In this morning’s Gospel, we read about two appearances of the risen Lord to the disciples. The first, is St John’s account of the first appearance he made to them after his Resurrection. In his account of this appearance, St John simply says that Jesus showed the disciples his hands and side but, in St Luke’s account of this appearance, we’re left in no doubt that Jesus showed the disciples his wounds, the marks of his crucifixion, to convince the disciples that they really were seeing Jesus himself, and not a ghost. We know this because Jesus says to them,
“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
After which he shows the disciples his hands and feet.
The second appearance of the risen Lord we read about this morning, happened a week after this first appearance and is the well-known story of ‘Doubting Thomas’. St John tells us that Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples, and that he simply didn’t believe what the others had told him. He wanted to see Jesus with his own eyes, and not only see, but touch Jesus’ wounds before he would be willing to believe that Jesus had really risen from the dead. A week later, Thomas gets his wish and, perhaps not surprisingly, Thomas’ response is to acclaim Jesus as his Lord and God. Jesus’ reply is that it is those who believe without seeing that are blessed.
The underlying theme of this story, of course, is faith. And faith, as the Letter to the Hebrews tells us,
“… is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
It’s a trust that the things we believe are true, that the things we expect, or wish for, will happen when we have no visible evidence for our belief in those things, expectations or wishes. And Jesus said it’s those who have this kind of faith who are blessed.
I think though, that this Gospel story, or perhaps the way we usually read this story, is a little unfair on ‘Doubting Thomas’. St John tells us that Jesus’ words about faith were addressed to Thomas, but if we take St Luke’s story of the meeting between Jesus and the other disciples into account, it wasn’t only Thomas who had doubts. All the disciples needed to see Jesus’ wounds before they would believe he’d truly risen from the dead. So, whilst Jesus may have been speaking to Thomas at this time, his words would have applied just as much to the other disciples too. And I think these Gospel stories and the accounts of Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances generally, tell us something very important about our lives as Christians and about our faith, as it’s lived out in the world.
As Christians living in what at times can be a very harsh and cruel world, doubts and questions about our faith, go hand-in-hand with our faith. When we see suffering in the world, for example, it’s only natural for Christians, who care about the suffering in the world, to ask ‘Why?’ ‘Why do people have to suffer? There is nothing wrong with asking that question because, in essence, it’s the question Jesus asked in Gethsemane;
“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus’ faith was firm, he was determined to do the Father’s will, whatever that meant. But he was asking if there was another way that could be done, one that spared him the suffering of the Passion and the agony of the Cross.
And whenever there is trouble, turmoil and distress in the world, as there is at this present time, it’s only natural for Christians, who care about what goes on in the world, to ask ‘Where is God in all this?’ and to wonder how such things further God’s will and purpose. It’s very difficult for us, with our very limited perspective of time and space, to see things on the eternal, cosmic scale that God sees them, so it shouldn’t be surprising that we don’t see, and don’t understand, and ask questions. Jesus, as fully God and fully human, understood this perfectly, and he spoke about our inability to understand these things, and our tendency to question, or even lose our faith when these things happen. But urged us not to lose faith, whatever goes on in the world around us:
“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
It can be very difficult for us to understand what God is doing when individual people, or the world generally, are going through troubled times and there is great suffering, because our eyes and ears don’t provide us with any evidence for what God is doing. So it’s not surprising that these are the times when doubts and questions may arise in our minds and hearts. We know the disciples didn’t understand, and they lost faith when Jesus was arrested and put to death on the cross. Their understanding came, and their faith was renewed and strengthened, only after these things had happened, and it all stemmed from them seeing Jesus’ wounds, the visible marks of his suffering. Only then did they begin to realise what Jesus’ suffering and death had all been about and what God had done through his suffering and death.
We can’t see or touch Jesus’ wounds today, but those wounds tell us that God can and does work in and through times of great suffering and distress. Jesus’ wounds tell us that God does work in and through times when, to all outward appearances, he seems to be absent. It might be difficult for us to see and understand, but these are the times when we’re called to endure, to go through these times and remain faithful – to be amongst those who are blessed with faith even though we can’t see. If we can do that, then we can look forward in confidence to that day when we will see and understand. That day when we meet and see the risen Lord for ourselves.
Amen.
You’ll find the Propers for the Second Sunday of Easter here.
Parish Church of St Mark Chadderton 