“Certainty in Jesus in an Uncertain World” John 20.19-31 April ’21 Easter 2B
1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word this 2nd Sunday of Easter is taken from John 20:19-31, it’s entitled, “Certainty in Jesus in an Uncertain World,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. During the Sundays of Easter, the celebration of Easter Day continues. We celebrate in the reality that “It is finished; Christ is risen indeed.” Our faith is deepened in Jesus our Lord and Savior, the one who lived, died, and rose again. Our faith is strengthened by Jesus, the one who overcame death so that we might live in him (Jn 14:19). To revel in the reality of the really present Christ by faith is to receive the fruits of his work. This Second Sunday of Easter, the message calls us to faith amidst our doubts and fears.
3. Nothing seems certain today. What happens when you work your whole life, saving every penny, only to see it vanish in one bad month of the stock market? Even human relationships seem more fragile today. Remember when our grandparents’ marriages lasted fifty, sixty years? What happens when marriages are cast aside even before the honeymoon is over? What can you count on in this world? What happens when all these questions seem “out of your hands”? The call of this lesson from John 20:19-31 is to cast your cares, your doubts, your concerns on Jesus alone! He’s the only thing certain in this world. His care, his promises, his Word—these are the things that make life worth living, both in times of uncertainty and in times of celebration. Hear the good news! You can have certainty in Jesus in the midst of an uncertain world! Your life now and your life eternal are forever secure in his hands!
4. Here’s a little context of the events that were taking place surrounding our text from John 20:19-31. Word of Jesus’ resurrection has already reached the disciples by Easter evening. Mary Magdalene and other women have seen the Lord and, we can be sure, have dutifully carried out their assignment to bring word to Jesus’ brethren, especially Peter (20:17–18; also Mt 28:10; Mk 16:7; Lk 24:9–10). Peter himself, with John, had seen the empty tomb, and John had even “believed” (Jn 20:6–8). Further, the personal appearance to Peter (“Simon,” Lk 24:34; “Cephas,” 1 Cor 15:5) has almost surely taken place before our text. The fact that Jesus had risen could no longer have seemed like the “idle tale” the disciples had taken it to be earlier (Lk 24:11). What remains to make this appearance so noteworthy? Fear of Jesus himself! The disciples had abandoned him at the most crucial moment. Was it entirely good news that Jesus was alive?
5. In our own hands, living life on our own terms alone, is to live in doubt and fear! John 20:19-20, 24-25 says, “19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 24Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said 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.” Because living in your own hands, your weaknesses will always find you out. The hopes and dreams of the disciples end in fear, because those hopes and dreams were disconnected from Christ’s real mission and ministry, to go to the cross for eternal salvation (Mt 16:21–23); when he died, their earthly fantasies were suddenly shattered. If our hopes and dreams are disconnected from God, they, too, will be unfulfilled and will eventually lock us up in fear. All end in death (Rom 6:23).
6. Because living in your own hands, your vision of the “big picture” will always be in doubt. Thomas’s false vision led to stubborn unbelief, closing him to the testimony of the others. Thomas’s stubborn unbelief kept him in doubt even amidst others’ joyful faith. Our vision of Jesus meeting our every desire closes our eyes to the glorious things he has already accomplished on our behalf, leaving us in doubt and fear too.
7. What are those circumstances that leave us in doubt and fear? A doctor friend recently told me that anxiety prescriptions are off the charts this year—and it’s not just the pandemic. The sources are many. Uncertainty regarding the future is a frequent culprit. So is the potential for being shamed or letting others down. Others fear repercussions from past mistakes and habitual sin. There’s of course the fear that many have of contracting Covid or having other personal health concerns.
8. Only Jesus’ hands and whole broken body can bear the reconciling work of the cross for all! They’re the hands of the God-man in action, routing all the forces of sin and death. Only Jesus can display those scarred hands to Thomas “in the flesh” and to you through this Word, so that you can be blessed. John 20:26-29 says, 26Eight 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.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
9. Trusting your life in Jesus’ hands is to live in his confidence and blessing forever. Because his hands spread on the cross turn out to be God’s provision for doubt and fear after all. A crucified Messiah was God’s plan for us, even if it wasn’t ours. Perfect love casts out all fear. Christ crucified is perfect love in action for you! Because there is no place his hands of grace and mercy can’t reach.
10. Jesus came to sinful, fearful disciples through “locked doors.” His grace can find you amidst your struggles of doubt and fear. He came to Thomas the doubter whose heart was closed by his own pride and demands. His pierced hands can pierce your heart as well. Because his word of assurance has reached you through his God inspired handwriting by the apostles! The apostolic ministry of forgiveness delivers that perfect love to you and me as a gift. The disciples’ gift has become ours through the ministry of forgiveness and sharing that work through the written Scriptures (vv 21–23, 30–31). With God’s promises sure in our lives, with Christ’s blessing delivered and received, fear and doubt give way to confident faith.
11. Easter is not about eggs, flower buds, or the freshness of spring. All those speak of emerging life where life already existed. No, Easter is about the resurrection from the dead, life amidst death, peace in the middle of sorrow, joy from sadness, grace in a ruthless world, and confidence in the midst of doubt, all because of Jesus. Where death was the only thing certain, and “living life on our own terms” only assures death, Easter invites you to entrust your life to Christ in all things. Bring your doubts and fears to the one whose hands bring you life and salvation. Bring them to Jesus in faith. Jesus gives to us certainty in the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation in the midst of this uncertain world. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting. Amen.
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