The Risen Jesus Calms Every Troubled and Wavering Heart - John 20:19-29
Preached to the saints at Mount Olive Lutheran and Grace English Lutheran Churches in Bovey and Marble, Minnesota on April 11, 2021:
Being the evening of that day, the first of the week, and the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.”
On the night Jesus was betrayed, His disciples failed to pray, fell into temptation, abandoned Him, and denied Him. Only John was at His cross where He bled and died for the sins of the world. Though they spent every waking moment for the last three years with Jesus, they still blew it. It’s kind of nice to know that these pillars of the church were just as weak and feeble in heart and mind as we are. Even after hearing that Jesus is risen, the disciples were still in confusion, wonder, and, worse of all - fear.
Dear people loved by God - this is why Jesus died and rose again. By the blood of His cross, he has made peace. In His perfect love of laying down his own life for your sins, He has cast out all fear. The marks of the nails in his hands and the gash in his side bears the proof that He indeed was pierced for our transgressions. His bodily resurrection is proof that God’s justice is done. He is Risen - and He is standing among us today in His Word and Sacrament, speaking peace to the chaos and troubles of our own sinful hearts and minds. St. John today proclaims to you that the Risen Jesus calms every troubled and wavering heart.
Being the evening of that day, the first of the week, and the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.”
First of all, notice that the disciples were together. Though chaos, confusion, and fear had gripped their hearts, they did not neglect one another. Jesus had knit them together as one people and in this moment they were caring for each other. When they needed Jesus the most, when the things of the world gripped their hearts and minds to despair in fear, they came together.
I don’t know what is going on in your lives. I don’t know what fears have been troubling your heart and mind day after day - but I do know that worry robs you of your sleep, saps the joy out celebration, and causes strife. But look - we are all here, together - just like these disciples from our text. We are together with those who share the Name and Promise of Holy Baptism with us. We’ve all been united to the very Lord Jesus who has died and risen for us - who has laid up His life everlasting for us. Our doors to this building may not be locked, but maybe your heart is; maybe your life, your lips, and your mind are locked. And if so, know that you are in the right place - for Jesus is here, too. He’s here to forgive you, establish you, and calm your troubled heart.
No trial or difficulty has overcome you that He is unaware of - no fear has come upon you that He does not know of. He has defeated sin, guilt, death, and hell by His cross and empty tomb. Though he will always be man, he is also God and is not limited by closed doors or closed hearts, but He comes and stands among us in His Word to give us peace in the forgiveness of sins - just like he did for His disciples.
Find yourself among those disciples - the first church. Being then the evening of that day, the first of the week, and the doors having been locked where the disciples were because of fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.” Saying this he showed them his hands and side. Then the disciples, having seen the Lord, rejoiced.
Though they deserved a harsh rebuke for their failures and sins, Jesus does not read them the riot act, but he melts their fear with words of Peace - these are the first words the disciples hear the Resurrected Jesus say. And their fear changed to joy - they rejoiced in seeing the Lord. This Word of peace made them confident that truly their sins are forgiven; their fears cannot overcome them, and their relationship with one another - and with their God and Lord, is completely restored.
It’s the same Word of Peace that surrounds our whole worship service. We begin by confessing our sins and laying out all our sins and fears at the foot of the cross - and then Jesus speaks His Word of Peace. We proclaim the Lord’s Peace as he comes to us in his true Body and Blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of all of your sins. We leave with His Words from Numbers 6 - The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Face to face with the Risen Lord Jesus, the disciples are restored - you are restored - and you are given the gift of the Holy Spirit in the breath that forms’ Jesus Words.
The Holy Spirit then equips and strengthens them to open their lips and extend that peace to others - which they did for their dear brother, Thomas. Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. Therefore, the other disciples said to him, “we have seen the Lord.”
This is the saddest part of our reading today. Thomas was not there among the disciples when Jesus came. He missed out on this great joy and blessing. And missing out caused him to fall into disbelief: Thomas said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the place of the nails and throw my finger into the place of the nails, and throw my hand into his side, I will in no way believe.”
What does this say about us and others? Is it any wonder that so many find it difficult to believe? The most common sin of all is unbelief - even we Christians waver in and out of belief and unbelief. Sadly, we sometimes think it to be a small thing when someone misses out on our worship services - but then they are also missing out on the great blessing of God’s presence and Jesus’ forgiveness. They miss out on the Peace that surpasses human understanding.
It may be that Thomas wants to believe - he may wish it from the depths of his heart - but the way of all sinful men holds onto him, and he needs what we all need. He needs the communion of saints around the gifts of Jesus. The same Spirit that equipped the disciples has also been given to you for the same task - to tell others what they’re missing - they’re missing the peace of Jesus that comes in His presence of Word and Sacrament. This does not have to be difficult. It can begin with your own family, friends, and closest neighbors - any who, like Thomas, have wavering hearts.
After eight days again, the disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace to you.” Then he said to Thomas, “bring your finger here and see my hands and bring your hand and throw it into my side; stop disbelieving and become believing.” And Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God!”
None of this would have happened without the gathering of the disciples to share in the peace of the resurrected Jesus. They brought Thomas to the Word of Jesus - and doubting Thomas speaks one of the greatest confessions in the whole Bible: “My Lord and my God!”
Do not neglect gathering together, for this is where Jesus has promised to be to extend his peace in the forgiveness of sins. This is where the risen Jesus calms all troubled and wavering hearts. This is where the pierced hands of Jesus poured the water of baptism over you, forgiving your sins and giving you His Holy Spirit. This is where the resurrected body is felt by you in the Sacrament, given to you to eat and drink, that His life would be received into your own body. This is where you receive His peace and confess Jesus as Lord.
And be at peace, as Jesus said: Blessed are you who have not seen and yet believe. That is you who walk by faith and not by sight, as St. Peter says: Though you do not see him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Amen