Easter Week 2

Psalm: Psalm 16  

Acts: Acts 2:14a, 22-32  
Gospel: John 20:19-31  
Epistle: 1 Peter 1:3-9

This week we explore some of Jesus’ post Resurrection appearances, which is appropriate for the week following Easter. In John, the first appearance of Jesus after his Resurrection interestingly was to Mary Magdalene, a woman, and not one of the 12 Apostles.  In fact, Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, most people assume this to be the author of the Gospel of John himself, are present at the tomb and Jesus choose not appear to them, but rather wait until Mary was alone. I don’t have an answer as to why Jesus did this, but it is interesting nonetheless. So Jesus tells Mary Magdalene that he has risen from the dead, but not yet ascended to the Father. Jesus tells her to go tell the disciples this message. Mary then becomes the first proclaimer of Jesus death and resurrection, which is quite a distinct honor. But notice that Jesus didn’t tell Mary that he would later visit the disciples and that they are to gather together and wait like the accounts in Matthew and Mark.

The second appearance of Jesus is to a room full of the disciples later on the same day as his resurrection. People like to give Thomas a hard time in this story, and we will get to him in the third appearance, but the disciples had just as much doubt, it seems, as Thomas did. Notice the disciples are locked in a room, afraid of the Jews. That doesn’t sound like a group of people anticipating an appearance by the risen Jesus. Luke actually says that the disciples did not believe the women. (24:11) But notice also that Jesus shows the disciples his hands and his side to perhaps prove that it was really him and that he still bears the marks of his crucifixion. Apparently, they had doubts and needed proof of Jesus' resurrection.

The third appearance is similar to the second; however, this time Thomas is present.  He was rather brash in declaring that he would not believe that Jesus has risen from the dead unless he saw Jesus with his own eyes. Maybe he was half hoping this would get Jesus to appear since Thomas missed the first time. But when Jesus shows up, he knows Thomas’ thoughts and without anger or accusation tells Thomas to touch his hands and his side. Then Jesus says this words, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (20:29)  Thomas has gotten a bad reputation of being “doubting Thomas,” but when you think about, the other disciples doubted as well.

Let us move on to 1 Peter 1 where the quote from Jesus in John 20:29 is reiterated by Peter. He writes, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” Peter is writing to a congregation of people who had maybe never seen Jesus in person before the resurrection, but not after his resurrection. Whatever the case, both Jesus and Peter make that point that even those who have never seen Jesus can still believe and be blessed.

This is good news since none of us today where everybody after the first generation of believers have not seen Jesus in this life.  Yet, the message from these two passages is that faith in Christ is possible even for those who do not physically see him. This reminds me of what the author of Hebrews writes in 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Our faith requires faith, if I can say it that way. We have the testimonies of people of faith. We have our own experience of God. We might even have some rational, logical reasons for believing in God. But, we also must take that step of faith to say that even though I cannot see God, I believe he is real and has revealed himself in Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we take that step lightly and ask, "why can’t those who don’t believe just see how obvious it is." But let us not forget that this is no easy step to take.  Even for those who follow Jesus, like the disciples, there are moments of doubt along the way. Yet Jesus meets us in our doubts, without rebuke, to call us to himself. And for that we can be thankful.

Perhaps this week the challenge is to see Jesus in unexpected places and circumstances. We might not see his resurrected body, but we can see him revealed in those around us in those who are in need and also in those moments where needs are meet and the Kingdom of God breaks through. Be on the lookout this week for Jesus in our midst.

Grace and Peace.