April 24, 2022 – Easter 1C           

“When 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.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So 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.” A 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.” Then 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:19-29

What doubts did you wake up with this morning? Did you doubt you would make this meeting? Did you doubt anyone would show up? Did you doubt I would remember this meeting was at my church? What doubts are you wrapped up or locked behind today? Let me share some of my doubts with you:

I doubt we will ever know if there is life on Mars.

I doubt I can drive to church without someone passing me doing 100 mph.

I doubt this devotion will make any inroads on alleviating your doubts.

Those are just a few of my doubts. So, with all of the doubts that are swimming through our brains, locking us behind doors of fear, the question is—will we allow Jesus in behind our walls and our doors of doubt and fear? Is there a difference between a doubter and a cynic? By definition, the doubter is someone who questions things. The cynic, on the other hand, is someone who believes that others are mainly motivated purely by self-interest. The cynic questions if something is worthwhile at all.

Here are the names of some famous cynics:

George Carlin, once said:

By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.

Woody Allen said:

Life is divided into the horrible and the miserable.

Jesus said “Blessed are those who do not need to see to believe”, but there is no fault and no foul in wanting more. Why else do we all keep coming back for more every day, or each Sunday? You see what I am saying, I hope. Why do we keep coming back for more and more sermons, and bible studies, if we believe it all? Is it more accurate to say that we also need more? Are we willing to admit that we need:

More experiences, more proof, more insight, and more love?

The way history has treated Thomas, you would think that anyone who says “I want more” is not a true believer. What part of that makes sense to us as followers of Jesus? If we were good enough in understanding everything about G-d and faith then who would need to come to church at all – to hear another sermon, or service, or bible study? No one would need more proof, Amen?

But, that is not how faith works, especially from our Lutheran perspective. Faith is dependent upon the Holy Spirit—and is cumulative. The more we hear, read, see, taste and touch, the more the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to build faith. You know what I think? Thank G-d for Thomas—Thomas set the stage for the true seeker—the one who can’t quite take it all on what others have experienced—the one who needs, well, more.

Pastor Dave