"My Lord and My God!" - John 20: 19 - 31
A Sermon by Alex Evans, Pastor
Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA
From Sunday, April 19, 2020 – Video Worship
Text: John 20:19-31
“My Lord and My God”
The gospel of John begins – you remember - with the most powerful and poetic words: “In the beginning was the Word, . . . and the Word became flesh and lived among us.”
This is an attempt to convey the great importance of God’s good news: the God of the universe moved into the neighborhood. The Creator of the world becomes also a Companion on the journey of human life. God is not just over and beyond; God is in our midst, One among us, One with us and for us. “The Word became flesh and lived among us.”
Then the stories and teachings, the parables and healings, the actions and activities of Jesus in the gospel of John depict HOW the Word became flesh and lived among us. We see the kindness of Jesus – he cares for all people, especially the most needy. We see the surprises of Jesus – he heals a blind man, helps the cripple to walk, and feeds 5000 people with a few loaves and fishes.
Also in the gospel of John, we learn important things about Jesus – he is the good shepherd; he is the living water; he is the light of the world; he is the peace that passes understanding; he is the Way, the Truth, the Life. “The Word became flesh and lived among us.”
Then, as the story unfolds, we learn what happens to this amazing Jesus. The forces against him scheme to have him arrested. The religious leaders and politicians hold a trial. He is dragged before Pontius Pilate, who asks him: “Are you King of the Jews?” Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world.” “So you are a king?” And Jesus says: “everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. . . . And he was crucified, buried. And, as we celebrated on Easter - he rose again from the dead.
As we know, on Easter, Jesus appeared to Mary, and to others. We celebrate “Christ is risen, indeed!” Easter Joy! Easter Victory!
In the gospel of John, the story of Easter continues much further than Easter morning. Here is a portion of the story from the evening of Easter, . . . and then a week after Easter. Listen – John 20:19-31:
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”22When 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt 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 come to believe.”30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But 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.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
There are so many interesting and pertinent points in the story of Easter evening, and then the week after Easter.
When we have been holed up in our homes, as we have been isolated and even full of fear because of the virus, it is so noteworthy that Jesus walks through locked doors.
In our time of empty churches and isolation in our homes, it is particularly helpful to me to know that Jesus seeks us out, finds us, even amidst our fear, even separated and apart from one another. Jesus comes and finds us. We should take great comfort in this scene. Jesus knows where we are. Jesus knows our fears. Jesus knows what worries us and what we are dealing with.
And Jesus enters and speaks with love and concern – “peace be with you.” We need those words spoken to our hearts and lives. “Peace be with you,” church people. Can you hear Jesus saying that to you?
Then he shows his wounds, and breathes on them – “receive the Holy Spirit.”
Recall – in Genesis, the breath of God was breathed into the first human beings. This breath is what gives life. This breath – wholesome breathing - is what is so much at stake in this COVID 19 virus. Jesus breathes on them – “receive the Holy Spirit.”
Remember, earlier in this gospel story, Jesus promised that the people will receive the Spirit. The Spirit will help the people remember all the things that Jesus taught them. The Spirit will give them peace when they need it most – not a peace that the world can give.
He says, “receive the Holy Spirit.”
And then something really important – he follows the breath, the giving of the Spirit, with words about forgiveness: “if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. . .”
If we ever think that forgiveness is an aside in the Christian life, we should think again. He breathes on them – “receive the Holy Spirit” – and he does not say, “love, take care of each other.” He does not say, “do a little good each day.” He says, “forgive!”
Forgiveness is difficult. Forgiveness is often the last thing we do. Yet Jesus, on Easter evening, comes into the locked room and puts forgiveness as central to all life, especially as Easter people.
As Desmond Tutu put is so well: “there is no future without forgiveness.” . . . . But it is difficult. We have to keep working at this.
Who might need your forgiveness in these days? Forgiveness, as we know, not only helps relationships. Forgiveness frees us from crippling bondage – frees our hearts, frees our lives. We work at it.
Then the story continues with Thomas. He is often called “doubting Thomas.” But I know how much I identify with Thomas. Who does not have doubts? Who does not want to see things in order to verify things? Thomas was NOT there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples on Easter evening. Who can fault him for wanting the same experience, to verify the Risen Christ?
But notice what happens. Notice how Jesus comes again – a week later – and stands among them, saying again, “Peace.” And Jesus speaks to Thomas: “put your fingers here. . . . Do not doubt, but believe.”
Then Thomas offers perhaps the greatest words spoken by any disciple in any gospel: “My Lord and my God!”
