Acts: Acts 5:27-32
Gospel: John 20:19-31
Epistle: Revelation 1:4-8
Last week I talked a lot about the important role the women in Jesus' life played in the Gospels, particularly in the resurrection narrative. We looked especially at Luke's account on Easter Sunday. And this week the theme returns in the Gospel of John and the immediate days after that first Easter morning. Any reading of John alongside the other Gospels reveals that John is different in a ton of ways. For example, on Jesus' last night before his death with his disciples, the 3 other Gospels tell of the institution of the Last Supper. John however ignores that entirely and instead showed Jesus washing his disciples feet and instructing his followers to do likewise. For this reason Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels and it is postulated that in some way they had the same source for parts of their texts and/or used each other. But John's Gospel, whether due to another oral tradition or even firsthand recollection, goes its own way. So when there are points of similarity, we ought to take note and recognize that something important is afoot.
So this brings us to the role of the women that all 4 Gospels put front and center, both on the morning of Jesus' resurrection and during the early days afterwards. Check out John 20:1-18 for John's account of that first Easter morning and compare it to the Synoptic Gospels if you want, but the one point I want to make is that in the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene is not afraid at meeting the angels, or even Jesus. In fact she doesn't even recognize Jesus until he tells Mary who he is. Only Mary goes to the tomb that morning to deal with Jesus' body and to do the necessary work to honor the dead. It is significant that although Peter and the "disciple whom Jesus loved" were called to the tomb by Mary, they both returned without meeting the angels or Jesus.
In contrast to Mary Magdalene, the disciples, including Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved (who both actually saw the empty tomb), were locked up in a room for "fear of the Jews." (20:19) They didn't want to be seen in public because, like Peter on the night of Jesus' arrest, they would most likely be recognized. For whatever reason, the disciples in this story represent fear and even doubt. Peter and the other disciple returned from the tomb in doubt and fear. Thomas, who missed the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples, won't believe the report of the women or the men of the resurrection until he can see and touch Jesus for himself.
I only bring this point up again, because 1. John is so different from the Synoptic Gospels, but even for him the role the women play is paramount to Jesus' resurrection. 2. The contrast between the women and the disciples is stronger in John than the other Gospels. And 3. There are still some in the church who want to downplay the role women can have in the church.
But I think the other message of this passage today is that Jesus extends his grace, mercy, and love to all he encounters. He didn't begrudge Peter and the other disciples' flight back to the house after they left the tomb. He said rather, "peace be with your." (noticeable absent from when he met Mary tomb-side.) When Thomas doubted still, Jesus showed him his hands and feet and offered the proof Thomas needed. He extended his grace and invited even these men of his closest circle back into fellowship. Each of them no doubt were thinking of how just a few days earlier they had abandoned and betrayed Jesus at his crucifixion. The shame and guilt might have prevented them from looking Jesus in the eye. But to them all he said "peace." And to those words Thomas could offer only the simple and yet profound words of faith, "my Lord and my God!" A confession that Thomas understood who Jesus was and also who Thomas was in relation to him.
I hope this week we understand that we can bring our shame, our fears, and our doubts to a God who can handle them all. Jesus is there to hear our concerns, in fact he knows them already, and to offer his word of peace back to us. This is Good News indeed! Let us learn to be honest before a God who desires such honesty and possesses the grace and love to still accept us when we bare all before him.
Grace and Peace.
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