Resurrection - Peace and Spirit

Thomas Introduction

I looked at all the places we read about Thomas in the Scriptures.

He is there in Matthew, Mark and Luke when they list the disciples, and again in the book of Acts he is in the list of those who with Jesus at the ascension.

Only John tells us anymore than that about Thomas. 

Back at the beginning of Lent we heard the story of Lazarus being buried, and Jesus raising him from death. But before Jesus and the disciples travel back to Bethany, there is a conversation:

 Then he [Jesus] said to his disciples, “Now we will go back to Judea.”

 “Teacher,” they said, “the people there want to stone you to death! Why do you want to go back?” John 11:7-8

Thomas, whose nickname was “Twin,” said to the other disciples, “Come on. Let’s go, so we can die with him.” John 11: 16

Thomas appears on John again in chapter 14

Jesus said to his disciples,” ……. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.”

Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”

And then Thomas is mentioned again by John in both readings this morning.

Readings: John 20:19- 31 and John 21:1-14 

Proclamation of the Word

Last week we heard of Jesus speaking Mary’s name, and then Mary recognising who was with her in the garden.

This passage we heard this morning, starts that evening. The evening of the first resurrection Sunday, the disciples inside, the doors locked, because they feared what might happen to them. Jesus has been killed, and the tomb is empty. We don’t know what the disciples think of Mary’s report of having seen Jesus alive.

This passage is usually thought of as being about ‘doubting Thomas’, which I think is somewhat unfair. The other disciples had seen the risen crucified Jesus. Thomas hadn't. I wonder why Thomas wasn't with the disciples on the evening of the first resurrection day, maybe he needed some time on his own, or maybe he was the one who went to get food??

There is nothing wrong with having questions about God and faith and life. I mean none of us has all the answers about why some people are born into poverty, why some people live with pain, why God created mosquitoes … and I am sure there are many other questions.

But this passage is about much more than seeing, believing or questioning.

When Jesus appeared to them, he said to them, "Peace be with you."

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

And a week later: Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

The disciples, obviously scared, not sure what to do next, and Jesus comes and says: ‘Peace be with you”

Not

•       Why don’t you understand what I told you, or

•       here is a blueprint for running a church or

•       this is the doctrinal statement you must sign to be part of the church or

•       here is the definitive list of groups to have in each congregation.

Of all the things Jesus could have said to the disciples,
he said: Peace be with you. Receive the Holy Spirit.

I have been meeting with a Spiritual Director for a bit over six months now, and in our last meeting she asked me to think about what I thought God might write in a letter to me.

My initial response is that God would tell me to pray more, read my Bible more, study more, exercise, eat better, have more energy …. , as if God is a self-help guru.
but in reading these passages I see Jesus offer peace, breathes the Holy Spirit into the disciples and later cooks them fresh fish for breakfast.

In John’s gospel we have an invitational Jesus. Early in the Gospel, in calling the disciples, he says: Come and See.

Here on a beach: Come and eat!

He invites Thomas to touch his wounds.

When have you been met by the risen Jesus?

What word does he speak to you?

[silence]

I know that my Redeemer lives - Tom Gordon Fire and Bread p 103-5

Grace and Call

this week I have split the readings up, with four reflections/ short sermons.

Reading John 21: 1-14 [going fishing]

Proclamation: Peter monologue from Dandelions and Thistles pp79, 80

Hymn/song TiS 217 Love divine, all loves excelling

Reading Acts 9: 1-9 [Saul]

Proclamation:

Saul was a Roman citizen, educated and a Pharisee.

The first time we meet Saul is in Acts chapter7, Saul is the young man who looks after people’s coats while Stephen was stoned.   Luke writes: “And Saul approved of their killing him” [Acts 8:1]

Then Saul went from house to house dragging men and women off to prison. Then the section we heard this morning.

Saul is travelling to find and imprison as many followers of the Way, that is Christians, as he can. Saul is so determined to wipe out this diversion from Judaism.

And then…

And then an interruption in his journey.

An interruption in his life.

And his life goal changes.

He is no longer a persecutor of those who follow the way of Jesus, but a proclaimer of the way of Jesus.

I wonder, has your life been interrupted.

Has illness or war or unemployment or relationship caused you to rethink life?

One thing we can learn from this story is that no-one is beyond God’s grace.

No matter what you or I have done,

No matter how terrible someone’s actions are,

No matter how despicable a person

We, and they, are not outside of God’s grace.

Not that grace is a free ride. While God forgives and recreates and transforms people, God also demands a change in us.

A change that shows grace

A change that shows love

A change that works for justice and peace for all.

With grace comes discipleship,

Are we willing to pay the price?

 [wp]

We will now here the next part of the story of Saul

Reading Acts 9: 10-20 [Ananias]

Proclamation:

Who wants to be Ananias?

Whenever we read this passage, usually both sections together, the focus is on the change in Saul. But I wonder how we would react if God asked us to go and seek out someone like Saul, someone who was looking to imprison Christians.

Ananias was obedient, sure he questioned God – do you really means for me to go to this fellow?

But he went.

Ananias had a vision, he questioned God, made sure he understood and then he acted.

As I said this passage is usually thought of as the conversion of Saul, but what about the story of the disciple Ananias, the brave, obedient disciple Ananias.

Ananias said to Saul: “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me—Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

Ananias did not go to Saul because he deserved his help.

Ananias went to Saul because God asked him to. [REV MINDI http://rev-o-lution.org/]

And Saul was then able to see and was filled with the Holy Spirit.

And with that Saul also had a call, a commission, not only a conversion.  [Eric Barreto  https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2835]

After seeing a vision in 2000, I stopped being in some high profile church roles, and started a playgroup. Yes, a playgroup. I didn’t have children, and I had never been to playgroup, but I sensed God calling me to be part of helping to connect baptism families with the congregation; and I asked a few families what would be helpful, and playgroup was what came out of that. Not as big, or as well organised as the playgroup here, but it did connect people with church. And the mothers soon realised I had no idea what I was doing, and they ran it.

 When you have challenged to do something outside your comfort zone?

Hymn/song TiS 589 Jesus call us! O’er the tumult

Reading John 21: 15-19 [do you love me]

Proclamation:

Do you love me?

What if Jesus asked you that question?

Do you love me?

Jesus asks Peter, Jesus asks Peter three times.

There are a few theories about why this Jesus asks three times, and they are all linked in some way to the denials of Peter on the night Jesus was arrested.

The questions asked of Peter were:

“Aren't you also one of the disciples of that man?”

He was asked that one twice

“Aren't you also one of the disciples of that man?” and

“Didn't I see you with him in the garden?”

He answered no to all 3 questions.

In saying no, he denies Jesus, but he also denies himself. Peter is obviously interested in what is happening, he keeps hanging around to hear the latest news.

He denies his discipleship, he tries to write off the last 3 years of his life – not to himself, just to others. He is trying to wear a non-disciple mask.

And here, after breakfast on the beach, we have another call story.

Do you love me?

You know I do!

“Take care of my lambs.” 

Do you love me?

You know I do!

“Take care of my sheep.”

Do you love me?

You know I do!

“Take care of my sheep.”

Then the bit about Peter’s lack of independence as he ages, and the final words: Follow me!

This is a call to Peter, to follow, to be a pastor, to be the person God created him to be.

It isn’t only about forgiveness,

      or undoing the denials,

this is Jesus saying,

      live out your discipleship,

      be who you are in my grace and my love.

…….

As I look back over my life, and as I listen to the stories of pain and guilt and shame, sometimes it seems like we just want to go back to whatever life was like when it seemed most normal. We want to go fishing, we want to go back to the time we had our favourite teacher, or Minister, or that first flush of love. We want to go back to a time when life seemed simple and orderly.

But we can’t.

Discipleship can be difficult, and sometimes denying it seems like the easy path.

We can’t go back to our old ways, life has changed – relationship with Jesus changes us.

Our new identity is found in Jesus.

“It is almost as if by deciding to follow Jesus, we return to our true selves, beloved of God. Our lives imitate Christ’s life, our joys Christ’s joy, our heartaches Christ’s heartache. “[Robert Hoch  https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2809]

This morning we have thought about the disciples trying to go back to their old life

We thought about the call of Saul

The call and obedience of Ananias

The call of Peter

Where is God challenging you?

·    to obedience

·    to transformed living

·    to respond to a call

Where is God challenging you?