Pastor Slaughter
April 16, 2023
Easter 2
Theme: Peace be with you
Text: John 20:19-31
I want you to think about a time when someone you loved and cared deeply about died. And if you are younger and haven’t had that experience, I want you to imagine what that might feel like. After the emotional rollercoaster of the visitation and the funeral and the comital service, you go home and finally can rest. But really you don’t know what quite to do. There is this void in your life. It’s almost like you are in fog where you aren’t necessarily thinking clearly. If they died in faith, you know that they are in heaven, but in that fog it is hard to get past your grief and remember the promises of God. In that fog it is hard to find peace.
The disciples were in a similar fog. Their teacher, their friend, their Lord and their Savior, was handed over by the Jewish leaders. He was killed in a gruesome way…he was crucified. Overcome by grief, the disciples were left wondering, “What now?” When we read the account, it is almost like we think, “Come on guys. You should have known.” But it is easier for us to look back and think that then to be actually there in that moment. They were in such a fog that they didn’t even believe what the ladies who went to the Tomb said about Jesus. They were in a dark place. Just like how Jesus came to those faithful ladies to pull them out of their grief and sorrow, Jesus needed to do that for his disciples because peace was far from their minds. Peace be with you.
Can you almost see it? As you hear our opening verse, “On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews.” Can you almost feel that heaviness that is in the room. Can you sense the fear that they were facing? They not only are experiencing the grief of their friend dying but they are a afraid. Afraid of Jewish leaders who killed Jesus. Afraid that they may be accused for stealing Jesus body. Afraid that they may be the next ones with a target on their backs.
It didn’t seem like what anyone said to them could give them peace. Those faithful women said that Jesus was alive. Most likely those Emmaus disciples came and told them that “Hey guys guess what? Jesus is alive!” It seemed like no matter what anyone said they couldn’t get out of that fog. They are confused and are still afraid.
Do you feel like those disciples right now? What causes you to be afraid? It might not be the fear of being crucified but maybe fear of speaking the truth and facing persecution. Standing up for someone but then the attacks turn toward you? Afraid when the doctor speaks those dreaded words, “You have cancer.’ Afraid of getting some sort or sickness or disease and the anxiety of what will happen if you get it which almost paralyses you behind locked doors. Afraid of what tomorrow will bring. Afraid of loss of income or job.
Has this fog of fear enveloped us to the point where it gets us to doubt Christ’s promises? The disciples were in that fog. Even after all the reports that Jesus had risen, they still were behind locked doors afraid and confused about what is going on. And there you have it. Jesus appears to them in the midst of their fears behind locked doors and says, “Peace be with you!”
“Peace be with you!” Look at my hands, see my side. I am alive! Peace be with you. Jesus came to his disciples in the mists of their fearful fog and pull them out of it by pointing them to his resurrection. Look I overcame a crucifixion, Look I overcame hell, Look I overcame death itself. If I overcame those things, don’t you think I can overcome the Jews who are fighting you so? Peace be with you!
Peace be with you! Jesus points you and me to the same resurrection comfort during in the middle of our fears and anxieties. Look at my hands, see my side. I overcame hell, I overcame death, I overcame sin. Don’t you think I can overcome the persecution you face, the disease you face, whatever tomorrow might bring? Don’t be afraid, trust in me. Peace be with you!
I know it is hard to see beyond the fog of fear, but Peace be with you. Jesus came to establish peace between you and God. He torn down the wall of sin that separated us from him, he gives us his perfect life. We have peace with God. And nothing can get between the peace God gives to us. Not our sin, not even death itself. Peace be with you.
But not everyone was in that room. Thomas wasn’t there. I don’t know why he was the only one not with the others. But the disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But Thomas kept doubting. He was in that thick fog that the other disciples were in. He had to see for himself, he had to touch and feel. Jesus was the only one that could bring him out of the fog of doubt and give him peace.
Eight days later, Jesus came back, when the doors were locked once again. The only thing different was Thomas was with them. Jesus said, “Peace be with you,” Then he pulled Thomas out of his fog and rescued Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Take your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue to doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Thomas gets criticized for doubting but really all the disciples did until Jesus came and personally gave them his peace. When Jesus died, what do you think went through the minds of the disciples? “He was supposed to be our savior and he is dead. He did amazing things, but he is now gone. Was he really God?” Doubt they faced was terrible because it was doubting God’s promises. The promise that Jesus told his disciples that he would be handed over crucified and rise on the third day. Why is doubting God’s promises so dangerous? Because it can lead to unbelief.
That fog of doubt. That is one of the devil’s tools. Start doubting God’s promises and his character so that it leads you to turn away from him. As you face those fears don’t you think the devil will try to get you to doubt? Doubt God’s love for the world (If he really loved it then why does he allow all things to happen?) Doubt God’s power (If he is all powerful why doesn’t he just stop all the things that cause me to suffer?). Doubt God’s timing (Why does he allow this to continue?) And what is the very next step? Unbelief.
Jesus doesn’t just leave us in that fog. He pulls us out. I want you to know something. My nail marks show my love for you. What I went through on the cross proves my power. My resurrection assures you that all I said in my Word is true. And I want you to know something, you are blessed, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believe.”
When Jesus pulled Thomas out of that Fog, he said, “My Lord and my God!” How does he do that for you and me? It’s like we have the opportunity to see with our own eyes. He does that through his Word. Through the eyewitness accounts of his resurrection who give us the assurance of his promises. It is so critical for us to be in his Word. To be reminded of his promises of his love, mercy, grace. Be in his Word. Be strengthened in that Word.
My Family in Christ. A lot of times the fears we have are caused by the uncertainty of what will happen. Well, the disciples were faced with uncertainty and confusions as well when Jesus died. Jesus came and pulled them out of the fog of fear and doubt and replaced it with Peace. Peace be with you. Jesus does the same for you. There is no doubt of his love and his power when you look to the cross and the empty tomb. Peace be with you. Amen.