Those Who Doubt
Sermon
Sermons on the Gospel Readings
Series II, Cycle C
Object:
Christianity has always had its doubters. Sometimes it comes in open and public terms. Perhaps more often, despite our attempts at accurate measurements, are the doubters who speak only to intimate friends or not at all. When you and I doubt we are not alone. In the ancient world, our precious faith made little sense to most Jews or Gentiles.
Some great souls, even saints, have been born out of times of skepticism. We have always had our "doubting Thomases." Read the autobiographies and biographies of those stalwarts in church history. When the truth is fully uncovered, we discover some thoroughgoing doubters!
Well, how about you and me? In honesty and sincerity, we admit the message of Christ did not and does not always convince us. It is therapeutic and, perhaps above all, admirable to come to that place in our lives. Our pride is defeated and we admit we are not always 100 percent sure.
The Resurrection and Easter story is the one we may be tempted to water down or simply shrug our shoulders in polite disbelief. Of course, the virginal conception of our blessed Lord is another really big area of question marks! But let us not digress from our major consideration.
Thomas was very specific about his requirements for believing. Don't try to tell me you have seen the Lord, unless you have some real proof. Show me the mark of the nails, so my finger can be placed there. Yes, and my hand must touch his side. There will be no sentimental guessing and wishful thinking. There will be no misleading attempts to prove a point and pass it along to the world at large. The Master was much loved by all of us but we cannot claim too much for him and be dishonest with others, including those who need his message so desperately. Yes, it is hard to argue with our friend!
It is recorded that Jesus had already been among a select group of disciples. He showed them his hands and side. He spoke to them and breathed upon them the gift of the Holy Spirit. The forgiving and retention of sins is even placed upon them. What more could anyone possibly ask? Surely, here was proof enough for anyone who knew the Master intimately. What more needs to be said for verification of his appearance? Surely there was not a single soul who would lie about it. The Master had come and gone. He made his point with clarity. Many people would believe far less important things with a lot less evidence! Still, Thomas was a holdout.
Probably, by now we are beginning to have a real problem with this fellow. What else did he want and/or need? Well, we have to hand it to him; he was quite specific! Didn't he trust his comrades in the cause of Christ? Does he want to be difficult and like some little obstreperous child? Showing oneself to be an independent thinker is one thing. To challenge the witness of his brothers and sisters in Christ is quite something else. We may be motivated to tell him a thing or two. How dare you call into question such stalwarts as Peter, James, and John? Maybe he was one of those people who wished the resurrection was true but had many misgivings. On the other hand, maybe he was just egotistical.
Is it possible, realistically, to place you and me at the scene those twenty centuries ago? To do that kind of thing takes real effort. We would all like to do that, wouldn't we? Our assumption is that if we could really get back to the first century, things would be clarified and we would understand Thomas much better. Don't count on it! It seems to me about the only thing we can understand and accept is his insistence on complete accuracy by physically touching two places on the Master's body. He was unmovable and the history books remember him as someone who not only demanded proof but one who would become a prototype for all of us. Is there anyone you know who hasn't heard of "doubting Thomas"?
Thomas kept his end of the bargain and did not argue. We may not accept this in glowingly positive terms. In fact, this may be more of a deal with God than anything else! We all know or have heard of those stories. Maybe it was during a war and we promised God that if he would just spare us we would believe and go on to a lifetime of service for Christ. There are many accounts of such experiences coming out of the Second World War. Death was imminent and God was told that if he would just spare us, we would go home and live exemplary Christian lives. Some of those promises bore rich fruits for others. Perhaps that is not quite the same as a doubting Thomas but don't miss the similarity.
In a way, there is a childlike simplicity about Thomas. If you show me the goods, count on my acceptance of his resurrection! We might view him as a small boy who wants to be convinced but isn't. You say you can hit a ball out of the infield, well show me. You say you are good at flying a kite, well show me. There is an innocent quality to it, isn't there? Rather than being, at least, somewhat critical of him, we do well to show him some respect. You and I know the story. Had we been there we might have been a lot more difficult than he was. Even today, after all of the confirmation in people's lives, we can be downright demanding for signs of the genuineness of Christianity.
