April 18, 2004

Mindekirken, April 18, 2004
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

John 20.19-31

A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence against the accused man, but there was no body found that would seal a conviction. In his closing statement, the accused man’s lawyer, knowing that his client was likely to be convicted, resorted to a trick, in a last-ditch effort to get his client off the hook. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you. In one minute, the person my client is accused of killing will walk into this courtroom.

Everyone in the courtroom looked toward the door. One minute passed, and nothing happened. The lawyer came clean. Actually, I made up my previous statement. But you all looked toward the door. I therefore put it to you that there is a reasonable doubt that the alleged victim is actually dead. I insist that you return a verdict of not guilty. Clearly confused, the jury left the room to deliberate. Just a few minutes later, they came back and returned a verdict of guilty. Stunned, the defense lawyer asked the jury: Why guilty? You must have had some doubt, you all looked at the door. The jury foreman answered: Yes, you’re right, we looked at the door…but your client didn’t.

We don’t find a jury in today’s text. But the group of disciples had to relate to the rumor about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. They had denied and fled when Jesus was captured. Everything they had believed had fallen apart when Jesus died on the cross. Now they were gathered behind closed doors fearing what might happen to themselves. The situation didn’t invite celebration; to believe in the resurrection seemed to be meaninglessly far away.

It was then it happened. Jesus came through the closed door. The supposed dead appeared among them. He came with peace. Peace be with you, he said. And then he showed them his hands and his side. The wounds left no room for doubt. They were filled with joy. Jesus lives.

But there was someone who couldn’t believe. Thomas was not with them the night Jesus appeared before his disciples. And he denied believing it as long as he hadn’t seen it himself. Why should he believe something he couldn’t see, touch, smell, hear and taste? The invisible might be pure imagination.

Thomas doubted, and I think we may understand his doubt. I think we recognize our own doubt in his. It might be difficult to believe that God is good when we see people suffering in an unjust world. We may doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. We may doubt his resurrection.

Doubt may be painful and confusing. It’s not pleasant to be drawn in different directions. For some, it might even be felt like a shame to doubt. One might think one is the only one who is struggling with thoughts of doubt. If you feel like that, today’s text has something to say to you. Doubt is acceptable. Thomas was allowed to ask his questions even if they were full of disbelief. Healthy skepticism and a critical attitude may well go together with a Christian faith. Christianity can stand to be examined from an intellectual point of view. It’s based on historical facts. Jesus has lived in our world. He became a part of our history.

The resurrection has really happened. If it were not so, our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain, and we are of all people most to be pitied, Paul says in 1Cor 15.14 and 19. It’s correct that we can’t prove that Jesus was the Son of God in the same way as they do a mathematical proof. But our conviction of faith is not taken right out of the air. One might give good, reasonable arguments for the resurrection of Jesus.

Thomas had his doubt, but he was honest about it. And he remained in the disciple flock. It might be tempting for the one who is experiencing a crisis of faith to pull away, put the Bible on the shelf and quit going to church. Thomas didn’t do that. Eight days later, the disciples were gathered again. For the third time after his resurrection, Jesus appeared before his disciples.

Notice how he approaches Thomas. Jesus doesn’t blame him because of his doubt. Quite the opposite, he opened his hands in order to let Thomas see, touch and experience the wounds. It was like open arms welcoming Thomas back to confidence and faith. Thomas was convinced. And who knows, maybe Thomas got an even deeper conviction because he dared to struggle with his doubt.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe, Jesus said to Thomas. We won’t meet Jesus in the same way the first disciples did, of course. But we trust their witnesses, and it becomes with us as with the ones about whom it’s written in 1 Pet 1.8: Although you have not seen him, you love him. The Christian fellowship, the church, plays an important part when it comes to nourishing our faith. Sometimes it’s necessary to work with the intellectual side of faith.

Most times we would say that what matters is not to get a proper answer to all difficult questions, but the personal confidence that Jesus receives us, and that we may rest in faith in him. Then it might be as one said, that my faith is filled with question marks, but I want to remain by Jesus with all my questions. Nourishment for our faith also comes from reading the Bible, and the sacraments. And we are invited to pray even when our comprehension is limited and our faith may seem weak. Thomas teaches us that we may be honest with our doubt. And by his example we also see the joy of confessing: My Lord and my God.

Glory be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one true God, now and for ever, amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716