John 20:11-29
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
On 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.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So 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.”
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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Big Idea: Jesus’ resurrection is relevant to our lives, because it provides hope for our despondency, courage for our disconnectedness, and faith for our disillusionment.
I. Despondency
Despondency is the result of thinking people or earthly forces, or circumstances can overpower the Lordship of Christ. But the resurrection proves to us that the world matters to God. N.T. Wright has written:
The message of the resurrection is that this world matters! That the injustices and pains of this present world must now be addressed with the news that healing, justice, and love have won. If Easter means Jesus Christ is only raised in a spiritual sense—[then] it is only about me, and finding a new dimension in my personal spiritual life. But if Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead, Christianity becomes good news for the whole world—news which warms our hearts precisely because it isn't just about warming hearts. Easter means that in a world where injustice, violence and degradation are endemic, God is not prepared to tolerate such things—and that we will work and plan, with all the energy of God, to implement victory of Jesus over them all.
II. Disconnectedness
The disciples were terrified after Jesus’ death, because they were in danger of being persecuted and evil killed because they were followers of Jesus. The resurrected Jesus came to them personally and provided peace through his presence, purpose through his commission, and power through his Spirit which was to come.
III. Disillusionment
Thomas was reluctant to believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead. He said, “Unless I see ... I will never believe.” Jesus corrects his unbelief. This cannot be a rebuke of the hard-headed disciple, because the others have only believed after seeing Jesus too. It is rather a promise to readers of the account that we can be as blessed as Mary, the disciples and Thomas. Without seeing or touching Jesus, the resurrected Christ can restore hope, courage, and faith.
Questions for Reflection/Discussion:
- Which of these three perspectives – despondency, disconnectedness, and disillusionment – resonated with you most? Why?
- What relevance does the resurrection have for that perspective? How did this passage impact you personally?
- What is one way you can respond to this reality?