“Getting Into Shape: When Belief Is Hard”
John 20:19-31
I’m grateful you’re here today. Some of you are here because you want to hear what I have to say – you’re curious; some of you are here to check out what I have to say – you’re suspicious. Whatever the reason, you’re here. Thanks for allowing me to explain myself, to share my story.
I was part of a poor family. We were fishermen by trade, barely able to eke out a living. So when this young Rabbi named Jesus invited me to join Him – to learn from Him and follow Him – I was amazed and overwhelmed. I mean no established Rabbi would want me. Who else could see me as anything but a poor fisherman? What did I have to lose? If he was a fraud, well, I’d just go back to fishing. But if he was for real, well, I’d stake my life on him.
So I joined the others in following this Jesus from Nazareth. We all figured we’d learn a lot – and we did. What we didn’t expect was everything we saw him do. I could spend the rest of the day telling you of the amazing things we saw – things that defy explanation. We saw Him control the forces of nature – stilling storms, calming the waves, all with just a word. We witnessed him healing people, of all ages, of all kinds of diseases and infirmities. He made the blind to see. We were even present when he brought dead people back to life. It was obvious he was no ordinary man, no traditional Rabbi. I couldn’t stop following Him if I wanted to. I needed to understand everything, know everything, be sure of everything. All I knew was that I LOVED HIM AND WANTED TO BE FAITHFUL IN FOLLOWING AND WHOLE-HEARTED IN SERVING HIM.
It turns out there were times when following Jesus was tough. But I didn’t lack for COURAGE. There was the time that Jesus told us he was going to go be with Lazarus, even though Lazarus was already dead and buried. I couldn’t imagine why Jesus wanted to go or what he hoped to accomplish, but if he was wanting to go back into the arena with those Jews who had tried once before to stone him, I wasn’t going to let him face them alone. My brothers, the other disciples, tried to persuade him not to go. But I said I’d go with him – and die with him if necessary. I had made a commitment to follow Jesus, to serve him, so I was willing to spend my life for him.
And sometimes following Jesus was perplexing, especially for someone like me who is filled with CURIOSITY. Jesus often taught things that didn’t make sense, or that we couldn’t understand. I especially recall that night in the upper room. We had no idea, of course, it would be our last night with him, had no idea of what was going to happen in the next 3 days. We just knew he was saying some pretty ominous, downright gloomy things. He was talking about one of us betraying him, about him being killed; he even said dear Peter would deny him – not once but three times. We didn’t know what to make of it all. We had learned to trust Jesus’ words so we were disturbed. He said, “A little while and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me.” Huh? What did that mean? All we knew was whatever Jesus meant, the hours and days ahead were apparently going to be difficult – especially if Jesus was leaving us.
Then there were his words about what He was going to do when he was away from us – he was, he said, going to be building rooms for us in some grand house. And he added: “You know the way that I am going.” I looked around at the other blank faces, and blurted out with, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” I was more than curious and I didn’t mind speaking my mind. I mean, if you don’t understand something, say so! And Jesus responded: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Bold, potentially blasphemous, and beautiful words – but not very clear – not much help. I was filled with CONFUSION.
Here’s the deal – we all thought Jesus was going to tumble the Roman government and set up God’s new kingdom. We just weren’t prepared for or expecting the events that began to unfold later that night. Judas, did, in fact betray Jesus – and the soldiers arrested Jesus. We all fled, except for Peter who followed at a distance – and then denied knowing Jesus. You’ve heard what happened – they put Jesus on trial, whipped Him, beat him, and nailed him to a cross where he hung and died between two thieves. He died and was buried in a borrowed tomb. Jesus was gone – my world collapsed. I was confused. I didn’t understand how God could let this happen. Maybe – just maybe – Jesus wasn’t who he said he was. But He must have been. How else could he have said the things he said and done the things he did?
