Everyone was
shocked and surprised about Jesus’ resurrection. There was wide-ranging disbelief;
however things changed as the women and the disciples came into contact with
Jesus. They came to recognise that the one who was before them was indeed their
friend and leader Jesus, and they rejoiced appropriately.
One who had
thus far missed out was Thomas. Where had he been? Maybe disappointment had
taken him back to the life he had before he met Jesus. Thomas had shown courage
before, previously being willing to accompany Jesus back to Judea even if that
meant his death (John 11). Thomas might get a bad rap as a “doubter”, however
he really was no more disbelieving about the resurrection than all the others.
Thomas
becomes interested in the breaking news, and hopeful enough to re-join the
others. Thomas had heard about the evidence of the hands and the side, but
wanted to see and touch for himself. Jesus knew his man and where he was at,
and gave Thomas the opportunity he needed. Probably the best translation of
Jesus’ statement to Thomas would be: “Stop becoming an unbeliever and believe”.
Thomas is
actually most singled out in John’s Gospel, as the one who made the most
outstanding faith-filled identification of Jesus – “My Lord and my God”. Jesus
offered himself to Thomas in the way that Thomas had desired and needed, yet
the offer was enough – there is no mention any longer of Thomas needing to
actually touch the scarred hands and side. Thomas just says, “My Lord and my
God”, a most powerful confession of Jesus’ identity … as Thomas sees God fully
revealed in Jesus. This is not some pre-rehearsed creed that might have
been said glibly; but rather a sincere and personal commitment [outstanding for
a Jew brought up ardently monotheistic].
John’s Gospel
from the very beginning sought to identify Jesus as God incarnate. God took up
residence in the midst of human society in Jesus. The signs Jesus gave e.g.
healing a blind man, feeding the five thousand and all the others, showed that
Jesus was God. The Book of Hebrews took up this theme by stating that Jesus,
because of his incarnation in this world, understood all of what it is to be
human including the struggles and weaknesses – in a way demonstrating the
extent to which God would go to form relationship with his created beings. Yet
even death on a cross could not dent God’s initiative, and in fact provided a
pathway for us to receive God’s mercy. Then Jesus would return from the grave
to lead a people embracing a resurrected life – the old life gone, a new life
begun.
How did Jesus appear to these
disciples? We can see that Jesus was physically resurrected in a human form, as
he was able to point out the wounds he had suffered during his crucifixion.
These wounds would be an important point of recognition for the disciples. But
we can also see here a body somewhat different and difficult to recognise – a
body already prepared for ascension and eternity, as Jesus was able to enter a
locked room without even needing to knock on the door. This would be another
important indication of the presence of God.
The first
disciples were fortunate to have this personal assurance of Jesus’ resurrection.
Paul was fortunate to be confronted so vividly by the resurrected (and
ascended) Jesus on the Damascus Road. Those who came to faith later on, like
those John was writing his Gospel to, would have to do without such physical
evidence of the resurrection. They would have to just open themselves to belief
in their heart, on the basis of what they had seen and heard from later
disciples, and also on the basis of what they read in the New Testament
documents.
In fact this
verse 29 is a deliberate encouragement to those who have joined the faith in
the generations after Jesus – they have joined a good team! They can rely
completely on the revelation of truth contained in this Gospel record!! The
text reads in verse 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”. [Jewish people would have also
had the advantage of noticing the many references in the scriptures of the
Hebrew Old Testament that they could now apply to Jesus.] We are part of this
blessing, of those who have opened their hearts and minds to God on the basis
of the witness of other Jesus-followers and the scriptures that speak of him.
We join with Thomas and say to Jesus, in faith and adoration, “My Lord and my
God”.
There are
many though who seek hard evidence, and cannot sufficiently open their hearts
and minds to the witness to God already available. Atheists are people who are not able,
for whatever reason, to open their hearts to possibilities that their intellect
is not ready for. Such a person is to be pitied, and to be loved, and to be prayed for!
Faith is only truly faith if it
takes a leap beyond the provable to possess it. Hebrews 11 defines “faith” as
“the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen”.
Such faith was in evidence many times through the Old Testament. Certain famous
people like Abraham and Moses believed that God was behind their calls to
action, even though they hadn’t physically faced off. The beauty of faith is
that it is a choice, rather than being pre-determined. God knows we respond to
him purely voluntarily! Have we moved from ‘unbelief’ to ‘belief’?
Let us return to what Jesus
brought to his disciples after his resurrection. When he came into this house,
Jesus said, “Peace be with you”. After the disciples came to recognise that
this was Jesus and they rejoiced, Jesus repeated “Peace be with you”, and then
added, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”. So the incarnation of Jesus
is to be replicated by our being sent to the same world Jesus was. There was a
little time for celebration, but Jesus quickly commissions the faith community
to continue the work God sent him to do.
And the
disciples would be so sent with everything they needed to be effective in this,
exactly like Jesus was. And to put the icing on the cake, they would be
breathed upon with the Holy Spirit, given various gifts, that when they joined
together and were used cooperatively, they would create a sign of God’s
presence. [John didn’t have the luxury of a second book like Luke did, so included
the Holy Spirit here, at the end of his Gospel narrative, to show how
resurrected life would carry on.]
So we also live
with this blessing of peace over us. And this “peace” was mentioned earlier by
Jesus in chapter 14 of John (verses 25-27). This particular passage later concludes at verse 31 with Jesus’ comment
… Rise, let us be on our way.
This “peace” (and “Spirit”) that Jesus “leaves” us is at least twofold
in significance. First, it allows us to not get all anxious and troubled
about life, especially in terms of witnessing about Jesus (v.27). The “world”
sows disaster, but Jesus sows “peace” that transcends trouble and worry. This
“peace” means that we will not let fear get in the way of our faith! I mean,
what can they do to us – nothing can separate us from the love of God, says
Paul in Romans. Note the context of the peace gift, given in verse 19 – the
disciples were quaking behind locked doors in fear.
Secondly, if we are attentive enough, we will receive all the teaching
we need, especially in regards to the attitudes and actions of Jesus (v.26b).
The “Holy Spirit” would serve to remind the first disciples of all they had
been trained and guided to do. This peace will be enough for them (and for us)
to ‘rise and be on our way’ i.e. on Jesus’ way! Would they, and would we, ‘rise
up and be on our way’? People discovering forgiveness for their sins depends
upon it!!
Real estate agents try to present
the home they are selling in the best possible light to potential buyers. Such
agents promote the house and show people right through it. Jesus’ disciples, as
agents of God, must also seek to present the God of our salvation to the
community around us in the most credible way. Real estate agents succeed when a
contract is signed; we pray that the people who recognise God’s presence will
sign a different sort of contract – one that commits them to the Jesus way of
life.
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