Today’s Gospel reading from John is a story in two parts. It begins, “When it was evening on that day,” which refers to the day of the resurrection. We heard Matthew’s version of the Easter story in worship last Sunday, so let’s start with just a brief recap of John’s: Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb by herself. (As a brief aside, this is the scene described by the beloved hymn “In the Garden” – “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses…”). She sees that the stone is gone, and assumes that Jesus’ body has been taken somewhere, so she runs to tell the disciples. Peter and the other disciple race back to the tomb, find the folded wrappings, and return home.
Mary, however, was still there, weeping. Looking into the tomb, she sees two angels, who ask, why are you weeping? The question is echoed by the man standing behind her – who she understands to be the gardener, but is really Jesus! When Mary hears Jesus call her name, she recognizes him. Jesus instructs her to go and tell the disciples, and she does – “I have seen the Lord!”
That evening, despite Mary’s earlier proclamation, we find the disciples huddled together behind locked doors, fearful and uncertain. And yet, neither fear nor locks are barriers to the risen Christ. Jesus comes and stands in their midst, speaking peace and showing them his wounded hands and side. Ah, those familiar hands, which had rested on so many weak and diseased bodies. Familiar hands, which had broken so many loaves of bread, hands which had so often been clasped in prayer. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus saw that the disciples were fearful and uncertain, so he gave them what they needed – his presence, the proclamation of peace, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the reminder that forgiveness is a defining element of the relationships they have with and in him.
It was a moving encounter, but not all the disciples experienced it. Thomas, for whatever reason, had not been there that evening. Though the disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord,” Thomas’ response was not unlike their own response to Mary’s proclamation that previous Sunday. Indeed, Thomas, never one to mince words, says it plainly: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
And so, a week later, gathered together behind closed doors, Jesus again came and stood among them. He again greeted them with the words, “Peace be with you” and offered his scarred and tender flesh for Thomas to touch and believe – and Thomas did. “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus saw that Thomas was left out, unbelieving, perhaps unwilling to get his hopes up only to grieve Jesus all over again. Jesus saw this, so he gave Thomas what he needed – his presence, the proclamation of peace, the opportunity to feel with his own hands that the battered body of his Lord was truly living again. Jesus didn’t shame, or scold – he simply helped Thomas believe.
Though this story is always the one we hear the week after Easter, it lands on our ears a bit differently this year as we, too, find ourselves behind closed doors, fearful and uncertain about what lies ahead and how we’ll get through it. As our time apart stretches further and further, as our grief and anxiety are laid bare, as we disagree about how best to move forward from here, we find ourselves deeply in need of a word of assurance and peace.
What balm, then – what grace! – that Jesus sees our fears and uncertainties and gives us what we need, also - his presence, the proclamation of peace, and a blessing, as we are indeed those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.
The good news in this Easter story is the reminder that Jesus knows what we need and delights in meeting us there. Locked doors, fearful hearts, doubting and disbelieving minds – none of these are barriers to the God who was victorious even over death and the grave.
What are your needs? Have you shared them with anyone? Or only with God? My prayer for you this week is that you experience Jesus meeting you in the midst of your burdens and hopes and giving you what you need. Even as we are apart, and fearful, and uncertain, we know that Jesus comes among us, wherever we are, offering his presence and peace when we need it most. Like Mary, like the disciples, like Thomas, we are able to say, “We have seen the Lord!”
Mary, however, was still there, weeping. Looking into the tomb, she sees two angels, who ask, why are you weeping? The question is echoed by the man standing behind her – who she understands to be the gardener, but is really Jesus! When Mary hears Jesus call her name, she recognizes him. Jesus instructs her to go and tell the disciples, and she does – “I have seen the Lord!”
That evening, despite Mary’s earlier proclamation, we find the disciples huddled together behind locked doors, fearful and uncertain. And yet, neither fear nor locks are barriers to the risen Christ. Jesus comes and stands in their midst, speaking peace and showing them his wounded hands and side. Ah, those familiar hands, which had rested on so many weak and diseased bodies. Familiar hands, which had broken so many loaves of bread, hands which had so often been clasped in prayer. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
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| Rowan & Irene LeCompte, "Christ Shows Himself to Thomas" mosaic at Resurrection Chapel at the Washington National Cathedral |
Jesus saw that the disciples were fearful and uncertain, so he gave them what they needed – his presence, the proclamation of peace, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the reminder that forgiveness is a defining element of the relationships they have with and in him.
It was a moving encounter, but not all the disciples experienced it. Thomas, for whatever reason, had not been there that evening. Though the disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord,” Thomas’ response was not unlike their own response to Mary’s proclamation that previous Sunday. Indeed, Thomas, never one to mince words, says it plainly: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
And so, a week later, gathered together behind closed doors, Jesus again came and stood among them. He again greeted them with the words, “Peace be with you” and offered his scarred and tender flesh for Thomas to touch and believe – and Thomas did. “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus saw that Thomas was left out, unbelieving, perhaps unwilling to get his hopes up only to grieve Jesus all over again. Jesus saw this, so he gave Thomas what he needed – his presence, the proclamation of peace, the opportunity to feel with his own hands that the battered body of his Lord was truly living again. Jesus didn’t shame, or scold – he simply helped Thomas believe.
Though this story is always the one we hear the week after Easter, it lands on our ears a bit differently this year as we, too, find ourselves behind closed doors, fearful and uncertain about what lies ahead and how we’ll get through it. As our time apart stretches further and further, as our grief and anxiety are laid bare, as we disagree about how best to move forward from here, we find ourselves deeply in need of a word of assurance and peace.
What balm, then – what grace! – that Jesus sees our fears and uncertainties and gives us what we need, also - his presence, the proclamation of peace, and a blessing, as we are indeed those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.
The good news in this Easter story is the reminder that Jesus knows what we need and delights in meeting us there. Locked doors, fearful hearts, doubting and disbelieving minds – none of these are barriers to the God who was victorious even over death and the grave.
What are your needs? Have you shared them with anyone? Or only with God? My prayer for you this week is that you experience Jesus meeting you in the midst of your burdens and hopes and giving you what you need. Even as we are apart, and fearful, and uncertain, we know that Jesus comes among us, wherever we are, offering his presence and peace when we need it most. Like Mary, like the disciples, like Thomas, we are able to say, “We have seen the Lord!”
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