Doubting Thomas? . . . How about bold and faithful Thomas!
Think about this: the gospel begins, “the Word became flesh and lived among us.” The whole gospel is about Jesus – the Word made flesh. All who believe have life in abundance. All who encounter him and seek to follow him find life in abundance. All who hear his voice and are drawn to his ways find peace and purpose. All who journey with him – through the dark valleys and bright ravines – find peace and purpose. And what does Thomas confirm – “My Lord and my God?” This the affirmation that the whole gospel hopes for - for everyone who encounters Jesus, the Word made flesh. When we see Jesus, we see God and we are moved to deeper faith, loyal devotion, and service. When we encounter Jesus – like Thomas here - our lives become focused and faithful. In our gut, in our heart, in our head, we grasp the truth – Jesus embodies God. Jesus shows us how to live – we align our lives with the purposes and peace of God. Jesus shows us what to care about – people, relationships, healing and wholeness. Jesus gives us hope – “because he lives, we also shall live” – so let’s tend to what matters most. Let’s work at building community, forgiving and serving, working for justice, striving for reconciliation, moving the world closer to the promised reign of God.
“My Lord and my God.” That is what Thomas says.
This is also what we seek to say – so that our lives have a focus and a framework – Easter people living in the ways of discipleship, especially in a season of pandemic and crisis. We worship and serve God. We trust our lives to God’s care and we get busy for the Kingdom. Gut, heart, head – we know who we are – Easter people – and we seek to know more – so we live a certain way: not for ourselves but for God and others; not lost in despair but lost in devotion to God’s ways in the world; not selfish but sacrificing and serving – with humility, kindness, and commitment to God’s ways.
And then there is that next message from Jesus: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet, . . . believe.”
Then the next line, that is so instructive: “Now Jesus did many other signs, . . . But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in his name.” Everything there wants to focus us for life!
Some of us have become familiar with the name William Barber. Barber is an African American pastor in Goldsboro, NC. But he has become quite renowned with his speaking and preaching, his leadership of “Moral Mondays” in NC, and his leadership of the new, national “Poor People’s Campaign.” Barber has become a strong, prophetic witness. He calls himself “a soldier in the army of the Lord,” saying regularly that “God is not finished with us yet.” He says he does not care what executive order the President signs. He does not care how many bills get passed. God is not finished or measured by that. He says, “somebody better tell America, your arms are too short to box with God.” America is not in charge. America cannot run the world. God is in charge. God has the final say. God cares about life, wholeness, justice, mercy, and peace.
That is what Thomas means when he says, “My Lord and my God!” God is in charge. This affirmation is the intended confirmation of the gospel of John. We realize, and we align our lives accordingly – finally – with God – “my Lord and my God!”
This is indeed political and for the world. It is about justice and peace, creation and compassion for everyone.
It is ALSO personal. Jesus is raised from the dead. Jesus comes and finds the disciples in their locked down and fearful places. God is not finished. That means cancer does not have the last word. Sickness, even the virus, does not have the last word. Depression does not, . . .Lupes does not, . . .heart attack, despair, loneliness, hopelessness do not have the last word. “Weeping may endure for the night,” for weeks even, but, as the psalmist says, “joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5).
“My Lord and my God!” This is what Thomas affirms. He lives! All things work together for good. He lives.
Because he lives, hate and selfishness can be setback.
Because he lives, oppression can be overcome, . . . . creation can be cared about.
Because he lives, COVID-19 can be handled.
Because he lives, joy can be restored.
Because he lives, bodies can be healed and life can come out of death. (See Journal for Preachers, Easter, 2019, p 28-29)
“My Lord and my God.” This gives us an orientation, a pervasive focus, a purpose.
Even from our huddled lives secluded from one another, even in this uncertain time, we can strive to join our hearts and voices to Thomas – “my Lord and my God!”
We can remember that Christ finds us in our fearful, locked places and says Christ says: “Believe, . . . Live, . . . .Love, . . . Forgive.”
God will find us. God is with us. God will never let us go. We are God’s people. We have news to share, and love to bear, and a world desperate for God’s light, hope, and peace.
May we live in faith, hope, and love – seeking always to worship and serve God. AMEN
Prayer of Commitment: Holy God, we believe; help our unbelief. Breathe your Spirit upon us to give us faith and focus. And keep shaping us, molding us, using us in the world toward your coming reign in fullness, following Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
Alex Evans, Pastor, Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA preached this sermon on April 19, 2020 for video worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a rough manuscript.