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Redford Aldersgate
United Methodist Church
Sermon
Close Encounters of the Risen Kind: Thomas
April 30, 2006
On Easter, as I struggled with the
message that the resurrection story in the Gospel of Mark was bringing
to us today, I came to the conclusion that if an angel dressed in a
bright shining white robe couldn’t convince the women who came to an
empty tomb that Christ had risen, then it didn’t matter much what I, as
a preacher in a regular white robe said. The thing is that an empty tomb
or even the words of an angel don’t convince us that Jesus rose from the
dead. It takes an encounter with the risen Christ. So, during these
Sundays in Easter-tide, we are looking at the encounters the risen
Christ had with people in the Bible. It is our hope that as we look at
these encounters we will learn things that will help us be more open to
the ways that Christ will encounter us today.
Last week, we looked at the several trips to the empty tomb taken by
Mary Magdalene. Through a monologue, we learned that it may take many
trips to worship or many attempts to figure out the Good News before we
actually encounter Jesus and receive the assurance we need to go and
tell others about Christ.
Today, we will look at another person who missed his first opportunity
for an encounter, but then received the encounter he needed. First let’s
hear the account from the Gospel of John and then we’ll have the
opportunity to hear more about what Thomas may have felt and learned as
we meet Thomas through the venue of a dramatic monologue.
John 20:24-29
Thomas Monologue
I am Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. As many of you know,
though, I am often called "Didymus” which means twin. That’s because I
am a twin. But my twin brother is not a follower of Jesus, therefore I
think people call me twin because they realize there are two sides of
me. There is the strong faithful part, the part that is willing to take
risks, but then there is also the doubting skeptical part. An example of
the strong faithful part was when we had gone across the Jordan to the
place where John first baptized people. We had gone there after a bunch
of people in Jerusalem had threatened to stone Jesus. It was not just an
idle threat, they had the stones in their hands and were shouting and
accusing Jesus of blaspheming God by calling himself the Son of God. It
was nearly a riot, but somehow we just walked away. As I said, we went
across the Jordan River. It was very nice there. Out of the hubbub of
the temple and the accusations of all the Pharisees. There were quite a
few people that came to hear Jesus there and they believed. Things were
going quite well. Then a message came from Mary and Martha that their
brother Lazarus was ill. They wanted Jesus to come lay hands on him and
heal him. Jesus waited a few days and then he said, “Let’s go to Judea
again.” But the other disciples were really upset. They didn’t want to
go back to Jerusalem, after all, we had just barely escaped stoning. But
I could tell that Jesus had his mind made up. So I said to the other
disciples. “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” I knew it was
dangerous, but I also knew that I wanted to do what Jesus thought was
best. That was the strong faithful part of me.
But the doubting skeptical part of me shone forth the night we all
gathered to celebrate the Passover meal. Jesus had said that one of us
would betray him. That seemed hard to believe because we had all become
so close. We had all left everything to follow him, so it was hard to
believe that one of us would betray him. Then he began talking about
going to prepare a place for us.
He said, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also
in me. In my Father's house are many rooms: If it were not so, would I
have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that
where I am, you may be also. And you know the way where I am going."
I couldn't understand what he was saying, so I asked, "Lord, we do not
know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
I wanted a road map. If we didn’t know where he was going, how could we
know the way to get there? I had this sense that he was talking about
something important, but it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense. I
wanted it spelled out clearly so I could understand. And when I am
confused, I also am more skeptical. So that doubting part of me was
beginning to gain control of me. As Jesus went on to say, "I am the way,
the truth and the life," it seemed that the fog of doubt was just
rolling in. I could sense that there was an eternal message in those
words, but it was a mystical statement that my practical mind couldn't
comprehend it I felt as though I was in a fog.
That fog got thicker as the evening went on. When Jesus was arrested in
the Garden of Gethsemane, we drew our swords, ready to fight. As I said
before, I had been ready to die with him. But he told us to put our
swords back. He didn't want to put up any resistance. He seemed to want
to go. I was confused. All the other disciples ran away, and so I ran
away too. When I heard the reports the next day that Jesus was to be
crucified, I followed at the back of the crowd so that I could see for
myself if the reports were true. I watched from a distance as he was
lifted up on the cross. I stayed at a distance, but I could see when he
died. I knew it was all over. I needed time to think. What would I do
next? My life had been so wrapped up in Jesus for the past few years,
that I had begun to lose perspective. I had to figure out what was the
best thing to do. I needed time to think. I needed to face reality. I
wanted to be alone. My strength was gone. All that was left was doubt
and skepticism.
So, when I heard the incredible story that Jesus had risen from the
dead, I couldn't believe it. First, it came from the women. But then,
even the men were saying it was true. James told me that Jesus had
actually appeared to them while all of them, except me, were in a room
together. It was too astounding, too supernatural for me to believe. So
I told my friends that unless I saw the print of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into those nail prints and thrust my hand into his
side, I would not believe.
For a whole week, I struggled with myself. I debated with myself, trying
to figure out the whole thing.... endeavoring to think it through
logically and rationally. What an inward struggle I had. Could it
possibly be? I wished that it would have happened... I tried to convince
myself... but, it just didn't seem possible. During the week, I was
alone: I didn't want any company, so I deliberately avoided the other
disciples. I wanted to work this thing out for myself. I was trying to
get my strength back. But it was a long, lonely week ... a week of
perplexity ... a week of doubt, doubt, doubt.
Then Philip insisted I come meet with the group. Though I was reluctant
to come, I must admit that it was good to be with my friends again. I
hadn't realized how much I had missed them. Matthew read one of the
Psalms; Peter prayed; they talked about their experiences with the risen
Lord. I looked in their eyes, they were convinced it was true. I sensed
their sincerity. My heart was struggling with believing ... when
suddenly, a strange mysterious feeling flooded the whole room. And
then... there he was! There he was... the Master himself!
He said, "Peace be unto you!" Then he glanced slowing around the room...
until his eyes were looking directly into mine. There he stopped ... and
waited. I wanted to hide in a corner or crawl into a hole. I knew he
knew, I had doubted that he was alive. I wanted to turn and run away,
but I was frozen, petrified; I couldn't move.
He took a step toward me ... held out his opened hands... so that I
couldn't help but see the prints of the nails... pointed to his wounded
side... and then he spoke, ever so gently and compassionately, "Put your
hands here, Thomas, and be not faithless, but believing."
How ashamed of myself I was! There was no need to put my fingers into
those nail-prints; there was no need to take my hand and thrust it into
his side. I knew the truth! It was overwhelming! The tremendous power of
this great eternal truth possessed me! I dropped to my knees... fell at
his feet... and cried out. "My Lord ... My Lord and my God!"
Suddenly the strong part of me returned. The fog of doubt lifted. I
BELIEVED. I had wanted things to make sense. I thought I needed proof.
But what I needed was an encounter with Christ. I was slow to believe.
But when the realization came to me. I BELIEVED! I went on to be a
strong leader in the movement to tell others about Jesus. Everywhere I
went, I told people about Jesus. I just kept going farther and farther
away from familiar surroundings until I ended up in a far away country
which became known as India. I was strong, but there was still that
skeptical doubting part of me that would rear its head every so often.
When people would dismiss my message as unbelievable or impractical, I
would get upset and at times even doubt the message I was bringing. But
each time, the fog of doubt would begin to roll in, I would look around
for another encounter with the risen Christ. Over the years, those
encounters came in many and varied ways.
I know many of you may struggle with believing the incredible news, just
as I did. But Jesus said to me. "Thomas, because you have seen me you
have believed: but blessed are they who have not seen and yet have
believed." Don't be afraid to believe. It is truth. Take my word ... Go
ahead, work through your doubt, but keep in contact with other
believers. That was my big mistake. I separated myself from the other
disciples. I wanted to figure out things on my own. I thought I was
strong and could figure things out for myself. But real strength comes
from encountering Christ. And, because I was separating myself from the
other disciples, I missed a chance for an encounter with Christ. I
missed what I needed. I am so glad that Philip insisted I come meet with
the group. There is something that happens when you surround yourself
with other believers. It makes you more open to the possibility of
encountering Christ. Over the years, I’ve seen it happen over and over
again. That’s why I have been so grateful for the strong support of the
group of Christian believers that I established in India. They
encouraged me when I was down. I encouraged them when they were down.
They encouraged each other. And over and over again as people encounter
Christ in various ways, they continue to strengthen one another. That
group I started in India has remained strong even to this day.
So, I’m glad you are here today. You have come to be part of a group of
believers. Open your eyes , God will provide the special word, the
unique experience, the right situation that will make the truth a
reality to you. Maybe it will be today, maybe it will be next week.
Maybe it will be during the week, when something that was said here
today prepares you to see what you need to see next Monday or Wednesday
or someday next week. The risen Christ is alive and ready to encounter
you and give you the strength that is needed to lift the fog in your
heart. You will see him in a different way than I first saw him, but it
will be the way that is right for you. Blessed are you who have not seen
the physical presence of Jesus, but yet have believed. Blessed are you
who see with eyes of faith. Blessed are you who can say:
Without seeing you, we love you;
Without touching you, we embrace;
Without knowing you, we follow;
Without seeing you, we believe.
Blessed are you...
(Sing refrain of “Without Seeing You” exit, choir continues with
refrain,
congregation joins. Faith We Sing, p. 2206)
.