April 15 - Doubt & Faith in John, Chapter 20

April 15 - Doubt & Faith in John, chapter 20

In Lent we studied the Last Week in the Life of Jesus, beginning on Palm Sunday, and covering each day through Good Friday. Then last Sunday, we reviewed the events on Easter morn.

What did we leave out?

Saturday - that time between Jesus’ death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Sunday morn.

What happened on Saturday?

And on the Sabbath day, they rested according to the commandment. Luke 23:56

In this context, I think the word “rested” means they did no work, obeying the commandment. But I don’t think they really rested.

One of things both the male and female disciples had in common is that they really didn’t expect Jesus to rise from the dead – at least not in their life time.

For moment, try to put yourself in their shoes. Their leader and teacher had been executed in order to crush his movement.

After the terrible violence worked against Jesus, they had reasons to be fearful.

But worse than that, it appeared they had been wrong about the King of that new kingdom. As disciples, they had left everything to follow Jesus, had risked it all believing Jesus was the chosen one of God – the one who would liberate Israel.

I can see them sitting in that upper room – depressed and dejected. Asking questions like “How could we have been so wrong?” and “What do we do now – go back to fishing?”

It must have seemed hopeless, so they hid behind locked doors.

This is also a story about how we Christians lock our doors out of fear. It’s quite natural when you have suffered some trauma in life – when you have been violated by some injustice – to lock yourself away. Rather than risking being hurt again, better close the door, click the lock.

The irony is that the disciples have locked their doors to Jesus.

Do we unintentionally lock our doors to Jesus. We didn’t know we were locking Him out when we stayed away from church - when we didn’t come to bible study – when we found other things to do rather than pray. But we were.

We didn’t know we were locking him out when we kept our faith safely tucked away within ourselves – when our religion became something we practice only in the safe confines behind the closed doors of the church – rather than out in the world where we work and spend most of our time. But we did.

On Sunday morning the gloom was broken by Mary Magdalene and the other women. They had been to the tomb – it was empty – and they claimed that they had a vision. Jesus is risen from the dead – he rose just as he had said he would.

But the guys didn’t believe them. Even going to the empty tomb and seeing for themselves didn’t convince them. (John 20:1-18)

Their spirits had sunk so low, they just couldn’t believe the good news – any good news. Their outlook was so negative they couldn’t believe anything positive.

Can you understand how they felt?

Have you ever been knocked down by life – really brought low – spent your time just brooding over how bad life is – so low that you can’t believe anything good could ever happen to you?

Martin Luther sometimes suffered from periods of deep depression. After putting up with several days of his dark mood, his wife Katy appeared dressed completely in black.

Luther said something like. “You’re dressed for a funeral. Who died?”

Katy replied “God. God died.”

Luther objected, “God can’t die, you know that.”

Katy replied, “Well, from the way you’ve been acting, I assumed God must have died.”

Jesus meets them behind locked doors. (John 20:19-23)

Their fear was turned back into the joy they had hoped in. Their secluded gathering is turned into a powerful commissioning. Their despair was turned into the tangible presence of the risen Lord and the empowering Holy Spirit. What seemed like the end of their career as a disciple was turned into a new beginning.

In short, they had a religious experience.

But only 10 had that experience. One of the 12, Judas was gone. Another, Thomas was absent.

Where was Thomas?

He was still locked in the tomb of doubts. Was he so distraught that he just needed to be alone? Was he so bitter and hardened because all he had believed about Jesus seemed to be a lie?

Have you ever known someone like Thomas?

Traumatic experiences have left them distraught and caused them to withdraw. They don’t want to see their old friends anymore. Life has been so hard on them that they become hardened and bitter.

Maybe whatever happened really shook their faith in God.

So when the 10 joyfully report their religious experience – We have seen the Lord - Thomas responds with skepticism and doubt. (John 20:24-25)

He hadn’t had that sort of experience. And their experience seemed foreign. I was fooled before – not going to be fooled again.

Virginia was a teenager and pregnant when she went to live with her 15^th set of foster parents. Her case file was a textbook example of neglect and bureaucratic failure. She sat silently in her chair at the meeting with her new parents. The foster mother said: “Are you frightened?”

Without looking up, Virginia replied, “Kinda. Been in lots of homes.”

“Let’s hope this turns out for the best.”

Virginia’s reply was flat – no change in tone – “Hurts too much to hope.”

Thomas might have said that to the disciples when they told him the good news - “Hurts too much to hope.”

Maybe you’ve known people who felt like that. They’ve given up hope.

And they have their doubts about what we believe. Maybe they feel alienation not just from what others believe, but from believers. They really need a community of faith, but they’d rather avoid it. After all, the community holds dearly to the things they are questioning and wrestling with.

Jesus returns to engage doubting Thomas. (John 20:26-27)

He appears as dramatically as he did the first time and offers the same ironic greeting. Thomas was miles away from peace at that point. Jesus provides evidence that he is living and risen.

Notice what Jesus doesn’t do in the face of doubt. He doesn’t ignore it – or criticize it – doesn’t shame or marginalize.

Thomas remained a part of the group even during his time of unbelief. No one criticizes Thomas for his lack of faith or skepticism.

If the other disciples, and even Jesus, didn’t penalize Thomas for doubting the resurrection, we certainly shouldn’t penalize anyone who has misgivings or questions. We’re not saved by the content of our faith – which things we believe – but simply by our trust in and reliance on God in spite of our doubts and questions.

As we encounter those who doubt and question, we can remember that God can use their questions.

For some, questioning God is a way of engaging God. We shouldn’t be afraid of doubts and questions – they are not a disease that contaminates us. Can we embrace and journey with those who have doubts about what we believe?

Emily was 19 when she went away to college and she had no interest in Christianity. “In fact I was anti-Christian. I thought it was about rules – that it was boring.”

But some of her new friends were Christians who happily spoke about their faith. ‘They were good friends and their faith impressed me. I wondered if there was something in this.”

Emily went to a Christmas eve service, then to hear a lecture about faith. “This could be true.”

Finally she took classes to prepare her for baptism. “Baptism symbolizes dying – and coming back to a completely different sort of life.”

So how did becoming a Christian make a difference for Emily?

“I have a much better perspective on the world. I’m much calmer and more centered. Now, instead of just getting stressed out, I pray. I’m learning there is a much bigger purpose for my life – that this life isn’t all there is – but at the same time I need to try my hardest to be the best I can be.”

Look at where Thomas’ doubts and questions led him. (John 20:28-31)

Thomas confesses his faith by addressing Jesus as “My Lord and my God.” Not just the messiah, the Christ, but Lord and God. Page through the gospels and you won’t find a bolder and stronger confession of faith in Jesus.

These are not the words of a doubter. So Thomas’ doubts – his questioning – finally led him to strong faith – a complete faith – Jesus is my Lord and my God.

On Easter morning, all of the disciples – like Thomas – had their doubts. They wondered what had happened – but were unwilling to immediately conclude Jesus had risen.

They didn’t blindly make a leap of faith, but had a healthy skepticism.

The disciples’ skepticism and doubts didn’t end the moment Jesus first appeared to them.

It took time with him, but with His help

Their questions led to a stronger faith;

Their doubts were replaced by conviction;

Their fears were transformed into courage.

Their wonder became greater understanding.

And those skeptical disciples became bold witnesses to Christ’s resurrection. Based on their witness, we can say Alleluia. Christ is risen.