The Bethany Bullet Sermon Message - Week of April 28, 2019

Sermon: “I Refuse”

Text: John 20:19-31

Over the years quite a few people have asked for a copy of the following poem:

“One account in the Gospel story seems to mar Easter’s glory,

The stubborn refusal of Thomas the twin to believe that Jesus was alive again.

Risen from the dead, how can that be?  I won’t believe it unless I see.  

And we God’s people or so it appears have never forgiven Thomas for his doubts or his fears. 

A missionary to India, martyred for the faith he had shown; yet as a skeptic, doubting Thomas he’ll forever be known. 

Yet Thomas is like most of us here, minds clouded with doubt and hearts loaded with fear

And as Thomas needed a new beginning in trusting God on Easter II a new beginning in trusting God can be used by me and by you.”

Now admittedly the reason “quite a few people” have requested a copy of the above has far less to do with the profundity of the poem than the frequency of its use. 

In habititual fashion I’ve used this poem on Easter II; and found the text driving us to consider how we are like Thomas – both as sinner and saint.  This year, as is the habit of the lectionary we were once again confronted with Thomas’ story.  However, only the first half of the poem grabbed me as I read and meditated upon the text yet again: “One account in the Gospel story seems to mar Easter’s glory, the stubborn refusal of Thomas the twin to believe that Jesus was alive again.  Risen from the dead, how can that be?  I won’t believe it unless I see.”  

Rather than being drawn toward how I am a twin to Thomas, I couldn’t help but notice how unlike the other disciples that first week after Easter, I am week in and week out. What the rest of the disciples, the assembly of women and men who had seen the Risen Jesus, refused for an entire week is confounding, captivating and ought to be compelling.  They refused to kick-out the refuser!

Now let’s be clear here…Thomas doesn’t merely doubt…He outright denies and demands.

Peter cries, “Jesus is Risen!”; “He is Risen Indeed!” the others reply.  Then Thomas chimes in, “no he’s not.”  Remember, this wasn’t a one-time event.  IT IS FOR US.  As already stated this story is THE story that is read each Sunday after Easter Sunday. While we hear it yearly, how many times do you think that during that week between Easter and 7 days later, one of the disciples, tears of joy in the eyes, a brilliant smile across the lips, a heart as light as a feather and warm as a fire said, “Can you believe Jesus is alive?” only to have one of their own say, “NO!”  No I can’t.  In fact, I don’t.  Truth is I WON’T…not unless…I REFUSE!

A week later, John reports, with the doors still locked… what astounds me is that Thomas is on the inside of those locked doors after that week.  NO ONE, NOT ONE, said, kick him out there where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth!  How is it that they put up with this?  Where did they find the strength to refuse to exclude the refuser?

 

Where did they find the strength to put up with Thomas? 

1.      They were overwhelming convinced of Jesus’ Resurrection.

2.      They were undoubtedly certain that no one was beyond Jesus’ reconciliation!

How could they not be overwhelming convinced of Jesus’ Resurrection. In His account of the life of Jesus known as the Book of Acts, Luke records for us that, “Jesus offered many other proofs of His resurrection over 40 days and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God.”  

They too knew what a Roman crucifixion squad would do…they left no one alive.  Those who attended His execution bore witness to Jesus’ death…He was dead!  HE was dead indeed!  Even Thomas agreed with that.  Jesus’ lifeless corpse was in fact entombed…no one exhumed Him … but Himself…through the power of the Spirit! 

Though once dead, He was (HE IS) alive…He is Risen!   He stood among them again (even when the doors were locked), He ate with them once more (ghosts don’t have flesh and blood or appetites as do I)  and He resumed His instruction on the meaning of the Kingdom (days and times are not for you to know but you are to go and make known the Good News that I am the Resurrection and the Life”).  But for 7 days, one of them - who had not seen Him, simply refused to believe…and it’s just hard for me to believe that they refused to exclude the refuser:

Where did they find the strength to put up with Thomas? 

They were undoubtedly certain that no one was beyond Jesus’ reconciliation! Thomas refused…James and John snoozed!  Jesus had asked them to pray with Him; specifically to KEEP WAIT!  He pleaded with them to PRAY and STAY AWAKE and yet they slept! Its one thing to fall asleep watching TV…I plan to do it this afternoon! It’s one thing to nod off in the easy chair when the days have been difficult.  It’s another to fall asleep when someone has asked you to stay up with them…when that one is the ONE who has come for EVERYONE! Thomas refused…but James and John snoozed…and restored, redeemed, and reconciled by Jesus’ Resurrection they had no intention of excluding Thomas from their company. 

Thomas refused…but Matthew and Bartholomew cruised. One swung a sword and stood his ground …but when the soldiers appeared, led by Judas, they disappeared from the garden. Thomas refused but Matt and Bart cruised and comforted with the grace of Christ, covered in His righteousness, consoled by His mercy, restored to their Lord they clearly would not exclude Thomas from their company.

Thomas refused their testimony but Peter restrained his own.  He had a chance…actually 3 of them!  You’re one of His disciples aren’t you?  Didn’t I see you with Him? Surely you’re a follower – you’re a Galilean – Thomas refused their testimony but Peter restrained his own. NO I’m NOT! I don’t KNOW Him! I got no idea what you’re talking about!  Thomas refused but Peter restrained and redeemed, renewed, restored – “feed my sheep”, he wasn’t about to exclude the wayward lamb from the little flock.

I must confess that I’m rather habitual in regard to a ready willingness to dismiss those who disagree with me…in non-essential items, matters of Christian Freedom, that which is termed in the church, “adiaphora”.  

Thomas for an entire week refused to confess the 2^nd and 3^rd articles of the creed, let alone their meanings.  I’m not suggestion that ought be the churches continual strategy, but it seems to me that I’ve been far too ready to require an “Indeed” to my personal preferential declarations. Perhaps this week, that we habitually observe, intends to break me of that habit.  Perhaps it intends to break you of the same. 

For the times we’ve fallen asleep to our calling – not only bearing witness to the resurrection but also bearing with one another, for the times we’ve strayed and stayed away, because of things that have nothing to do with what He has done, for the times we’ve denied that others should be a part of us because they are not like us in the non-essentials … the Lord shows up today to enter the locked rooms we maintain in our hearts and minds and say to us the same thing He said to Thomas, “Stop it, reach out and embrace me, trust me, receive grace, bless others.”

One account in the Gospel story seems to mar Easter’s glory the stubborn refusal of Thomas the twin to believe that Jesus was alive again.  Risen from the dead, how can that be?  I won’t believe it unless I see.  Yet the reaction to Tom’s doubt exemplifies Easter clout, the steadfast refusal of Thomas brothers, to reject him and replace with another.  To witness and welcome tis our call; till Risen Indeed is said by all!

-        Pr. Kevin Kritzer