Sermon for Sunday April 8th, 2012
Responses to the Resurrection: Doubt by Ken Pell
John 20:24-20:28
Responses to the Resurrection: Doubt
Matthew 28: 16
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told
them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
A skeptic is defined as:
1. A person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting
to be factual.
2. A person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans,
statements, or the character of others.
We don’t usually think about the followers of Jesus as being skeptics but it
raises its head during Holy Week. It’s really not surprising when you think
about it. They had invested everything into the Jesus movement. Peter made sure
Jesus knew that too. In Mark 10:27 he reminds Jesus, “We have left everything to
follow you!”
They had high hopes and dreams for the coming of the Kingdom. And then “This!”
he gets arrested and he dies. HE DIES!!!!! It’s not surprising that some slipped
through fear into skepticism. In John 20 we read “24 Now Thomas (called
Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So
the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them,
‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails
were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’”
Thomas wasn’t the only one. He just gets all the blame. Mathew 28:16 says “SOME
doubted.”
The word doubt (distazo) means “to stand in two ways.” It implies an inability
to make a decision. That’s why Matthew 28 (which uses this word) speaks of some
worshipping while others could not.
Sometimes another word is used for doubt (apistis). This word has a stronger
meaning and suggests trust is absent; wavering is present, and the ability to
act on faith is gone. Apistis, simply put, means to be without faith. That is
why, in John 20, “Doubting Thomas” could “not believe it” (apistis) and why
Jesus tells him to “stop doubting” (apistis again).
The implication is not that such a doubter is not a Christian – it is rather
than they are ‘spiritually paralyzed” and unable to move forward. They are in a
genuine crisis of faith.
Have you ever had “serious doubts” about something? If I have “serious doubts”
about a political candidate it makes me pause. I will not vote, or donate money,
or time, etc. Such a response is a combination of “distazo” and “apistis” and
gets to the point in the Holy Week stories where the terms seem to be used
somewhat interchangeably.
I have two friends who have expressed serious doubts (skepticism) about flying.
Neither would venture near an airport. With some convincing and reassuring one
was able to finally fly and, with that, all doubts were removed. The other has
yet-to-this-day never boarded a plane. That’s what skepticism does. It puts you
between two decisions and stops you from moving forward.
Have you ever had serious doubts about your faith? I have. I have had some VERY
serious doubts and it did paralyze me spiritually. There was a long season of my
adulthood when I had real doubts about the bodily resurrection of Jesus. My
doubts about the resurrection “wrecked” me for quite a while. They literally
shackled me. There were hymns I could not sing, words I could not say, portions
of creeds I would mumble through. I wasn’t being “godless” or a heretic. I was
having a serious crisis of faith and I was honest with God about it.
And I will never forget when God brought me His light.
It was not unlike what He did for Thomas. God brought me the evidence/truth that
I needed to become “unstuck.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.
Though 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; see my hands. Reach
out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26-28)
I spent years praying and seeking. I often prayed “Lord I believe, help thou
mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24). I have seen firsthand what skepticism can do. But I
have also experienced first-hand how a gentle understanding and loving God can
turn doubt into vibrant faith.
The disciples learned that too didn’t they?
God is not intimidated by honest questions. God does not condemn the seeking
heart. Rebellion, rejection, hypocrisy? Yes. But a seeking quest? He will honor
that. Even in the midst of my doubts I was “loving God with all my … mind” – I
was looking for His truth. I suspect Thomas and company were too.
Honest doubts do not make you a “bad Christian” – they make you human. They show
you are limited, without full knowledge, and sincere in your quest. Just as
Jesus came to Thomas, and to me, so Jesus will come to you.
I notice Thomas did not abandon the other followers. I notice he was sincere
with them about his skepticism. I notice they did not kick him to the curb
either. Together, as part of the family of God, they ALL grew through this
crisis of faith that Thomas (and some others) were having.
Some of you have heard me tell you that I am glad you are going through a crisis
of faith. I don’t tell you that because I want you to suffer but because I know
that, just as Jesus prayed for Peter when Satan desired to sift Him as wheat,
and just as Thomas met Jesus in truth so you too will find truth and you will be
stronger for the struggle.
Where I am from (Oklahoma) there are a lot of walnut trees. When a walnut tree
gets shook real good by the wind it helps all the walnuts fall off. Sometimes
when we get shook real good it lets some nutty stuff fall off us too. It makes
our faith more real and solid and eliminates some of the “folk theology” and
superstition that sometimes gets attached to it.
Worshipping, participating, serving, and even proclaiming faith in the midst of
doubt does not make you a hypocrite. In fact, it makes you a true seeker and you
find yourself in pretty good company.
Thomas seems to have been shaken the most but he wasn’t the only one. Did you
that tradition (Clement of Alexandria and Origin) says he is also the only
Apostle to preach the Gospel outside the Roman Empire? He is believed to have
crossed the largest area, which includes the Parthian Empire and India (where he
was martyred).
Just think what you might do when God sees you through your crisis.
May the peace of Christ be with you this week.
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Responsive Reading: Recovery from Doubt
John 20:24-28
Leader: Now Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other
disciples told him,
People: We have seen the Lord!
Leader: But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put
my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not
believe it.’” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was
with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and
said,
People: Peace be with you!
Leader: Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out
your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to
him,
People: My Lord and my God!
+++++
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene, Potsdam, New York