Jesus Is Our Peace :: John 20:24-31
These are written in order that you may trust that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that in trusting you may have life in his name (v 31).
[Prayer]
Almighty God, you have called your church to witness that in Christ you have reconciled us to yourself. Grant that by your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the good news of your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the gift of your salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Introduction]
Hallelujah! He is Risen! ...
Today we are observing the Octave of Easter. Theologically, the octave designates the eighth day. All of the major feasts of the church year are celebrated over the course of eight days. ... One Sunday isn’t enough. We need eight days. ... So the week following Sunday is part of the celebration, and it spills over into the next Sunday, the eighth day ... the octave of our Lord.
Our Gospel lesson today is a perfect fit for our celebration.
We began a new octave on Easter Sunday by hearing an angel proclaim the Good News that Jesus wasn’t dead but had risen (Mk 16:6). Then we heard what happened a few hours later when Jesus opened the eyes and ears of two of his disciples, leaving them in awe of the knowledge that all Scripture is about Christ all the time (Lk 24:27). Then we heard what happened Easter evening when those two disciples rushed back to Jerusalem to announce to everyone else in the Upper Room what they learned ... that Jesus is actually with us in the breaking of bread (Lk 24:35). As they proclaimed the Good News themselves that first Easter ... that Hallelujah! He is Risen! ... Jesus appeared in their midst to announce peace (Lk 24:36).
In today’s reading from John 20, it is eight days later ... the Octave of the Feast ... and the disciples are still keeping peace to themselves (v 26).
5.
It’s not hard to understand why the disciples were afraid of sharing the peace that Jesus told them to share (Jn 20:22-23). The Jewish leadership in Judea had done everything in their power to pressure the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, into crucifying Jesus, who is our peace (Eph 2:14). They viewed Jesus as a threat to their traditions and their worship. They feared change. They failed to see their need for salvation, failed to acknowledge that they don’t actually keep the Law, failed to understand the Gospel. So they did whatever they could to get rid of Jesus.
Fear and apprehension often describe our lives, too. We fear change, too. We fear death, too. We fear what the next lab report will say. We fear losing our livelihood and our ability to take care of ourselves. We fear that God might abandon us and will stop taking care of us. We fear confessing that our doctrine of the Lutheran Church is truly orthodox, because we know if we believe it is true, then we will know others are in fact heterodox. We fear the Gospel that God is the one who actually comes to us to care for us.
Fear and worry do not come from faith ... or we could say trust in the Word of God. Fear and worry are evidence of sin. So today, on the Octave of Easter, Jesus comes into our midst and declares ... just like he did on Easter ... Peace to you (v 26). His absolution alleviates fear. And he enables us to rejoice (vv 19-20) ... proclaiming ... Hallelujah! He is risen!
4.
The Lord calls us to give us peace. The Lord gathers us to give us peace. He enlightens and sanctifies us that he is our peace. Jesus comes into our midst ... not just spiritually ... but physically ... in body and blood that we can touch and taste. And this gives us peace. Without this sign and wonder of the resurrection, we would have no peace ... we would not know the forgiveness of sins. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15[:17]: If there is no resurrection, then your faith is futile and you would still be in your sins. ... But God gives us victory in Christ, who is our peace (15:57). We have this peace not because of something we have done ... not because of a decision we have made.
Behold, our God and our Lord, who lived and died and rose again for you is with us.
JESUS IS OUR PEACE
3.
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, the one called the Twin, was not with [the disciples the first time] Jesus came (v 24). He struggled to see Jesus ... to hear Jesus ... to understand the Scriptures and to know the peace of the Gospel.
When Thomas’ closest friends tried to tell him ... that ... Hallelujah! He is risen! ... Thomas could not by his own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to him. He demanded a greater sign ... like we all do all too often. He refused to believe that these things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (v 31) ... that Jesus always does what he says he does, and always gives what he says he gives ... his Word, Himself, his very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.
As Thomas said to his friends, If I do not see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe (v 25) ... or maybe we should say trust what his family and friends and most importantly the Word of God himself had been telling him.
2.
But then, on the Eighth day of Easter ... again [Jesus’] disciples were inside, and Thomas [was] with them. Though the doors were shut, [Jesus came and] stood in the midst and said, ‘Peace to you.’ ... Jesus didn’t do this only for Thomas. We always need to be reminded that Jesus is our peace. ... Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, Bring your finger here, and behold my hands; and bring your hand, and put it into my side. Do not be untrusting, but trust.’ And Thomas answered, and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (vv 26-28)
Brothers and sisters in Christ, blessed are you who have not seen, yet love him. And blessed are you who do not see him now, yet you believe in him and you’re filled with a glorious and inexpressible joy as you await the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your soul (v 29; cf 1 Pt 1:8-9) .... peace. You who confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you know you are saved. And that gives you peace.
Our Lord and God who was born without sin, lived without sin, died for your sin, buried your sin, and then actually rose from the dead free from sin ... gives you peace. Jesus has redeemed you, one of the lost and condemned, not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death that you may be his own and live. As Paul teaches us in Romans 6[:9-11], We know that, since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again. Death has no lordship over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ.
1.
This is the peace Jesus gives us again today ... the same peace he has been giving us from the beginning. Remember, in the Gospel of John, Jesus began revealing this peace first through all the miracles ... signs ... that he performed ... turning water into wine (Jn 2:1-11), healing the nobleman’s son (4:46-54) and the paralyzed man (5:1-15), feeding the 5,000 (Jn 6:5-14), walking on water (6:16-21), giving sight to blind (Jn 9:1-7), and raising the dead (Jn 11:1-45). These signs, like so many more that couldn’t be written, were given so that you will have peace, knowing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (v 31).
[Conclusion]
In our world we do have tribulation. We see it all around us. And the old Adam in us continues to dwell on that, causing more fear and worry, disrupting peace. But Jesus is nevertheless with us. Therefore, allow your God and Lord to continue casting aside your fear through his Word and sacraments, which deliver peace, just as they did with the disciples.
Join us every chance you get here in our upper room ... this place called Trinity Lutheran Church. Here, Jesus always comes into our midst to remind you of his absolution that your sins are forgiven. ... Here, he draws you back into your baptism where by daily contrition and repentance the Old Adam in us is drowned and dies with all sins and evil desires and the new man arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. And here, he opens our eyes to reveal that he is with us in the breaking of bread. The Lord’s Supper delivers to you peace.
Then like the disciples before you, you too can share the Good News. Start with your family and friends. Speak of Christ to your spouse, your children, your brothers and sisters who may question the truth of our Lord or have a misunderstanding of what our God has given. Speak the Word of the Holy Spirit, that as the dead bones before Ezekiel were made alive, so the Spirit makes alive all who are perishing under the weight of sin and guilt.
Then they too will be able to shout for joy (Ps 33:1) ... singing Hallelujah! He is Risen! ... And we have seen him and know him. By proclaiming this Gospel, Jesus brings many out of unbelief and into faith, gathering all his hosts together under his peace ... in his name.
Now may the Lord of Peace grant you peace at all times in every way. Amen.