Easter
John 20:19–31
19On 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." 20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld." 24Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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." 26Eight 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." 27Then 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." 28Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but 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. (Joh 20:19 ESV)
Nothing seems certain today. What happens when you realize that General Motors isn't too big to fail? What happens when you work your whole life, saving every penny, only to see it vanish in one bad month of the stock market? Even human relationships seem more tenuous today. Remember when our grandparents' marriages lasted fifty, sixty years? What happens when marriages are cast aside even before the honeymoon is over? What can you count on in this world? What happens when all these questions seem "out of your hands"?
The call of this lesson is to cast your cares, your doubts, your concerns on Christ alone! He is the only thing certain in this world. His care, his promises, his Word—these are the things that make life worth living, both in times of uncertainty and in times of celebration.
Hear the good news! Place all your doubts and fears in the hands of Jesus! Your life now and your eternal life are secure in his hands!
When we place our life in our own hands and live life on our own terms we live in doubt and fear. If our life depended completely on our own capability, our own efforts, our own intellect then our shortcomings would leave us doubting and in fear. Our life would be uncertain, insecure. If we depend on our own goodness and works, there would be the nagging question, "Am I really saved?" Even if you could say "yes" today, how about tomorrow? If your life depends on your own abilities, how about tomorrow when you are sick, broke, in a wheel chair or bed ridden? Then what? If you think that because you are a good person you will be saved, how about tomorrow when you mess up? What if you fall out of God's favor and grace? Living life on your own terms is never secure and you will never have assurance.
Because if you place your life in your own hands, eventually your incapacities will always find you out. The hopes and dreams of the disciples ended in fear, behind locked doors in a hidden room, because those hopes and dreams were disconnected from Christ's real mission and ministry; going to the cross for eternal salvation. The disciples' hopes and dreams were connected to a glorious, victorious, Messiah who would take over and rule Israel in might and power. And they wanted to be a part of his glory and success. The disciples were connected to their own dreams and wishes; the dream of ruling with Jesus in his kingdom, the dream of sitting on the throne of glory at his side. The dream of having all their needs fulfilled without any effort or work on their part. Their dream of glory. Then when Jesus died, their fantasies were suddenly shattered, because their hopes and dreams were disconnected from God.
Likewise, if our hopes and dreams are disconnected from God, they too, will be unfulfilled and will eventually lock us up in fear. Our dreams will be shattered. For all our efforts, all our accomplishments, all our abilities will one day come to an end. They will be unfulfilled and will eventually lock us up in fear. If your dream is to be rich and successful what will happen as the economy falls apart? If your dream is to be the perfect and most beautiful bride in the world, what will happen if the perfect groom never comes along? If your dream is to travel all the world, what will happen as the political situation changes making entry to and from other countries impossible? Eventually, all your hopes and dreams end in death. All that this world offers will come to an end.
If we place our life in our own hands and our own potential, our vision of the "big picture" will always be in doubt. That is what happened to Thomas. His false vision led to stubborn unbelief, closing him to the testimony of the others. While the other disciples were ecstatic with joy at the risen Savior, Thomas was depressed and sorrowful because his dreams had not been realized. His stubborn unbelief kept him in doubt even amidst others' joyful faith. Thomas' vision of Jesus was shattered by his death because he was disconnected from God's "big picture" and plan for the salvation of mankind.
We are all Thomas's. Our vision of a Jesus who meets our every whim or desire closes our eyes to the glorious things he has already accomplished on our behalf. We are left in doubt and fear. Our vision is of a Jesus who takes care of our every need, and resolves all our problems. We want a Jesus who will take away all our sickness and pain, give us prosperity and success even as we live in a world broken by sickness and disease and a crumbling economy. We want a Jesus who will fix our every problem and make our life comfortable and easy. But our vision of Jesus is disconnected from the real Jesus and what he really came to do. When we see his body hanging on a cross we are sent into despair. Our dreams and hopes are shattered. Because our dreams are connected to this world and the glory of man.
But, in reality, the pierced hands and feet and side of Jesus are the only means for God's rule. They are the means of God's reconciling work of the cross for all mankind. Jesus hands and broken body are the only thing that can bear the work of reconciliation for all. They are the hands of the God-man in action, routing all the forces of sin and death. These are the hands that created all things and that formed you in the womb. These are the hands that changed water into wine at the wedding. These are the hands that broke seven loaves of bread and multiplied two fish to feed 5000 people. These are the hands that touched the eyes of a blind man and gave him sight. The hands that healed the soldier's ear that Peter had cut off. The hands that touched the bier of a dead man and brought him back to life. These are the outstretched hands on the cross that gives forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who repent of their sins and believe. These are the hands that will lift you up out of the grave and raise you to eternal life. These are the hands that Thomas saw and he believed so that through his word and the words of the Apostles you might believe and be blessed. These are the hands that reach out through Baptism and Holy Communion to give you forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.
Trusting your life in Jesus' hands is to live in his confidence and blessing forever. Because his hands spread out on the cross turn out to be God's provision for doubt and fear after all. A crucified Messiah was God's "hope and dream" for us, even if it wasn't yours. A crucified Messiah is God's love; the love that sent his only begotten Son to die for you so that you would not perish but have everlasting life. Perfect love casts out all fear. Christ crucified is God's perfect love in action for you!
Trust your life to Jesus' hands on the cross, because there is no place his hands of grace and mercy can't reach. He came to sinful, fearful disciples through locked doors. He calmed their fears and gave them peace. Peace in the midst of doubt and fear. He came to a doubter whose heart was closed by his own arrogance and demands. His pierced hands can pierce your heart as well.
His word of assurance has reached you through his hand writing by the apostles. Through the word written by the apostles and proclaimed by his ministers in all the world his hands reach out to you. His hands reach out to you in word and sacrament to calm your fears. His hands reach out to comfort you in sorrow; to give you peace in affliction; strength in weakness and life in the midst of death.
The apostolic ministry of forgiveness delivers that perfect love to you and me as a gift. The disciple's gift has become ours through the ministry of forgiveness and sharing that work through the written Scriptures. With God's promises sure in our lives;...with Christ's blessing delivered and received...fear and doubt give way to confident faith.
Easter is not about eggs, flower buds, or the freshness of spring. All those speak of emerging life where life already existed. No, Easter is about the resurrection from the dead, life amidst death, peace in the middle of sorrow, joy from sadness, grace in a ruthless world, and confidence in the midst of doubt, all because of Jesus. Where death was the only thing certain, and "living life on our own terms' only assures death, Easter invites you to entrust your life to Christ in all things. Bring your doubts and fears to the one whose hands bring you life and salvation., bring them to Jesus in faith. Amen.