Sermons

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday 19 April 2009

David Paton-Williams
Readings: Acts 4 v32-35, John 20 v19-end

DOUBTING THOMAS

Thomas is one of those characters who get a raw deal.

He is universally known as doubting Thomas and yet the picture John gives us of Thomas in his gospel is of a man of deep faith.

What Thomas shows us is that faith isn't something static. Its not a badge that we wear, but rather a life that we live.

It is a journey and on the way we may pass through lots of different phases - certainty, doubt and new faith.

The first time we meet Thomas in John's gospel is after Lazarus has died and Jesus is going up to Bethany.

In the previous chapter Jesus had only just escaped being arrested and so now the disciples try to talk Jesus out of going so close to Jerusalem.

But Jesus is determined and so Thomas says: "Let's all go and die with him".

This isn't our usual idea of Thomas. Here we see him loyal and courageous and committed to following Jesus even at the risk of his own life.

However, this faith has a bit of the touch of youthful idealism about it - it has a zeal that may even border on fanaticism. It is seems to be a faith that is a little too clear cut, too sure of itself and too intolerant of the wavering and doubts of others.

That isn't to knock simple faith faith that is truly simple can also be very deep - like the faith of a child.

The enemy of faith isn't simplicity but having a closed mind -refusing to face disturbing or unsettling questions

Faith is not about closing our minds but opening ourselves to God and having a trust that can face questions and uncertainties
and carry us through them.

The second time we meet Thomas is at the Last Supper.

Jesus is teaching about his death - and he says that his followers would know the way to the place where he is going.

The trouble is the disciples don't understand. But it is Thomas who puts into words the question they all have

"Lord we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Thomas is still loyal. He still wants to follow. He just doesn't know how to do it.

Here we see that now Thomas isn't afraid to ask a question. He isn't sure what Jesus means.

He realises that he doesn't know everything after all.

His old answers don't seem to satisfy any more

Now that the death of his master and friend is staring him in the face, his old certainties don't convince him now

He is faced with a Lord who is bigger than his own small ability to understand.

Faith is a little bit more mysterious than he had realised.

Thomas is moving into a faith that asks questions. And because he asks a question he gets a very deep answer
"I am the way".

When we search and wrestle and question we may be led into a way of understanding.

Our old certainties may desert us but we can be led into a new, more humble faith that is actually deeper and more real, because it has had to face up to the harsh realities of life.

And then we come to the story of Thomas at the Resurrection.

And notice - Thomas is not very different than the others.

A week earlier all the rest of the disciples hadn't believed Mary Magdalene's story that she had seen the Lord.

But now they were bubbling over with joy because they too had seen the Lord. They had forgotten their own doubts and scepticism
and want Thomas to believe like them.

And where had Thomas been a week earlier? The rest of them had been gathered behind locked doors for fear of the authorities - but not Thomas Thomas was still the same brave Thomas - out on the streets on some errand or other - risking his life perhaps
while the others hid away.

And a week later - even though they had met the risen Lord the disciples are still hiding behind the doors of their room.
So it took time for them to believe and to trust and to be free of the fears that held their faith back.

And so there is Thomas - man of action, practical and hard-headed, demanding the evidence of his own eyes and hands "Unless I see - unless I touch - I will not believe".

Mary had seen and touched Jesus in the garden. The other disciples had seen Jesus' hands and side.

Thomas was only asking for the same experience that they had all had. Not so very different

But he found it hard to believe even when all his friends said it was true. Partly doubt but partly also despair

Thomas has been so shattered by the way he ran away and abandoned Jesus - after his brave words that he would die with him - that he despairs - he has lost faith in himself - he feels he isn't worthy to be a follower.

And also Thomas has been so hurt by the death of his master on the cross, that his faith in God has been so badly shaken that at the moment he can't allow himself to believe

Often it is a tragic experience of suffering or deep experience of human sin, that can cut at the heart of faith.

Sometimes it can destroy faith once and for all.

But often, those doubts can be a gateway (sometimes a long and painful one) a gateway into a new faith.

That was true for Thomas

Jesus came to him - he knew Thomas, he understood what he had been through and what he needed and he speaks straight to that need - Put your finger here, reach out your hand and touch.

And then Thomas utters the deepest profession of faith in the New Testament

"My Lord and my God" He had come through his despair and doubt - into a more humble faith, a more open-minded faith, but ultimately a deeper faith.

Thomas had been on quite a journey from youthful zeal and idealism, through searching and questioning, through an honest expression of his doubts

into a faith that would carry him out as a missionary possibly as far as India if the old traditions are to be believed.

Certainly someone who had been through the mill like he had would be well suited to helping others through their doubts and uncertainties to a faith of their own.

So what a great example Thomas is to us
Not to be afraid to ask a question
Not to be afraid of expressing our doubts
Not being afraid to show our love and loyalty to Jesus
Not being afraid to go on a journey of faith

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay