2Easter2008 - Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Los Alamos, NM

St. Peter writes to us in his epistle saying, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV) We hear these words from Jesus saying to us, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (ESV) Consider yourselves to be among the blessed. You are loved by Jesus.

Although you did not see Jesus either before the crucifixion or after the resurrection, you have heard the word of those who have seen our Victorious Savior. Through their testimony you have come to believe. Through baptism and the teaching of the Words of Jesus you are His disciples. A disciple is a student and hearer of the Words of Jesus.

As you continue to hear His Word, your faith is being made stronger. You are growing in your love for Him, because He first loved you. The words of Jesus continue to bring joy to your heart. You are being filled with the peace of Christ. The final result of your faith in Jesus is the salvation of your souls. On the Last Day, when your own body is raised from the grave, then you too shall see Jesus with your own eyes. While you wait to see Jesus, listen to His words to you saying, “Peace be with you.” He desires to continue to speak His words of comfort to your terrified heart.

In today’s Gospel text, Jesus speaks the word of peace three times to His disciples. Let us look at each of these times. This peace is for the inner soul. This peace is to be shared. This peace is for the individual.

To begin with, let us look at the peace for the soul. The first time the Resurrected Christ speaks His Word of peace, we hear that the disciples where hiding behind locked doors because they feared the Jews. They feared the Jewish leaders. Although they were disciples of Jesus who were taught His Word, their hearts were troubled. Jesus came to them in order to give peace to their troubled hearts.

Notice how Jesus comes to them. He comes to those hiding behind the locked doors. Jesus doesn’t go to the Jewish leaders and preach the Gospel. No, that would be casting pearls before swine. They were the ones who tried to destroy Him. He doesn’t go to the hardhearted with the message of peace; instead, He goes to the believers who are troubled in this life. The Gospel of peace is for those who are in need of rest. He goes to the place where they are afraid and hiding.

The account of the hiding disciples is a reality check for us in our own lives. They heard the word again and again. Peter and John even saw the empty tomb, yet they were plagued with the fear of the Jewish leaders. If they had problems, we will too. If they continued to need Jesus, we will too.

In the same way, Jesus comes to us in our day bringing us comfort where our hearts are troubled. He comes to bring peace in the heart rather, than to take away the problems. Jesus doesn’t take the disciples’ troubles away. He doesn’t eliminate the Jews or the threat of the religious leaders. Instead, He gives them peace while their troubles remain all around them outside those locked doors. He plants His word in their ears so that it will take root in their hearts. “Peace be to you.” He gives strength to endure the trials of the world granting inner peace while the struggle is still all around on the outside.

Next, let us look at how this peace is to be shared. With the Word of peace in their hearts and upon their lips, Jesus sends them out to share this peace. As the Father sent the Son, so the Son sends out the Apostles to bear witness to the Resurrection and to teach all to treasure the Word of Jesus. Automatically, the disciples went out to tell Thomas the Good News that they had seen the Risen Savior with their own eyes. Later, in the book of Acts we hear how the Apostles took the message of the resurrection to the ends of the earth. To the hardhearted religious leaders they retained their sins, but to the troubled in heart like the Phillipian jailer, they forgave their sins.

The church is given the duty of rightly handling the Word of truth. We are to give the Law to those who persecute the church and reject the promises of God for the purpose of warning them of the wrath to come. To the unrepentant the gate to heaven is closed. We are to give the Gospel to the troubled in heart assuring them of the forgiveness of sins. To such as these, the gate of heaven is open wide.

In the same way, He sends the church out today to bring the Gospel to the troubled in heart and to proclaim the forgiveness of sins. He sends the church out today to speak and share God’s Word so that more people would believe and through believing in Jesus have eternal life. Blessed be God who has begotten us from above through the resurrection of Christ. In Christ, we are blessed. Let us be a blessing to others and proclaim the wonderful things that God has done by emptying the tomb. Let us look with our eyes for others who are troubled in their hearts. With our mouths let us speak the comforting words of peace. To those who do not believe, let us share the words of the Gospel so that they will no longer disbelieve, but rather believe and have life.

Finally, this peace is for the individual. It is not enough to say that Jesus rose from the dead, that He is God, and that He is Lord. Our Christian Message is to be believed by the individual granting each person peace in his own life. The Gospel message is that Jesus rose from the dead for you; He is your God and your Lord. As individuals, each of us continues to learn and trust in this truth. Through His Word the Lord speaks to you for the purpose of bestowing faith in Him, overflowing joy, peace in this life, and the assurance of the hope of the life to come.

Notice how Jesus didn’t come to scold the disciples for being cowards. He is gentle with them. Jesus comes to strengthen their faith in Him. He comes to increase their trust and understanding in the Resurrection. Jesus doesn’t lecture Thomas for his lack of faith. He gives Thomas what he needs to solidify his faith. While He shows Thomas His very body, He speaks His word into the ears of Thomas saying, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:27 ESV) The Word of God brings faith in the heart of Thomas and then with his lips he confesses Jesus to be his Lord and his God.

Jesus is gentle with us continuing to assure us of His promises. He is patient with us and continues to seek us out even when we are petrified and terrified of the situations in our lives. He grants us the gift of His word so that we too would believe and have peace. Then on our lips we too continue to confess that Jesus is our Lord and our God.

At the end of today’s Gospel’s text we hear these words, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these 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.” John 20:29-31 (ESV) Here is the bottom line: God’s Word is given to you so that you may know Jesus, believe His promises, and have life in his name. The message of our Risen Lord is not about political agendas, nor self help methods, nor even personal prosperity. The purpose of the message of Jesus is joy, peace, and faith. Jesus does not come to give the disciples the riches of the Temple. Instead, He sets their hearts on the riches of heaven. Amen.

2nd Sunday of Easter, 2008