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Honey, I’m Home!
John 20:19-31

     Perhaps you’ve heard the story in the news of the Yugoslavian judge who was electrocuted when he reached up to try to fix a faltering light fixture while standing in a bathtub.   If you think that’s a bit shocking, listen to what happens next. This poor man’s wife found his body; when first responders arrived, they pronounced him dead and transported him to a large crypt in the town’s main cemetery. He would be kept in the preparation room for about 24 hours, then be buried.
     Sometime in the middle of the night the judge “came to”.  He cautiously looked around at his surroundings and then suddenly realized where he was; he pieced together what had happened.  He sat up, stretched his stiff body, went to the door and opened it looking for a staff person on duty. When he spotted the man assigned to the night shift and called out the guard was terrified.  He backed away from him and kept saying to himself  “This is not real; I am not seeing this right now.”  After a bit, the guard calmed down enough to listen to the newly-revived judge.  He let him use the phone to call to his wife, reassure her he wasn’t dead and ask her to bring him home. Unfortunately, the man got no further than “Honey, it’s me” when his wife screamed loud and long - then there was a thud and silence.  She had fainted.
     The anxious judge decided to call a close friend. Rousing that man in the middle of the night didn’t go well either; he thought it was a cruel prank call so he hung up on him.  The judge woke up a few others and got similar results because they had already heard about his death from his distraught wife.  None of them believed he was alive. They knew the facts, the truth - none of them were fools.  They were not about to fall for a hoax.  
     In a last-ditch, desperate effort, the judge called a friend in another city who had not heard about his death. That person was the one who finally managed to convince his family and friends that he really was alive. Isn’t that an incredible  story?  I’m reminded of the expression, “truth can be stranger than fiction.”  It seems to apply to this story.  
      It also seems fitting for today’s Scripture account from John – when Jesus appeared a second time in an upper room.   The week before, 10 of the disciples were shocked and amazed when Jesus stood before them.  The door had been locked, yet there he was!   They might well have reacted like the night guard at the cemetery who backed away and said: “This is not real; this isn’t happening”.   Thomas hadn’t been there at the time; maybe he was out getting food or learning what news there was on the street.  
     Thomas likely pushed his way to the front of the crowd this time.  The door had been securely locked, as usual. but the risen Christ stood but a few feet away from them, seemingly breathing and well.  Thomas saw Jesus with his own eyes and watched as he extended his scarred hands and his side where a soldier thrust his spear in - to see if he had died.  Then Jesus lifted us his hands and said “Peace be with you”; he breathed on them and gave them the empowering gift of the Holy Spirit.   .
     I love what theologian Thomas Long says about the scene. “Here, we get our first glimpse of the church in its earliest days and all in all, it is not a very pretty picture.  Near the end of Jesus’life he had carefully prepared his disciples to be a devoted and confident fellowship of faith. They were to be a community of profound love, ready to serve and to proclaim his name. They were to be a church whose gates were wide open, where a welcome mat could always be found at the front door.  But what we see here is frightened men barricaded in a house with the doors bolted shut.”*
     It is reported that there were many men and women huddled in the Upper Room after Jesus’ crucifixion, and they were an anxious group not at all feeling bold.   They were cowering in the shadows: fearful the Jewish leaders would find out where they were and stir up the crowds so their fate would be the same as Jesus’.
     What we see here is the church at its worst: it is scared, disheartened and defensive.  Imagine for a moment what sort of church advertisements this sealed-off group of early Christians might have placed in one of today’s newspapers to advertise their worship services. They couldn’t say “We are the friendly church on the corner where all are welcome,” because they would have had their burliest men at the entrance quickly husting in newcomers, then scanning the street to see if there are spies.  That wouldn’t feel too friendly, would it?  No warm smile and relaxed welcome for them!  And once inside, what would they hear preached?   The disciples weren’t looking out at the world, ready to share Good News - they were preoccupied with their own self-preservation. 
      You decide for yourself this morning.  Would you say the early church could advertise itself as people having “a joyful heart and a bold mission”?  Or were they a church with “sweaty palms and a timid spirit”?  And let’s make this personal this morning, what kind of church are we this morning? 
     I can tell you what the X factor is… it is Jesus Christ.  When He shows up everything changes.   He is the life-changing, church-shaking, church-changing, world-rocking difference.  Jesus always has been, and always will be the difference.  Do you believe that this Sunday morning?  
     There are three life application lessons I find for our lives in today’s Scripture lesson.  The first thing is that Jesus always sees and knows our circumstances.
      Jesus knew Thomas’ mind had been troubled all week because he’d missed out on seeing the first post-resurrection appearance.  Jesus knows what’s on our minds - he’s aware of our struggles, whatever circumstances are burdening us in life.  The other disciples had been in a similar place the week before; they were isolated and low on hope.  Everything felt uncertain.  Can’t you and I relate to feeling scared, stuck and sad?      
