Message 04-15-07

 

Series:            Lectionary [Easter – Brunch Sunday]

Scripture:            John 20:19-31

 

Title:                                                    A Clear Example

 

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"

But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

 

 

            There’s such a benefit to a clear example. Good examples are not always helpful or fun. I think good examples can make us feel guilty.

            It’s like when Lisa Simpson decides to be a vegetarian. She tries to get everyone to follow her good example. She tells them why eating meat is bad for them. She shows up with gazpacho soup at Homer’s BBQ. She finally ends up at the Kwik-E-Mart and grabs a hotdog and takes a bite saying, “There is everyone happy now?” But Abu, the Kwik-E-Mart owner tells her that she just took a bite of a tofu dog and then he shows her a secret passage where he and Lisa come out on the roof and meet Paul and Linda McCartney. They have a talk and Lisa rededicates herself to vegetarianism, but Abu shares a new insight. He tells her that it’s better to influence people without badgering them all the time.

            It’s better to influence people without badgering them all the time.

            That makes sense to me. That makes sense because I think that what we’re looking for is a clear example, more than a good example. Good examples can make us feel guilty, but a clear example shows us the way. I think we have three clear examples in this passage.

 

            Starting at the end… we have the Gospel of John itself. John is giving us his book as a clear example. He doesn’t try to badger people into believing. He just gives them the truth of Jesus. Then there’s Thomas. Thomas needs to get his hand on it himself. He needs to see it. A lot of people put down Thomas, but Thomas was a practical man. He was a solid man. When Jesus says that he’s heading for Jerusalem and all the disciples know that this is where the most danger will be, Thomas tells the others, “Let go along and we can die with him.” It’s Thomas who wants to know the way Jesus is going which prompts Jesus to tell him, “I am the way.”

            Thomas shows us that practical, plain thinking people get in on the kingdom of God as well. It might be tougher for them sometimes. They may struggle with God a bit more than others, but they aren’t kept out. Jesus then is our next clear example.

            First, just look at the way that he works with Thomas. He doesn’t push Thomas aside. He doesn’t scold him. He gives Thomas what he needs, but then he calls him to know a stronger faith. He doesn’t negate Thomas, but he doesn’t leave him where he is either. He challenges him to give up some control and to trust more completely.

            But then second, Jesus himself is just a clear example. He gives us himself. He gives God himself. He leads the way. When he tells Thomas that he is the way he also says he is the truth and the life. It isn’t inappropriate to translate that passage “I am the living, true way. No one gets to the Father but by me.” It is only in walking in Jesus’ way, it’s only in living in Jesus’ way, it’s only in being true to real life in Jesus’ way that we find God. Jesus isn’t a good example that we try to live up to. He is a clear example that shows us that we can get in.