So when the other disciples told me that Jesus was alive, that He was risen from the dead, well, you can understand why I couldn’t believe it. I HAD A THOMAS MOMENT. Sure, Jesus raised others from the dead – but He gave them life. Since He was dead how could He give Himself life? I wanted to believe, but it was hard. I BELIEVED – BUT HAD SOME UNBELIEF Sometimes it’s just hard to believe. Even the other disciples, my brothers, didn’t really believe until they saw Jesus. So if they were now saying they had really seen Jesus alive, then it was only fair that I should get to see him too! I wasn’t going to be convinced until I could see for myself beyond a doubt. That’s fair, isn’t it? It’s hard to believe the unbelievable. It was hard to believe Jesus would come back to life. I believed in Jesus, but I had some unbelief.
You will have such times – your Thomas moments. You’ll wonder “Where was God when…” You’ll be up against something and think “It’s impossible.” IT’S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE. It’s difficult to believe when you’re grieving and the pain is never-ending. It’s difficult to believe when past failures weigh heavily on your mind can cloud your perspective. It’s difficult to believe when your heart is breaking and you’re sure it will never be mended.
But I’m here to tell you that my Thomas moment was followed by my JESUS MOMENT. Perhaps I had no right to demand to see the nail marks in Jesus’ hands, and to put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand in his side – but I did. And Jesus came to me. He offered me what I needed. He looked straight into my eyes and said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Only Jesus could have heard what I asked for. And everything I asked for, He offered! He offered me his scars – He offered me his grace and love. He wanted me to believe as much as I wanted to believe! So He gave me a Jesus moment.
So let me tell you what I’ve learned. I used to think seeing is believing. And perhaps sometimes it is. But seeing is not necessary. What’s important is the BELIEVING IS SEEING. So often Jesus told us to believe his words and believe his works. He knew that for us, believing is seeing. That’s why, after He invited me to believe He said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Belief enables us to see. Belief involves a conviction that there is more to life and situations than meets the eye. Belief sharpens our sight. You have not seen Jesus as I have – and you will not. But Jesus says you don’t need to – just believe and you will have your Jesus moments.
And you can believe. JESUS IS WHO HE CLAIMED TO BE. He is the Son of God – more than once God announced “This is my beloved Son.” Jesus said he was the resurrection and the life – and he rose from the dead. He said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Only He could pay the price for sin. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. JESUS HAS THE POWER HE CLAIMED TO HAVE. Jesus said that He alone and the power and authority to lay down His life and to take it back again. He did. JESUS DID WHAT HE PROMISED TO DO. (i) Jesus said He would be mocked, flogged, and killed (Mk. 10:34) but that after three days He would come back to life. He did. You can believe. And when you believe, you’ll see.
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Believe – and you will not perish but have everlasting life. Believe – and experience forgiveness of your sin. Believe – and you will not hunger. Believe – and you will not thirst. Believe and you will not live in darkness. Believe – and living water will flow through you. Believe – and you will receive whatever you ask in His name. Believe – and everything is possible for you. Believe – and have life in his name.
Jesus wants you to believe. In fact He taught us that THE WORK OF GOD IS TO BELIEVE IN THE ONE HE HAS SENT. I am convinced that was what Jesus what trying to tell us in that upper room when we shared the bread and cup. Yes – it was Passover. But it was different this time. He wanted us to see Him in the bread and in the cup. He was inviting us even then to see His wounds, to touch his scars. He was getting us in shape to believe. He said, “I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” He wanted us to believe so we could see what was to come.
And that is why it is so important to gather together to break the bread and share the cup. EVERY TIME WE REENACT THE SUPPER OF OUR LORD JESUS IS INVITING US TO BELIEVE. He wants us to see his wounds, to handle his side, to believe He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Believing is seeing. We don’t need any more miracles – the empty cross and empty tomb are evidence and miracle enough. So in just a few moments, you will have the opportunity to take hold of and eat his body, and to touch his wounds and drink from his cup. If you believe, you will see. This observance, this celebration, was designed by Jesus to invite us all to believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, so that by believing, beyond a doubt, we may have life in His name. May this be, for each of you, a Jesus moment.
(i) These three statements came from Rick Warren’s sermon What Difference Does Easter Make?, from www.preachingtoday.com