      The amazing thing that we can be assured of through this resurrection scene is that Jesus sees into each of our hearts, He knows our worries and is with us in our low times and doubts.  The Bible says that even before we speak a word of prayer on our lips, Jesus knows what concerns us.  Can you trust this assurance?   Do you realize you are seen and known and loved every moment by our loving Lord and Savior?  Christ is with us in all of our circumstances, on the good days and through our darkest and most frightening.  Jesus is with us and for us; He is the difference-maker! 
     The next thing our risen Lord does is offer us these words of blessing and promise: “Peace be with you.” Each one of us needs the precious gift of peace that God alone supplies.  Sometimes we don’t receive or experience that peace, though, do we?   Isn’t that usually because our days are too filled with distractions or work?  While many things are needful in our daily life – we will not thrive unless we make the time and space to be filled and strengthened by our relationship with Jesus. 
     In recent days, I’ve felt like God has been giving me that spiritual reminder through our (all-black) cat, Buddy.  He loves to find a nice spot on the carpet in our living room where he can stretch his furry body all the way out, the better to soak up the rays of sunshine.  Does anyone here have a cat, or two?  Our cat’s glossy fur  shines in the sunlight as he basks in its warmth.  He will occasionally stand up, stretch himself as only cats can, and move a few steps forward to keep himself in the sunshine.  If you have ever watched a cat do this, I think you’ll agree they are more than just “content”; they are blissfully serene.  Maybe you have even thought:  “I want some of THAT for myself!” 
      This morning I want to assure you that your wish can become a reality.  Jesus is the Giver of serenity; He offers us an inner peace that is real and powerful.  I found myself thinking about this and a favorite hymn came to mind. I’m sure many of you know its verses:  “When peace like a river attendeth my way, (or) when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.”  My fellow Christians, whatever your lot is in life, whatever mine is, Christ empowers us to say, “It is well with my soul.”  
    We are now one week into what is called Eastertide; this is a season of celebrating Jesus’ resurrection promise and peace for the next 50 days. I encourage you to make it your habit to sit in the sunshine someplace, or on cloudy days sit by a lamp, but put yourself somewhere where you can center yourself on Jesus Christ. Have a quiet time, take out your Bible, a devotional book or online resource, and perhaps a prayer journal.  Quietly sit in the presence of God and you will be refreshed.   God will be at work in you, changing you from the inside out so you are more like Jesus every day.   And I promise you that Christ’s peace will abide in you, as you abide in Him.   He is the vine; we are to be branches that are nourished and flourish. We receive newness of life from his life.      
     The first lesson from today was that Jesus sees and knows us; the second was that He offers us his peace as we open our lives to him. The third insight from the gospel of John is that Jesus has a plan for each one of us, and for the church.  He knows that there are times when we as his followers need to huddle with him.  We need to learn and pray together, worship and enjoy fellowship as the body of Christ.  But Christ is also counting on us to be his living church, focused on our main purpose.  Jesus said: “Just as my Father sent me, so I am now sending you.”   We are the believers who are commissioned today; we have the honor and privilege of getting out the word that God is real, Jesus is His Son, and he died to take away our sins – so we are no longer separated from our holy God.  Jesus loves us and invites us to become his followers, to live a life that is full and satisfying.   
      Is Jesus making all the difference in your life?   Can you say you know the love of God?   These are the very truths people need to hear.  I was thinking about the disciples being commissioned, and us as well, and it reminded me of the men and women who graduate from Boot Camp in the military.  They have been trained and will soon report for duty. Their graduation was no doubt exciting, with caps tossed in the air and family so proud. But what’s before them is their assigned duties.  Each one will need to shoulder responsibility, and with that comes mixed emotions.   There will be excitement and some nervousness. That is true for us in the church as well, isn’t it?   But as we have each other, and we are equipped for our work of ministry and evangelism by the empowering Holy Spirit.  The Spirit guarantees that when we need the words to speak, when we need the power to step forward - whatever we lack, God assures us he will provide. God has us covered. We don’t walk alone or minister by our own power. The resurrected Christ is with us!   
     Let me close now with a final quote from Thomas Long:  “John’s Gospel gives us a snapshot of the early church. It had nothing. It had absolutely no plan, no promises, no programs, no perky youth ministry, no powerful preaching, no parking lot, nothing. In fact, when all is said and done this terrified little band huddled in the corner of a room with a chair braced against the door. They had only one thing going for it: The risen Christ.
       And that is the main point of this Thomas story. In the final analysis this is a story about how the risen Christ pushed open the bolted door of a church with nothing. And the risen Christ still enters the fearful chambers of every church and will fill the place with his own life.”*   
    What good news this is for us today!  For those who have ears to hear, let them hear. 

* Thomas G. Long, "Whispering the Lyrics" (CSS publishing.)

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