this eyewitness report
from a trusted friend of Jesus did not lessen the fear of the disciples one iota. They remain locked behind closed doors.
How many of us let fear interfere
with the mission of Jesus? Yet there is a great irony at work. The Gospel
claims that God has conquered even the power of death. Yet fear at its roots
concerns itself with self-preservation. If God has indeed raised Jesus from the
dead, what is left to fear?
The words of Martin Luther’s great
hymn, “A Mighty Fortress in Our God,” come to mind: “The body they may kill.
God’s truth abideth still; His kingdom is forever!”
Jesus appears to his frightened disciples
and breathes the Holy Spirit on them. The Spirit empowers them to overcome fear
and embrace the mission of Jesus. Jesus authorizes them to serve a high calling
— the extending of forgiveness to others on behalf of God. The life to which
God calls us is one that gives life to others. This life begins with the
restoration of relationship with God through forgiveness. When we move through
fear to embrace life, God’s Spirit empowers us to participate in God’s mission.
What are we afraid of this day?
What is keeping us from embracing the life that God created us to live? If
Jesus is alive, how can fear keep us from true life? What would it take to move
us past our fear?
Doubt is a second great stumbling
block to the life that God desires for us. Thomas, forever remembered as
“Doubting Thomas,” is unable to believe that Jesus is alive. Even after his
fellow disciples proclaim, “We have seen the Lord,” he remains in disbelief.
Doubt is as paralyzing as fear. If fear keeps us from committing ourselves
fully to our Lord, doubt prevents us from fully embracing the Gospel because of
the fact that we might be wrong.
Many of us today are able to grasp
the idea of Jesus’ resurrection. Many of us are even able to recognize the
incredible power that such an event would have. But many of us doubt. This is
understandable. Thomas doubted and he was much closer to the events than any of
us ever will be.
But doubt cannot keep us from Jesus
Christ. Christian faith is based on the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. The
gospel of John deals with Thomas’ doubt by reporting that Jesus met him face to
face. In other words, John concedes that Thomas doubted, but Thomas did not
remain in doubt. Something happened — Jesus the risen Lord appeared to him.
Thomas was transformed from a doubter to one of the most zealous disciples in
terms of mission. Thomas is alleged to have carried the Gospel personally as
far east as
The gospels include other scenes of
doubt in the face of Jesus’ resurrection, but nowhere does doubt overthrow a
life-changing faith. There are simply too many eyewitness accounts to be frozen
by doubt.
Throughout the centuries, many women
and men have had their doubts about Jesus, but time and time again, careful
investigation ultimately leads to a life-changing faith. If any of us sit here
this morning trapped in a prison of doubt, do not give up. Seek after the truth
and it will set you free.
Jesus Christ is alive today. This
reality can change your life. Believing in Jesus Christ and becoming his
follower can and will change your live into a life that truly matters? Move
through fear. Move through doubt. Embrace the mission of extending life to
others. Prepare to be changed. Your life and mine will never be the same. Get
involved with the Living Lord, the Risen Christ, and His disciples and
experience His Risen life. Amen.