Easter 2 (A) / Easter Goes On / St. John 20:19-31
7 April 2013 – Redeemer
John2019 Easter 2 C 2013 Easter Goes On
Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Who was in church that night? Sitting in the back pew was Peter. He usually sat in the front, but after the past week he didn’t want to be anywhere near the front. He had denied his Lord. Three times he was asked if he knew Jesus. The door was open, but Peter slammed it shut and denied he knew anything about Jesus.
James and John were about halfway up, on the left hand side. They had wanted to be leaders. Chairmen and vice-chairmen of Jesus’ church – his right and left hand men, at His side when He ushered in His kingdom. Jesus throne was the cross. He was crowned with thorns and His palace was a tomb. His right and left hand men were the criminals crucified with him. James and John hung their heads in shame. They wanted glory. Jesus’ glory was the cross and His death for His sinful subjects.
A few other disciples huddled by the door. They were afraid. The Jews had killed their Lord and they feared they were next. They kept checking to make sure it was locked.
Thomas wasn’t in church that night. It was March Madness and he didn’t want to miss the final game. Besides it looked like this whole Jesus thing had ended at the cemetery Thomas was one of those guys who always thought the worst. (Thanks Dr. Nagel). When Jesus headed for Bethany, Thomas knew they were walking right into the enemy camp. “We might as well go and die too,” Thomas said. Being a pessimist is a good way to protect your doubt and your fear. Expect the worst and you won’t be disappointed.
Guilt, shame, fear, unbelief, pessimism. The church that first Easter evening doesn’t look much different than the church gathered here on this Second Sunday of Easter a few thousand years later. Did you have any opportunities to confess your faith in Christ this week? Did you confess Jesus is risen or deny Jesus is Lord? Did you pray to God for your will to be done or for His will to be done? Did you seek the your own glory or the consolation of His cross? What fear has you locked up? Fear of failure? Fear for your children’s future? Fear of suffering? Fear of death? Have you struggled with unbelief or pessimism? Have you protected your doubts with the false comfort that “it could be worse”?
Christ’s church is not some Country Club for the righteous, rich and confident. It is a hospital for those who are beaten and battered by their sins, fears, and doubts. Look at that bunch of disciples gathered in the upper room. Look down your pew and around this congregation. Sit down with anyone here over a cup of coffee or some other Lutheran beverage and you will soon learn of our sins, our guilt, our fears and doubts.
Into that guilt-ridden, fearful, shame-filled, little flock Jesus came, as He came out of the tomb. Through the stone and now through the locked door. A rational person could argue that the empty tomb could mean anything – grave robbers, a ploy by the disciples, one last jab by the Jewish leaders. But a living, breathing, speaking, and scarred body of Jesus is a lot more difficult to deny or doubt.
He comes to His disciples. That’s the Gospel. The good news. Their troubles have them locked up in that little room. Jesus doesn’t want them locked up. He doesn’t wasn’t us to die in sin and fear and guilt and shame. He wants us to live and come out of our little chapels of fear, so He comes with His gifts. Do you hear this marvelous news? The disciples ran from Jesus, denied Jesus, were ashamed of Him and themselves, but He comes to them. How far have you run from God? How deep are your sins? How great is your fear? It is not too far, too deep, or too great for Jesus. There isn’t anything in this room that wasn’t found in that room. As Jesus came to His disciples He comes to us.
He comes with the peace of forgiveness. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Our Lord does not treat the disciples as they deserve. He has mercy. Not “What were you thinking, Peter?” or “Still hungry for glory James and John?” or “Why are you afraid?” He asks no questions. He demands nothing, but gives everything because that is His way. He gives Himself to be born. Gives Himself to be raised in Joseph and Mary’s house. Gives Himself to be identified a sinner at His baptism. Gives Himself to be tempted by Satan. Gives Himself to the whip, the spit, the beating, the thorns, the nails and the spear. Gives Himself over to death. Gives His life as the sacrifice for sinners, every last one, Peter, James, John, Bruce, you. Peace be with you – He makes the peace by paying for your sin and He gives the peace by speaking it to you. You’re forgiven because He died. You’re at peace with God. That’s what His resurrection preaches. Every sin that you have, everything that you fear, every evil and dreadful thing coming your way – everything was given to Him. They did their worst and Jesus is still standing, breathing once again. He’s alive and your sin, your enemies, your death lay defeated and dead.
You may have read in your bulletin that Easter goes on for seven weeks. And that “going on” of Easter flows from this Gospel reading. Jesus, after forgiving these disciples, ordains them to preach His Word, so that His peace may go on, first to Thomas, then to others, even to those who live in Saint Cloud, Minnesota 2000 years later. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” He comes with peace for them and sends them with forgiveness for us. We call this the Office of the Holy Ministry. It is one of Christ’s gifts for the church – men sent by Him with His Word to proclaim to you.
He doesn’t want you running back and forth searching for His peace, locking yourself up with fear and guilt and shame. So He sends His men. There’s nothing special about them. You’ve had a Peter for your pastor and a John, even a Thomas, now you’ve got a Bruce (and there’s not a single Bruce in the Bible) Their names don’t really matter. Their mouths and hands matter – mouths that preach and proclaim Christ crucified and Christ risen, mouths that speak His forgiveness into your ears. I forgive you all your sins – that’s Christ’s word to you. Take eat the very body of Christ. Take drink the very blood of Christ. That’s what your pastors hands need to be doing – delivering Jesus into your life. That’s why Jesus sends His men – so that Easter might go on – that you might be free of your fear, forgiven your sins, raised out of your doubt in the name of Jesus.
Pr. Bruce Timm
Revised Week of Easter 2013 anno Domini