Who do you look like?
John 20:19-31
I have heard it said that every body has a twin in this world. I remember hearing that in high school. I had never though of it much until someone pointed out somebody that thought could be my twin.
Our high school has 1200 students and I was not exactly a person that got to know a lot of people. Just the ones in my classes. That was a bunch all by it self.
One day there was an assembly and the whole school was present. On of the friends said there is the guy that look just like you. O looked over the crowd and did not see anyone that looked like me. After a few minutes of pointing directing my sight I found the face. It was one of the coaches, I did not even know his name, I was a band person and did not have to take PE. I still did not think that the looked like me.
I had some friends that were twins, Allen and Dale. Neither was particularly hansom we were in band together and most days shared a table at lunch. They were not identical but they definitely looked like brothers. Some people had trouble telling hem apart and would call them the wrong name.
I don’t recall having trouble at all. They were very different. They were both in music but one played woodwinds and the other brass. One was on the honor roll and the other was not. One was the apple of the family’s eye and the other wanted a different family.
== But they were brothers and every body knew it.
Our scripture today picks up in the afternoon of the first day of the week. The same day that the women had come to the tomb, the disciples were gather in a locked room. The good news of Christ resurrection according to John has Mary Madeline going to the tomb and making the discovery, she tells peter and John who confirm it is empty and it says they realize that this was told in scripture.
They leave thinking WHAT NEXT?
Mary hangs around talks to a couple of angels and bumps into Jesus who sends a message to his brothers.
It appears all this happens early in the day and the scripture jumps to evening. It seems like the group had gathered, perhaps moving through the streets in disguise, Hiding their Gallaeian clothes, or covering their faces.
They meet and as people arrive they enter the darkened room, the door is locked behind them, there are oil lamps or candles burning, but just enough to move around the room. The windows are closed up with shutters or with drapes.
=Any talking is done in soft tones and whispers.
Everyone is listening for voices and foot steps outside.
(Wisper)
Mary saw Jesus, He was alive…No not a dream she was wide awake. She saw him in the garden outside the tomb. It was daylight….Well I suppose she could have been mistaken or wishful thinking…Shhh did you hear something?
They are so afraid of the authorities that every set of foot steps and knock at the door had them holding their breath.
Their teacher was killed because he was accused of being a king, he did not deny it and in some accounts agreed he was.
= He is dead and the rumor is now that the disciples has stolen the body…..that can’t be good for them.
Can you imagine how that felt?
Being really scared that at any moment you would be dragged off to prison and a rigged trial.
The mixed feeling about the news Mary brought. Thinking, what am I doing here, we are all going get caught.
Then “suddenly,” Jesus is there! No noise, or the opening of the door or window. It is like you blink and there is someone. He says, "Peace be with you," and every body in the room knows he is there. They hear voice of a dead man.
His voice is familiar and is at normal volume and tone. No fear No distress
He shows them his hands and side a proof that it really is him. They were filled with Joy…
I wonder if they could be quiet when the realized it was Jesus…
“Dude you scared the daylights out of us! Where have you been….”
I wonder if the immediately realized that no body let him in?
For them, the realization of Jesus resurrection became real. They see him and talk to him.
Then he says, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Then he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven."
What …. What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
Yes it is great that Jesus is alive, but how does this help the situation they are in now?
This visit seems to be described by John as a personal gift of peace and comfort from Jesus Christ at a moment of their greatest need.
Fear has taken over their thoughts completely, the have no concept of a future. They can see their deaths happening as a surprise attack. They can’t relax and sleep is out of the question.
I am not even sure that they can think clearly.
He gives them something else to think about, their new role will be in the giving of the salvation message. They will offer forgiveness of sins or judgment…that is pretty deep, it is something to meditate on. The biggest gift was the physical presence of Christ to help them clear their heads, and give them peace.
= Then our story jumps to the detail that one apostle was missing.
It mentions that one of the disciples was nicknamed (Didymus) the twin. That is another high school memory…
Sometimes nicknames can be good or bad. I was branded by my parents as “TAB,” long before I ever stated school later It caused enough grief, but kids are so creative sometimes. Bow en arrow not real original and just a little embarrassing. I had a friend called tank he was a Big guy.
There was hoobie… a small guy the reminded me a little of Radar O’Riley or maybe the priest on MASH === there was father tree = A tall guy with a naturally RED AFRO.
Thomas misses the visit, and the others are trying to convenience him that Jesus really did visit. They saw him… HE is wondering if they had some bad fish or if this is some kind of sad joke.
Finally he says, stop it, just stop it , “"I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."
Really, he is just saying, I won’t believe it unless I can see it for myself.
The scripture, does not offer any judgment for his being missing on the first visit and I imagine that they are just trying to give Thomas the same joy that had received to know that the master was alive.
Eight days pass and the group gathers and Thomas was present, they are still being careful and the door is locked and Jesus appears.
He said, "Peace be with you." Attention immediately shifts toward the voice.
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!"
Jesus offers Thomas exactly what he says he needs.
He offers to let him touch the wounds but, Thomas does not seem to need to do it. He knew his teachers voice, he knew what he looked like.
We don’t know if he needed to touch Jesus to be assured of the resurrection John only records the response.
"My Lord and my God!"
Thomas verbalizes what most of us take for granted as a common understanding.
Jesus and God are the same person.
Jesus is more than the Son which is pretty amazing.
The Lord that had walked the earth, taught them and knew them by name was God himself. Who would have ever dreamed such a thing?
Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway."
Then Jesus challenges Thomas and all of us to put aside unbelief because we have not personally witnessed or touched and believe based on his faith.
John is writing to Christians that did not have the gift that Thomas receives. He is explaining that Faith for the sake of faith is a powerful gift in it self. The Holy spirit empowers faith but all too often we only believe what we can see and touch.
We have a no free lunch or show me the money attitude in life because we know the world is out to get us.
Our scripture calls us to overcome doubt.
= What kind of nickname is the twin.. Didymus?
Is it just a goofy name like Hoobey, with no real meaning?
Let me share with you what other ancient literature says the name represents.
Thomas did not have a twin brother like my friends. But perhaps he looked similar to some one that the was not related to…Like the coach. People see on and think of the other.
Several sources explain that Thomas was called the twin because, he was like Jesus.
They don’t explain exactly how, some theorize that they looked like brothers, or they had similar mannerisms, or sounded similar.
Think of how that would make you feel? The some might mistake you for Jesus…..
But, isn’t that exactly what is supposed to happen? As Christians are’t people supposed to catch a glimpse of Jesus coming from us from time to time.
Perhaps not as a visiual recognition but more mannerisms or actions.
Let me point out something that is key for us to consider when we look at the text. The disciple were overwhelmed with grief, fear, they were sheep without a Shepard and the best they could do was to gather in a locked room with all the pressure of there situation crushing them.
Jesus joins them…No matter how well hidden and how good the locks Jesus came to them at their moment of need when they had no expectation or anticipation.
= He can and will do exactly the same for us.
When the world is full of bad news, perhaps we are waiting on that Doctor’s report. Jesus will join you and offer you Peace and assurance…he will answer your greatest need.
No matter how hidden to locked away Jesus comes to us. Because we believe the son of God…God himself meets our need and lifts us up and builds our faith.
What is the hope for the non believer? What can give them hope….If Jesus were to join them, they would not recognize him and they would not really receive any peace.
The need someone that they can touch that will teach them about Jesus. They need something physical and tangible that will plant the mustard seed of faith so that they can find Jesus when the world crashed in.
Who do you want to look like?
Are you showing a family resemblance of the one that saved you?
All Glory be to God!
