"Faith Without Proof" - John 20:19-31 - April 22, 2001

The Sidney Daily News has an unusual tradition. On April 1st, they always run a story on the front page that is sensational. For example, this year’s article had the headline, "City Council eliminates Daylight Savings’ Time." For those of us who have lived in Sidney for awhile we know that this is their traditional April Fool’s Day story. It is designed to catch the reader off guard and many people get sucked in. To make amends for their Tom foolery the newspaper includes a disclaimer on page two.

Its all in good fun but this year one man fell for the story and was so embarrassed he wrote an article to congratulate the newspaper for its trick story. He admitted he had believed the story and had to turn to the inside of the newspaper to get the truth.

Why do we believe what we believe? Is it because our source of information is someone we trust? Is it because we have experienced some event first hand and therefore an eyewitness? Perhaps what we hear makes logical sense and our brains are able to rationalize the truth. But, what if we don’t know the source personally? What if there is no credible media source to accurately broadcast or publish all the details. What if there is no logical explanation and more importantly, no proof?

We say in court that a jury cannot give a guilty verdict as long as there is a shadow of doubt. In this story Thomas doubted. "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." For Thomas there was a shadow of doubt. He needed evidence, physical evidence, visible confirmation that this was Jesus risen from the dead. Two weeks later Thomas got what he requested and he then believed.

We don’t know for sure that Thomas actually put his hands on Jesus’ side but it appears that he did. But suppose he didn’t and acknowledged that this was Jesus based on faith. What happened during those two weeks to change his mind? We simply do not know. One thing we do know is that his stubbornness stood in the way of his faith.

When someone is stubborn or obstinate they are hard, stiff or like stone. When Jesus came to the disciples he was totally transparent, soft, open to being touched, completely ready to give, rather than hold back. Thomas, however is skeptical, unwilling to accept the news from the other disciples. Does he distrust them? Was their word not credible enough? Would facts and proof really make a difference?

I suggest that it wasn’t proof that stood in the ability of Thomas to believe. Rather, it was his stubbornness to believe. Early in the chapter we are told by Jesus that believing has to do with forgiveness. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In other words our ability to have faith in the resurrection is directly linked to our willingness to be people who can forgive.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples he showed them his scars and said, "Peace, be with you". The blessing of peace was an affirmation. They had nothing to be ashamed of. What they experienced actually happened and the scars confirmed that. The Peace blessing gave them comfort and reassurance. In fact, this is the first time that Jesus ever greeted the disciples with a blessing of peace. It is a Shalom spirit, meaning a close communion with God.

This becomes a significant moment of empowerment in the life of the church. The disciples’ fear is transformed into excitement. Since the crucifixion they have been hiding because they were afraid. Jesus’ presence among them changes their feelings of fear to feelings of new found courage and excitement. Instead of being filled with grief they have new confidence.

Despite their shortcomings and self absorption, Jesus gives them the gift of peace. Peace calmed their anxiety and at the same time motivated them to follow. They have been blessed and they are now ready to follow his footsteps. In other words, Jesus has put this rag tag, weak and faithless group of disciples in charge of his ministry in the future

Blessings of peace come in all forms. I remember the time a woman wanted her husband to be baptized in the hospital prior to surgery. That blessing gave them a inner peace about the trauma of the event. It can also come in the form of a handshake, a greeting or a benediction. To bestow peace is to give hope for the future, a reminder of God’s unconditional love. Peace soothes the wounds. Peace gives folks time to catch their breath. Peace allows time for clearer heads to prevail.

Besides giving them a blessing of peace, Jesus also showed the disciples his scars. This was not to prove the resurrection. Rather, his scars were a reminder of his suffering and wounds he endured because of his faith. The scars were also a reminder that although he had overcome death, that didn’t eliminate the scars of the past.

We all have scars. They are constant reminders of old wounds. They are memories of pain and suffering. Most always they are experiences that teach us a valuable lesson. The wounds we receive from life are not something we can make disappear. They stay with us, visible and they are very personal reminders of some pain we have endured.

I have scar on my forehead. Fortunately it’s hidden under my hairline. But that scar is the result of a rock fight when I was only 7 years old. Some neighborhood kids and I got into a bit of a scuffle. It was ugly and unfortunately some got hurt. It is a constant reminder to me of the senselessness of violence. It is also a reminder that we need to make every effort to get along with our neighbors instead of antagonizing them. Besides being persons who forgive, we are to be persons who stand for peace. If anything proves we are people of faith it is that we stand for peace at any cost.

As a pastor I am privileged to listen to many stories. People tell me of their wounded history, their most painful moments. By telling their story they feel closer to you. They feel someone has listened and that someone cares. At first, Thomas was not willing to listen. His stubbornness inhibited his ability hear.

To believe means we are people who are willing to listen. Several years ago I was ready to play a game of racquetball with my partner when he said, "Just a minute, I need to run something by you." He told me about some problems he was having with his marriage. I couldn’t tell him what to do but I realized the importance of taking the time to listen as he shared some very painful problems in his life. I can’t honestly say that I am always willing to listen, especially to my spouse. Those are the times I am just as stubborn as Thomas.

People have all sorts of scars, not just physical ones, but emotional ones too. They carry internal wounds which are not visible to others but still very painful. When people have suffered an emotional trauma they often go into hiding, not physically but emotionally. They "stuff" a particular painful event deep in their mind and never share it. This was the case with the disciples who needed Jesus to come to them, listen to them and at the same time remind them to be persons who forgive and stand for peace.

When Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe," I believe he was saying that to have faith means to be people who willingly forgive, be people who stand for peace at any cost and be people who are willing to listen. That, my friends, is no joke.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio