Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from John 20. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- It must have seemed a very small beginning, even to the first disciples who were commissioned to “give their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- The church quickly grew, but the disciples could hardly have known that the work which they began in the Name of Jesus Christ would grow to be the largest religion in the world, numerically. Of course, we who know Jesus and the love of the Father know that Christianity is not merely a “religion” or even principally a “religion.” We know that it is forgiveness, fellowship with God, a new life, and eternal life as children of God.
- At the beginning the church was quite small, but according to the First Lesson it had quite a bit going for it: there was unanimity, all were of one heart and soul, they were generous, providing financial support sacrificially, they had the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and they had the Word of God.
- Our text takes us back even earlier, to the very first days of the founding of the Christian Church. It reveals to us the nature of the men to whom Christ entrusted the beginning and building of His Church. Their experiences can perhaps help us as the Church seems to be in decline these days, at least in our part of the world.
- It is perhaps somewhat comforting to see that these first disciples and servants of God’s Word were much like we are today. First:
I. Christ’s Disciples Were Filled With Fear And Doubt
Text: “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciple were for fear of the Jews. . . . Thomas responded [to the reports of the disciples, that they had seen the Lord Jesus alive] to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
A. But Jesus Appeared To Them Again, And Showed Himself To Them
Text: “Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’”
B. And Jesus Blessed Those Who Are Not Seeing, But Are Still Believing
Text: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Statement: It is strengthening to see that these first disciples were not gullible, nor superstitious, not taking drugs and seeing illusions, but were clear minded, and demanding of proof. It is true that we must depend upon their eye-witness testimony – and we are among those “not seeing,” at least not yet. Still, we would have done nothing more than what these incredulous and level headed disciples did!
Application: It is also of comfort that these men who were Jesus’ closest friends, had fears and doubts. This means that our own fears and doubts are not abnormal, and nor do they disqualify us from the Kingdom of God. And we know how hard it is to believe when we have been trained our entire lives that the best, and perhaps the only way to truly know, is empirically – taking the approach of Thomas. Thankfully, such doubts and fear do they disqualify people from serving within the kingdom of God. Furthermore, if these disciples started out like this “IN THE BEGINNING,” and had such great success, then we can be sure that our investment in the church and our work for the church, will not be in vain either!
Transition: So it is important for us to note that:
II. It Was These Same Disciples That Jesus Commissioned To Continue His Work
Text: “As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.”
A. He Sent Them Out With The Power Of His Holy Spirit
Text: “When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
B. He Sent Them Out With The Authority, God’s Own Authority, To Forgive Sins And To Withhold The Forgiveness Of Sins
Text: “If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.’”
Matthew 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Statement: This is phenomenal! Jesus empowers weak, fearful, and doubting disciples with His Holy Spirit. He gives them the greatest, most powerful, and most blessed authority – to forgive sins, to loose things in heaven, and to open the kingdom of heaven to others! And this forgiveness or withholding of forgiveness, is authoritative and upheld in heaven also! It is true – what a daunting task it is to withhold forgiveness from those who refuse to repent of their sin and refuse to believe in Jesus. But what an incredible power for blessing to forgive sins and open the kingdom of heaven!
Application: We continue to serve and work as a church with these same gifts and powers. We too have received the Holy Spirit – in our Baptism, and also through God’s Word. We too have been commissioned to be priests to God, and to bear witness to Jesus by speaking the Gospel to others. We also have the gift of the ministry of the Word of God, which includes the authority, Jesus’ own authority, to forgive sins and withhold forgiveness. Given that we have the same empowerment and authority as the first disciples, we should also have the confidence. Just look what they were able to do from “THE VERY BEGINNING.”
Transition: And as John reminds us:
III. We Also Have The Tools By Which The Kingdom Of God Is Built – The Written Word Of God, And Holy Baptism, Which Bring Faith And Salvation
Text: “These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.”
Rom. 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
2 Tim. 3:14-17 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from infancy you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
John 3:36 “He that believes the Son has everlasting life.”
Statement: The only difference between the times of “THE BEGINNING” of the church and today, is that perhaps more people today have heard of Jesus, and perhaps more have already rejected faith and salvation. However, the further we drift along through time, the greater the number people there will be even here in America who have not been to Sunday School, have not attended church, and who have little or no knowledge of what Jesus has done for us.
Application: So our communities are becoming “mission fields,” much more so than in the past! And regardless of the particular “mission field,” its geographical location or its place in human time and history, there are always challenges to people coming to faith. Perhaps our challenges today are not that much more difficult than in times past. People living at the beginning of the church, enmeshed in Greek ideas and philosophies, had great difficulty understanding and accepting many of the teachings of the Bible.
Conclusion: So let us also take stock. If we are fearful and doubting, let us remember Jesus’ promise: Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Let us remember Jesus’ power, and the power of His Word. Let us load up on His empowerment, His Holy Spirit, by constant recourse to the Word and the Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood! And let us be strengthened in the absolution Christ has given us, and be eager to be able to extend it to others!
We certainly are not in “THE BEGINNING” of the history of the Christian Church, but we cannot know that we are near the end either. We do know the privilege Jesus has blessed us with, bringing us into His kingdom and sending us out into the world to build His Church.
May we also be of one heart and soul, generous in our support of the work of the kingdom, and being the church with great power, that of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.