We all admit, in the privacy of our spiritual lives, it is not very helpful to get into an argument with God. Experience tells us again and again he always wins. Sometimes, however, there is solid progress that comes out of our moanings and groanings, indeed, our lack of gratitude and grace. The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures), especially, point to characters thoroughly upset with God, who proceed to tell him off! More relevantly, can we feel free to argue with the one who made us, that is, if we do it respectfully and in a worshipful mood? For many, the answer is, "Yes," isn't it? Maybe the most admirable characteristic of Thomas was that once his needs were met, he was totally sold.
You and I are counseled not to tempt God. To do so puts us in a worse position than being between a rock and a hard place! We are insolent to the point of being blasphemous. But we do not want to be too hard on ourselves. We can get our backs up for the right reasons and be purely motivated -- like Thomas -- which leads us into a newly discovered intimacy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Never underestimate the patience and mercy of God! While we may have communicated that our man is tempting God and we wonder how he got by with it, is that truly the case? We may not all agree about the answer. But keep in mind, as the text later shows, our Lord has a very important point to make for posterity and we are greatly helped by it. How like our Lord to show us the way!
Thomas was confronted by Jesus. After the Lord spoke, again, his words of peace, he directly addressed Thomas. This doubting fellow was on the hot seat! There, before his brothers and sisters, the Lord dealt with the situation. Let's use all of our ingenuity and imagination to bring the moment into focus. The risen Christ was looking at him with those loving and yet piercing eyes. They are eyes that do not miss the least little thing! One wonders if Thomas had the spiritual stamina to look into them more than an instant. More decisively, could you and I hold up under such pressure? We might be tempted to run but where would we go?
We do well to pursue the matter of Jesus' presence and our reaction. Not likely have many of us had an experience close to that of Thomas. That is not as relevant and timely as our understanding that the Lord comes to us and spiritually shows us his nail prints and wounded side. It is closely akin to the reception of the body and blood of our crucified Savior during Holy Communion. He comes to us in those simple and plain elements. He has done so for centuries to countless millions, many on a regular Sunday basis and some on a daily encounter. In a way, the celebration of the Lord's Supper is a divine and holy confrontation. In effect, he says to us -- indeed pleads with us -- to receive him and enjoy the blessed event prepared for us.
Is our response to the Lord comparable to that of Thomas? As his body and blood are lovingly placed before us, what is our response? Recall our doubting friend exclaiming, "My Lord and my God!" Protestants have yet to come to terms in any far reaching way with the sacrament many call the Eucharist or thanksgiving. However, we should joyfully give thanks for the progress we have witnessed in the last thirty years. Increasingly, some of us are discovering something very similar to a blessed and assuredly precious confrontation. It is certainly not one of being hateful and seeking negative domination. It is one of invitation to abundant life with potentiality well beyond anything we can plan or orchestrate.
In a world that has become decidedly multicultural and religious, only the real thing shall see us through to victory, now and forevermore! In our nation, long considered a Christian nation, our way of life is becoming more and more altered -- in some cases, radically so. Some thinkers, even theologians, tell us we were never a Christian nation. That may very well be true but try to communicate that to any number of people! The perception of being a new Israel with God's special blessing is alive and well. Doubtless we have been blessed and chosen but a new day calls for a new orientation to the realities of other religions, especially Islam. Regardless, Jesus Christ is always faithful to his people.
Thomas is to be commended but not imitated. Intriguingly, our Lord pays him a kind of backhanded or indirect compliment. It is as though he is saying you are right and that's good you believe, but is it solely because you have seen me. Is it because you touched the nail prints and my seriously injured side? If I had not come to you in person, what would you have done? In fact, what makes you think you are so special in requiring evidence the others didn't? Possibly we are depicting Thomas in terms never intended but one cannot help posing questions that appear to be much in order. It is well to remember Christ knew the future and he didn't.
You did a good thing, Thomas, but the days -- indeed, centuries -- will not bode well for those who demand proof in a certain way in order to believe the unrivaled story of salvation, delivered once and for all by Jesus the Christ. There we have it! We commend you friend but it is not the way of the future. Millions -- even billions -- of human beings will come and go. Precious few will have the high honor accorded to you. For the vast majority the Holy Spirit will carry the day and spiritual presence shall be the accepted means of conversion, leading to supernatural confidence and wholesome contribution. Praises be to the resurrected Lord Jesus, who neither forsakes nor leaves his people.
Don't be like Thomas and require of the Lord a specific sign! Our Savior is crystal clear that "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." There is not much subtlety here! We honor and appreciate his likes but don't imitate him. The eyes of faith must prevail as the Father works and weaves his ways and will among precious people. What a glorious history it is, as you and I are recipients of the greatest story ever told. We are to see with spiritual vision. In the long run it is invariably superior to any other type of eyesight. Give thanks for the means of knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
There seems always to be a significant place for a word of caution. In brief, don't slip back into a mode of requiring the Holy Spirit to speak to you in a certain way. Be reminded the Holy Spirit blows whenever and wherever he chooses. We might also add to whomever, whatever, and however! How supremely happy we ought to be and wondrously we should celebrate the Father's goodness. Seek the Lord day or night and in any place. Listen to the one who has a word of inspiration for you. Learn to cultivate and use any tool for spiritual growth provided. Be resilient to the methods and tools provided. Thomas, we love you and grant you honor. But you had your way and we have been given ours. He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
Our text is the story of a man who refused to believe in Jesus' resurrection, unless the Lord appeared and provided proof. Furthermore, both his hands and side must be touched. We smile and sometimes wonder why our Lord went so far as to accommodate his demand. After all, who demands anything from God Almighty? Perhaps it is a uniquely special way God walks the second mile to reach a doubting child. Whatever the reason(s), we sense it is a teaching moment for all those who would come later. Learn not to demand a miracle in order to believe! Our Lord and God provides his presence in spiritual power and we are to believe.
Have we not all known those who insisted on proof that crushed all doubts? Perchance we know them because we are the guilty parties! A cardinal theological principle is that we are saved or converted by faith. We are given the gift and receive it in faith like children. The first Easter has long passed and Thomas remains a topic of discussion. The heart of the lesson is there for all seekers to accept: We are to believe without physically touching his hands and side. His ongoing spiritual presence is the pearl of great price that gives us hope and direction for times that try our souls and those about us. It is not that so much is expected of us. It is that so little is expected! In the context of repentance and forgiveness simply accept him by faith.
Some great souls, even saints, have been born out of times of skepticism. We have always had our "doubting Thomases." Read the autobiographies and biographies of those stalwarts in church history. When the truth is fully uncovered, we discover some thoroughgoing doubters!
Well, how about you and me? In honesty and sincerity, we admit the message of Christ did not and does not always convince us. It is therapeutic and, perhaps above all, admirable to come to that place in our lives. Our pride is defeated and we admit we are not always 100 percent sure.
The Resurrection and Easter story is the one we may be tempted to water down or simply shrug our shoulders in polite disbelief. Of course, the virginal conception of our blessed Lord is another really big area of question marks! But let us not digress from our major consideration.
Thomas was very specific about his requirements for believing. Don't try to tell me you have seen the Lord, unless you have some real proof. Show me the mark of the nails, so my finger can be placed there. Yes, and my hand must touch his side. There will be no sentimental guessing and wishful thinking. There will be no misleading attempts to prove a point and pass it along to the world at large. The Master was much loved by all of us but we cannot claim too much for him and be dishonest with others, including those who need his message so desperately. Yes, it is hard to argue with our friend!
It is recorded that Jesus had already been among a select group of disciples. He showed them his hands and side. He spoke to them and breathed upon them the gift of the Holy Spirit. The forgiving and retention of sins is even placed upon them. What more could anyone possibly ask? Surely, here was proof enough for anyone who knew the Master intimately. What more needs to be said for verification of his appearance? Surely there was not a single soul who would lie about it. The Master had come and gone. He made his point with clarity. Many people would believe far less important things with a lot less evidence! Still, Thomas was a holdout.
Probably, by now we are beginning to have a real problem with this fellow. What else did he want and/or need? Well, we have to hand it to him; he was quite specific! Didn't he trust his comrades in the cause of Christ? Does he want to be difficult and like some little obstreperous child? Showing oneself to be an independent thinker is one thing. To challenge the witness of his brothers and sisters in Christ is quite something else. We may be motivated to tell him a thing or two. How dare you call into question such stalwarts as Peter, James, and John? Maybe he was one of those people who wished the resurrection was true but had many misgivings. On the other hand, maybe he was just egotistical.
Is it possible, realistically, to place you and me at the scene those twenty centuries ago? To do that kind of thing takes real effort. We would all like to do that, wouldn't we? Our assumption is that if we could really get back to the first century, things would be clarified and we would understand Thomas much better. Don't count on it! It seems to me about the only thing we can understand and accept is his insistence on complete accuracy by physically touching two places on the Master's body. He was unmovable and the history books remember him as someone who not only demanded proof but one who would become a prototype for all of us. Is there anyone you know who hasn't heard of "doubting Thomas"?
Thomas kept his end of the bargain and did not argue. We may not accept this in glowingly positive terms. In fact, this may be more of a deal with God than anything else! We all know or have heard of those stories. Maybe it was during a war and we promised God that if he would just spare us we would believe and go on to a lifetime of service for Christ. There are many accounts of such experiences coming out of the Second World War. Death was imminent and God was told that if he would just spare us, we would go home and live exemplary Christian lives. Some of those promises bore rich fruits for others. Perhaps that is not quite the same as a doubting Thomas but don't miss the similarity.
In a way, there is a childlike simplicity about Thomas. If you show me the goods, count on my acceptance of his resurrection! We might view him as a small boy who wants to be convinced but isn't. You say you can hit a ball out of the infield, well show me. You say you are good at flying a kite, well show me. There is an innocent quality to it, isn't there? Rather than being, at least, somewhat critical of him, we do well to show him some respect. You and I know the story. Had we been there we might have been a lot more difficult than he was. Even today, after all of the confirmation in people's lives, we can be downright demanding for signs of the genuineness of Christianity.
We all admit, in the privacy of our spiritual lives, it is not very helpful to get into an argument with God. Experience tells us again and again he always wins. Sometimes, however, there is solid progress that comes out of our moanings and groanings, indeed, our lack of gratitude and grace. The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures), especially, point to characters thoroughly upset with God, who proceed to tell him off! More relevantly, can we feel free to argue with the one who made us, that is, if we do it respectfully and in a worshipful mood? For many, the answer is, "Yes," isn't it? Maybe the most admirable characteristic of Thomas was that once his needs were met, he was totally sold.
You and I are counseled not to tempt God. To do so puts us in a worse position than being between a rock and a hard place! We are insolent to the point of being blasphemous. But we do not want to be too hard on ourselves. We can get our backs up for the right reasons and be purely motivated -- like Thomas -- which leads us into a newly discovered intimacy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Never underestimate the patience and mercy of God! While we may have communicated that our man is tempting God and we wonder how he got by with it, is that truly the case? We may not all agree about the answer. But keep in mind, as the text later shows, our Lord has a very important point to make for posterity and we are greatly helped by it. How like our Lord to show us the way!
Thomas was confronted by Jesus. After the Lord spoke, again, his words of peace, he directly addressed Thomas. This doubting fellow was on the hot seat! There, before his brothers and sisters, the Lord dealt with the situation. Let's use all of our ingenuity and imagination to bring the moment into focus. The risen Christ was looking at him with those loving and yet piercing eyes. They are eyes that do not miss the least little thing! One wonders if Thomas had the spiritual stamina to look into them more than an instant. More decisively, could you and I hold up under such pressure? We might be tempted to run but where would we go?
We do well to pursue the matter of Jesus' presence and our reaction. Not likely have many of us had an experience close to that of Thomas. That is not as relevant and timely as our understanding that the Lord comes to us and spiritually shows us his nail prints and wounded side. It is closely akin to the reception of the body and blood of our crucified Savior during Holy Communion. He comes to us in those simple and plain elements. He has done so for centuries to countless millions, many on a regular Sunday basis and some on a daily encounter. In a way, the celebration of the Lord's Supper is a divine and holy confrontation. In effect, he says to us -- indeed pleads with us -- to receive him and enjoy the blessed event prepared for us.
Is our response to the Lord comparable to that of Thomas? As his body and blood are lovingly placed before us, what is our response? Recall our doubting friend exclaiming, "My Lord and my God!" Protestants have yet to come to terms in any far reaching way with the sacrament many call the Eucharist or thanksgiving. However, we should joyfully give thanks for the progress we have witnessed in the last thirty years. Increasingly, some of us are discovering something very similar to a blessed and assuredly precious confrontation. It is certainly not one of being hateful and seeking negative domination. It is one of invitation to abundant life with potentiality well beyond anything we can plan or orchestrate.
In a world that has become decidedly multicultural and religious, only the real thing shall see us through to victory, now and forevermore! In our nation, long considered a Christian nation, our way of life is becoming more and more altered -- in some cases, radically so. Some thinkers, even theologians, tell us we were never a Christian nation. That may very well be true but try to communicate that to any number of people! The perception of being a new Israel with God's special blessing is alive and well. Doubtless we have been blessed and chosen but a new day calls for a new orientation to the realities of other religions, especially Islam. Regardless, Jesus Christ is always faithful to his people.
Thomas is to be commended but not imitated. Intriguingly, our Lord pays him a kind of backhanded or indirect compliment. It is as though he is saying you are right and that's good you believe, but is it solely because you have seen me. Is it because you touched the nail prints and my seriously injured side? If I had not come to you in person, what would you have done? In fact, what makes you think you are so special in requiring evidence the others didn't? Possibly we are depicting Thomas in terms never intended but one cannot help posing questions that appear to be much in order. It is well to remember Christ knew the future and he didn't.
You did a good thing, Thomas, but the days -- indeed, centuries -- will not bode well for those who demand proof in a certain way in order to believe the unrivaled story of salvation, delivered once and for all by Jesus the Christ. There we have it! We commend you friend but it is not the way of the future. Millions -- even billions -- of human beings will come and go. Precious few will have the high honor accorded to you. For the vast majority the Holy Spirit will carry the day and spiritual presence shall be the accepted means of conversion, leading to supernatural confidence and wholesome contribution. Praises be to the resurrected Lord Jesus, who neither forsakes nor leaves his people.
Don't be like Thomas and require of the Lord a specific sign! Our Savior is crystal clear that "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." There is not much subtlety here! We honor and appreciate his likes but don't imitate him. The eyes of faith must prevail as the Father works and weaves his ways and will among precious people. What a glorious history it is, as you and I are recipients of the greatest story ever told. We are to see with spiritual vision. In the long run it is invariably superior to any other type of eyesight. Give thanks for the means of knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
There seems always to be a significant place for a word of caution. In brief, don't slip back into a mode of requiring the Holy Spirit to speak to you in a certain way. Be reminded the Holy Spirit blows whenever and wherever he chooses. We might also add to whomever, whatever, and however! How supremely happy we ought to be and wondrously we should celebrate the Father's goodness. Seek the Lord day or night and in any place. Listen to the one who has a word of inspiration for you. Learn to cultivate and use any tool for spiritual growth provided. Be resilient to the methods and tools provided. Thomas, we love you and grant you honor. But you had your way and we have been given ours. He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
Our text is the story of a man who refused to believe in Jesus' resurrection, unless the Lord appeared and provided proof. Furthermore, both his hands and side must be touched. We smile and sometimes wonder why our Lord went so far as to accommodate his demand. After all, who demands anything from God Almighty? Perhaps it is a uniquely special way God walks the second mile to reach a doubting child. Whatever the reason(s), we sense it is a teaching moment for all those who would come later. Learn not to demand a miracle in order to believe! Our Lord and God provides his presence in spiritual power and we are to believe.
Have we not all known those who insisted on proof that crushed all doubts? Perchance we know them because we are the guilty parties! A cardinal theological principle is that we are saved or converted by faith. We are given the gift and receive it in faith like children. The first Easter has long passed and Thomas remains a topic of discussion. The heart of the lesson is there for all seekers to accept: We are to believe without physically touching his hands and side. His ongoing spiritual presence is the pearl of great price that gives us hope and direction for times that try our souls and those about us. It is not that so much is expected of us. It is that so little is expected! In the context of repentance and forgiveness simply accept him by faith.
