Seeing and believing

A Sermon preached on April 8, Easter II, at St. Augustine’s, Wiesbaden

Acts 4: 32 – 35, 1 John 1: 1 – 2: 2, John 20: 19 - 31

I always feel sorry for Thomas. He has become most famous, or infamous for his role in Jesus’ second post-resurrection appearance that we heard about in today’s Gospel. This episode is the source of his nickname “Doubting Thomas.” Funny that Peter never gets called “Denying Peter.” But is Thomas a doubter, or is he not really only asking for the same proof that the other disciples received? “(Jesus) showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20) In the other gospels too, Jesus feels the need to prove to the disciples that he has really returned, not just as some sort of ghost. In Luke for example (24:39-43), Jesus invites them to touch him and he eats a piece of broiled fish. Thomas’ desire for evidence is not unique.

It would also be a shame to base our image of Thomas just on this one episode. Earlier in John’s Gospel for example Thomas has shown himself to be both courageous and loyal. Although it was going to be dangerous to accompany Jesus back to Judea when Lazarus fell ill, and then died, as people had attempted to stone Jesus there, Thomas simply says his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’ (John 11:16) When Jesus wants to comfort his disciples about what will happen after his death, Thomas asks the question the others dare not ask: ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ (14:5) Giving Jesus the cue for that great teaching moment: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’ (14:6) And according to tradition, Thomas later went to India, where there was already a Jewish presence, and founded a Christian Church in the State of Kerala, where there is still a family of churches that take their name from him today: the Mar Thoma or Church of Saint Thomas.

The image I get of Thomas is not of a systematic sceptic or doubter, but of someone who is an enthusiastic and loyal follower of Christ. He sometimes speaks before his brain is fully engaged, but in doing so is often very inciteful. Act first, think later would be his motto, rather like Peter actually.  

Thomas loves his Lord and wants nothing more than to believe that he has returned. But the witness of his fellow disciples is not enough, just as for them the witness of Mary Magdalene was not enough. Yet when Jesus, the crucified one, with the marks of his Passion still visible stands before him, Thomas does not just catch up with the others in their stage of faith, he shoots past them and heads to the top of the class. Thomas' sudden and spontaneous confession of Jesus as my Lord and my God (20:28) is a climactic moment in John’s Gospel. When Jesus then says, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe,’ (20:29) that might sound like a criticism. I don’t think it is. Thomas has once again given Jesus a cue for a teaching moment.

It will be Thomas’ and the disciples’ job to witness to Jesus, to his teaching, to his death and resurrections so convincingly, and so passionately that others will come to believe that Jesus is also their Lord and their God. In the First Letter of Peter (1:8-9) the author describes such believers: "Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

What can have that sort of profound effect on people? Not just words, not some complicated theological explanation, and not just a book – even the Good Book. Of course, the story of Jesus needs to be told, as does his message about God. We heard one example in the First Letter of John: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

Now I don’t want to contradict Jesus, that would not go well with my job description. But if we want people to believe, then they must also see. Not Jesus himself, but they must see Jesus’s impact on our lives. Believing in him must be visible, it must have an impact on how we live together. In his first letter, John makes a similar connection between faith and community: “We declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3) And this morning’s reading from Acts describes a community that “were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 4: 32-33) You do not have to own everything in common to be a Christian, that is probably an idealistic exaggeration. But others’ needs, the needs of the community of faith and of the world must be more important than any possession. That is the source of the great power with which they were able to give testimony, to be witnesses.

And that brings us to this morning’s baptisms. Lucas’, Julius’, and Giulietta’s parents and godparents will confess on their behalf that Jesus is their Lord and their God. These three children will become members of the church, not just this group gathered here today, but that assembly of all who are "blessed (because they) have not seen and yet have come to believe." And they and we will affirm and reaffirm the promises of the Baptismal Covenant, not only to believe what was revealed by Jesus to Thomas and the other disciples, but to live out that belief within our community and in our daily lives. Chapter 20 of John’s Gospel ends with the words: “These (signs) are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31) Our lives are to be signs that lead those we meet to faith and to new and better lives, both physically and spiritually. If we do that, we will be good successors to St. Thomas who was a very good witness to the Lord he loved and followed. Amen.