NL 434: Thomas
John 20:19-31
April 24, 2022
John 20:19-31
Initial Thoughts
Switch to Gospel of John for a while
Same story...every year
Women had told the disciples that he had risen, but they are locked in a room out of fear.
“Fear of the Jews” is a troubling phrase.
Reports of Ukrainian officials requesting registration of all Jews.
Exaggerated, but still disturbing in their plausibility.
Common English version: “For fear of the Jewish authorities”
Excellent bulletin insert about scripture references to “the Jews”
Russia blaming Jews for meddling in the 2016 election
Bible Study
John merges the events of Easter and Pentecost.
Giving of the Holy Spirit occurs while Jesus is present.
Jesus is closely linked to church
Mission of Jesus as sent from God is parallel to mission of Church as sent from Jesus.
“The beginning of the community’s life is not separated from the story of Easter; indeed, in John, the gift of the Spirit and the commissioning of the church occur on Easter Sunday evening… [which] serves as a reminder that the church’s life is intimately bound to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection” (Gail O’Day, New Interpreter’s Bible v. IX, p. 848)
“With the coalescing of Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost and particulars of this appearance, the passage stresses the close continuity between Jesus and the church. Just as Jesus is sent by the Father with a mission, so the church is sent by Jesus with a mission. Just as Jesus has been the bearer of the Spirit, so the church is the bearer of the Spirit. Just as Jesus has declared the forgiveness of sins, so the church has declared the forgiveness of sins” (Charles Cousar, Texts for Preaching, Year A, p. 271-272).
Jesus Appears to Mary v. 11-18
Lection leaves this part out, but it feels improper to leave it out. Should at least be informed by this part of the story.
Mary discovered empty tomb, with stone already rolled away. Runs to get Simon and the Other Disciple. They find empty tomb, then go back to where they were staying.
Mary lingers, and meets a “gardener.” Gospel of John is the only one that specifies that Jesus was arrested in a garden. Now he is also resurrected in one.
Matthew and Mark call it “a place called Gethsemane.” Luke says he went to the Mount of Olives. Only John names it a garden.
“Woman, why are you crying?” asked twice.
Mary recognizes Jesus when he says her name.
First appearance
Door locked for “fear”
“In truth, Easter absorbs both the joy and triumph as well as the fear and disbelief, and is irreducible to just one experience of it. It would be easier if Easter were only the trumpet blasts and Alleluias. Or, it might even be easier if Easter were only fear and disbelief. But Easter is all of this, it holds all of it, even the contradictory emotions, and makes them one.” (David R. Henson, “Easter for Doubters”)
How terrifying to be confronted by the one who you have abandoned and betrayed- will Jesus come back with vengeance?
This sermon/article points to the idea that the disciples were afraid of running into Jesus. When he came, he broke into their fear and offered peace. http://cep.calvinseminary.edu/thisWeek/viewArticle.php?aID=794
Jesus appeared in the midst of the locked room, and said “Peace be with you.” Then they rejoiced.
Jesus didn’t knock this time. He was there among them without them doing anything. – this is an illustration of Prevenient Grace – the grace that is offered to us before we even know it.
Reports of his resurrection were not enough, his assurance of peace is what brought them to rejoicing.
He showed them his scars.
Jesus is wounded- the triumph of Easter does not erase the pain of Friday.
They don’t ask to see it, but he shows them anyway.
They have no particular reaction.
No confession by any disciples at seeing Jesus.
He breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Mini-Pentecost.
No response by disciples at receiving H.S.
Jesus Breathed on them- passing the Holy Spirit – Genesis 2
Forgiveness is a foundation of this community. That is the only thing they are directly told to do.
Forgives them - for their abandonment, for their fear, for their paralysis.
Sends them out to forgive others.
Which of the disciples are present? Later Thomas is identified as one of the twelve. Presumably Peter was there, what about Judas? There is no reason to think that Judas would not have been there.
Second appearance
Eight days later they are still locked in a house
If they had seen the risen Lord, and been given the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t they be doing something other than chilling in a locked room for a week?
What have they been doing?
Where was Thomas?
Thomas: “Unless I see the nails marks in his hands… I won’t believe”
Disciples didn’t believe the women until they saw. Thomas doesn’t believe the disciples unless he sees
Thomas demands no more evidence than they received.
Thomas didn’t want anything that the disciples hadn’t gotten themselves. He was no less a believer than any of them. He didn’t doubt Jesus – he doubted their testimony. Maybe because he was living in the same fear that they had. Once he encountered the risen Christ, that was enough.
He does not doubt Jesus, he doubts them.
Doors shut (not locked) Jesus appears
Jesus’ first words again, “Peace be with you.”
He shows Thomas his scars (no evidence that Thomas actually had to touch him). Jesus’ presence and assurance were enough.
"Jesus said…Thomas answered." The word did it; touching had become irrelevant, perhaps even rude and offensive. (Feasting on the Word: Year C, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide.)
Thomas’s response is the greatest yet, “My Lord and my God”
Only time in Gospel of John where Jesus is referred to as “My God”
“Doubting Thomas” is a pretty bad nickname. He is actually the first to declare Jesus’ divinity.
Generally believed to be the original ending to John.
Jesus last words are a call to future readers. Witness and testimony of Mary, then Disciples, then Thomas is meant to lead readers to their own witness and testimony:
Blessing to “those who believe, but have not seen,” is a direct call to the community receiving this gospel. They now have the complete good news, and are free to believe where they have not seen.
Readers are pushed to proclaim, as Thomas, that Jesus is “My Lord and my God,” which was the point of the prologue, back in 1:1. Probably the end of the Gospel of John, but “there is no evidence that John’s Gospel was ever circulated without chapter 21” (Common English Study Bible, p. 212 NT).
The next paragraph is seen as an epilogue, reminding people of what they will gain if they believe.
Truth of the Gospel lies not in historical facts, but in its ability to inspire faith in Jesus. The gospel’s own stated purpose is not to report history, but to help readers understand the truth of Jesus Christ. Once again, the writer uses two levels of meaning.
Thoughts and Questions
What were they afraid of? Fear didn’t keep two of them from sprinting to the tomb when they heard the body was gone. After the tomb, they returned home. Why were they now locked in a room? Now faced with reality of resurrection, why were they paralyzed?
Thomas didn’t want anything that the disciples hadn’t gotten themselves. He was no less a believer than any of them. He didn’t doubt Jesus – he doubted their testimony. Maybe because he was living in the same fear that they had. Once he encountered the risen Christ, that was enough.
In Easter, Jesus is called “Teacher,” “Lord,” and “My God.” What do each of these titles mean? Is he teacher, Lord, and God? What does it mean to my life if he is all of these things?
Doubt is the pathway to faith. When we doubt, we probe, question, and search. Perhaps Thomas started with doubt, but he ended with the greatest testimony of the disciples.
Thomas didn’t doubt Christ, he doubted his followers. He doubted those that gave witness to the risen Christ, perhaps because they showed no evidence. Even after encountering the risen Christ, they were locking themselves in a room. Is there any wonder that he didn’t believe them? What evidence do we show that there is a risen Christ? If all we do is lock ourselves in rooms (sanctuaries, churches, institutions), then why would anyone believe that we have been changed by a miraculous experience?
Readers at the end of this passage are pushed to recall the prologue. The gospel started by proclaiming that Jesus is the eternal Word made flesh. At the end, Thomas is able to declare that Jesus is “My Lord, and my God.” This is the culmination of belief. Just as the gospel is structured with increasingly dramatic signs and wonders, so is the increasingly bold witness. In the end, we are left to witness that Jesus is Lord and God. This might be a difficult thing for those with low Christology, but it is a basic tenet of Christianity that Christ is fully human and fully divine.
What did the disciples do for eight days after they “received the Holy Spirit,” and were still locked in the room? The disciples are passive in these stories. They have no real response. Except for Thomas who declares “My Lord and my God.” He is the only one who makes this stark confession to Jesus’s resurrection.
This passage is more about the readers - the Johannine community - than it is about the disciples themselves. To a group that is beginning to face scrutiny and persecution, it is a word of encouragement for those who believe though they had not seen.
“Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and believe.” This is clearly an exhortation to the community receiving the gospel. The good news is that you need not have seen Jesus to believe. The offering to see and believe is made to all. The question is, “What have you seen?” The gospel closes (kind of) with the words, “believing, you will have life in his name.” What does it mean to have life in Jesus name? Is it purely about afterlife? Is following Jesus just about believing so that you can get to heaven? Or does life in Jesus name mean something more?
Opening music: Misirlou, One Man 90 Instruments by Joe Penna/MysteryGuitarMan at MIM
Closing Song by Bryan Odeen