Already on Easter evening, ten of the eleven were back together. Eight days later, Thomas had rejoined them. His “not with them” turned once again to being “with them.”
Certain texts are worth reading every year. The lectionary committee made that judgment about this week’s Gospel reading. Each of the three-year series appoints this text for the second Sunday of Easter. While you might question the wisdom of the repetition, you might also notice there is enough going on in this text to take at least three different homiletical approaches.
For example, this reading is actually a collection of three shorter texts. Each could guide an entire sermon. The first shorter text is John 20:19-23. It takes place on Easter evening. Jesus appears to His disciples who have locked themselves behind closed doors. A sermon on this text might work with fear, peace, and the apostolic mission Jesus gave His apostles and continues to give His Church of every age. The third shorter text is John 20:30-31. This is a text about the bigger text. In these verses, John breaks the fourth wall to speak to his readers about why he is writing the things he has written. A sermon on this text might take a look at the purpose of the Scriptures as a whole; a purpose which is the same purpose of any Christian sermon, namely, to produce faith in Christ that leads to life in His name.
Then, there is the second shorter text, John 20:24-29. I have saved this text for last because I recommend focusing on these verses this year. These are the verses which put Thomas in the spotlight. He gets the attention, as well as the unhappy title. Whether you go with “doubting” or “unbelieving” in verse 27, the overall message is the same. Thomas falls short, and Jesus calls him out.
But there is more to Thomas than his struggle with doubt/unbelief. Among other things, there is a small but significant change which takes place when you compare verse 24 and verse 26. In verse 24, Thomas was not with the others (οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν). John does not tell us where he was. We simply know he was not there. But then, probably days later, he had returned. Thomas was with them (καὶ Θωμᾶς μετʼ αὐτῶν). This tells us something about Thomas, the disciples, and our life in Christ.
The disciples had gone through a difficult and frightening weekend. The brutality shown against Jesus justifiably filled them with fear and grief (and probably a little remorse). More than their faith was shaken, and so also must have been their unity. This is not surprising. When groups go through challenging times, it is easy to turn against one another, pass blame, and separate. “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter,” the prophet and Jesus said (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31). While there may have been some of that in the Garden, the scattering did not last. Already on Easter evening, ten of the eleven were back together. Eight days later, Thomas had rejoined them. His “not with them” turned once again to being “with them.”
Eight days later, Thomas had rejoined them. His “not with them” turned once again to being “with them.”
The Christian life is characterized by moments of “with them” and “not with them.” We gather regularly to be with one another in worship, Bible study, and service, but this accounts for only a few hours each week. More often, we are not together. Judging by the numbers of people in many of our congregations, more and more are opting for a permanent version of “not with them.” This is no accident. Derek Thompson, in his superb (and disturbing) reflection on our current cultural propensity to “not be with” others called “The Anti-Social Century,” points out how many people are choosing solitude and separation from others and even celebrating it as a type of virtue.
This was not the disciples, and it was not even Thomas. He was not with them initially, but at some point, between verse 24 and 26, Thomas had come back together with the rest. That is where Jesus met him. He met Thomas “with them.”
That is where Jesus meets us today, too. Jesus meets us in the community of believers, this is how He works. Consider the means by which God deals graciously with us. They always require other believers. We speak and hear His commands and promises from one another in the mutual conversation and consolation of brothers and sisters. We touch and receive His promises through shared bread and shared wine, and through water that needs a baptizer as well as a baptized. We confess our sins and receive forgiveness in the stead and by the command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Even your sermon is an instance of Jesus meeting the people of God together in a gathered community.
However, the community of believers in Jesus is never perfect. The book of Acts shows how the early Christian community did not maintain unity as they should have. But that is not what makes this community unique. The community of believers is special in that Jesus continues showing up among them. Wherever two or three are gathered, there He is. And like He did with Thomas, Jesus continues bringing faith and life with Him.
This is His promise to your congregation. By God’s grace, they believe even though they have not seen. And they believe together, as brothers and sisters in Christ who forgive and welcome one another as God has forgiven and welcomed them.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on John 20:19–31.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching John 20:19–31.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaeching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
