When We All Get to Heaven

Luke 24:50-53

New International Version (NIV)

The Ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

We are forgoing the traditional sermon message this Sunday morning in order to deliver a worshipful experience to honor our mothers and prepare for Pentecost.

Let me say a couple of things about this Sunday morning....

We honor our mothers...
We lift up the women in our lives who have nurtured us and helped us to grow up and become the people we are in this world. Without their guidance and correction, in many cases, we might not have the lives that we have before us. Not everyone's memories are nice. Maybe, not everyone's experience with their mother was something to remember. But, God gave us a mother. And, in some cases, we have had surrogates, grandmother, aunts, people who have filled the void. Without the women in our lives, we as children, could not have grown and prospered into the human being we are supposed to be.

Today is Ascension Sunday...
 Our scripture today speaks of the disciples having one last encounter with Jesus.
They go out to Bethany where they witness him ascending through the clouds.
It is the last time they will see him face to face. The last time they get to hug him, to talk to him.
This is a personal moment, one that we should be able to relate to. We want to be close to those we cannot fellowship with anymore. The disciples are wishing they could be with Jesus. But, the scripture says "worshiped him with great joy" and "And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God." That is what we aim to do today. To praise God and lift up the name of Jesus.

Heaven is the focal point.....
The disciples are basically watching Jesus go to heaven. Many of us have watched loved ones go on to be with the Lord. We have been there in those final moments. And, we long to be where they are and see them again. A sign I recently saw on Facebook read, "I wish heaven had visiting hours". Many of our mothers and grandmothers, our aunt and neighbors who encouraged us, fed us, clothed us, fixed our scraped up knees, they have gone to be with Jesus. Some day we will see them again.  But, today, we will sing and praise God, and wait.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory

Working on Commission

 You have my permission to go and reach people for Christ!

 This morning's message is less of a message and more of an experiment.

Maybe that's what it was for the disciples also, an experiment.
These last 3 years have been a time of learning and growing.
There were times where Jesus would send them out.
Two by two, in Noah like fashion, they would go.
Luke 10 tells us of Jesus sending the "72" out to witness and preach the message.
They encounter many things. Demons. Sickness. Anger. Denial.
People will accept them. People will turn them away.

Now, as Jesus prepares to return to the Father, he has "the eleven" with him.

And our scripture reads...

Matthew 28:16-20

New International Version (NIV)

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It says, "They saw him....they worshiped him; but some doubted."
We might remember for our Lenten series that Matthew wrote his gospel primarily to Jews.
So, it seems important for him to note that "some doubted".
Not every one is going to believe. Even those who witness it with their own eyes.

Before Jesus leaves he wants to reassure them and commission them.
As the underlying theme of these messages goes we should all be familiar with Jesus' reassurance.
He comforts and consoles. This is what he does. 

What we might not be as familiar with is the commissioning part.

Commission is a nasty word for some. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
Working in an industry such as retail sales requires one to be willing to work under such circumstances.
To work under commission means that you don't necessarily get an hourly wage.
You get a piece or a part of the sale that was just made.
And, in order to be successful, you have to sell. A lot.

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However, commissioning is not so much about sales as it is about governmental control.
Looking up the word in Webster's reveals a long list of definitions that mostly have to do with the transference of power from one person to another.

Definition of COMMISSION

1a : a formal written warrant granting the power to perform various acts or duties

  b : a certificate conferring military rank and authority; also : the rank and authority so conferred

2 : an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts : charge

3 a : authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another

   b : a task or matter entrusted to one as an agent for another

4 a : a group of persons directed to perform some duty

   b : a government agency having administrative, legislative, or judicial powers

   c : a city council having legislative and executive functions

5: an act of committing something <commission of a crime>

6: a fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service; especially : a percentage of the money received from a total paid to the agent responsible for the business

7: an act of entrusting or giving authority

— in commission or into commission

1: under the authority of commissioners

2 of a ship : ready for active service

3: in use or in condition for use

— on commission

: with commission serving as partial or full pay for work done

— out of commission

1: out of active service or use

2: out of working order

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It's a noun. But, to me it sounds like a verb.
It sounds like something is happening. AH HA! Didn't scroll down the page far enough.

Definition of COMMISSION

1: to furnish with a commission: as

  a : to confer a formal commission on commission

ed lieutenant>

  b : to appoint or assign to a task or function commissioned to do the biography>

2: to order to be made <commissioned a portrait>

3: to put (a ship) in commission

The second part of the definition is used as a transitive verb.
And, you all know what that means. There is something being transferred from one party to the next.
Jesus' work has been to "seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19.10)
Now, he turns that work over to his disciples. It's their time to go forth as Jesus goes back.

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He gives them simple commands. Two verses say it all.

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Go.
Make disciples.
Baptize them.
Teach to obey.

We probably need a little more description than that, but for all intent and purposes, that's it.

Go. - Just go. Anywhere and everywhere. Go. Into all the world.

Make disciples. - Do you know what a disciple is?
Maybe we need to look that up for a second.

Definition of DISCIPLE

1: one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as

  a : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts

  b : a convinced adherent of a school or individual

2 capitalized : a member of the Disciples of Christ founded in the United States in 1809 that holds the Bible alone to be the rule of faith and practice, usually baptizes by immersion, and has a congregational polity

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Baptize them. - part of the baptism here from our scripture seems to be inferring some learning about the Trinity - The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit.
The Father - who created this world. The Giver of all Life. Jehovah. The Lion of Judah. The Leader of Israel. I Am That I Am.
The Son - God's only begotten Son. Jesus Christ. The Messiah. Fully God, fully man. The one who died on a cross to save us from sin and redeem us. Forgiveness comes by one name alone.
The Holy Spirit - The gift Jesus said would come after he was gone to the Father. The Comforter. The one who leads and guides us into all truth. The one who gives us gifts to use.

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Teach them to obey. - "Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you"
What did he teach them? Whoa. That's a mouthful. That requires some time. A whole other message maybe? He taught them to follow his example. Maybe Peter did a better job of trying to sum it all up.

1 Peter 2:11-25

New International Version (NIV)

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
¹⁸ Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. ²⁰ But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

²² “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”^[a]

²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ²⁵ For “you were like sheep going astray,”^[b] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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Jesus said he was going to make them "fishers of men".

He wanted to learn how to reach people with the same message he was working with.
To go and share the message of forgiveness, of mercy, of love.

And, we don't do it alone.
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".

Commissioning doesn't imply that we are on our own.
We have someone to report back to.
We share how the progress is going, how we are fulfilling the work.
We have someone who understands how hard to work is and the rejection.
We have someone to share the joy of our successes. And, to support us as we go.

You are commissioned today.
Go, and share the comfort. Share the message you have heard.

For God loves you so much, he sent his one and only Son.

The Rest of The Story

 Sermon audio from this message can be found at the Sound Cloud page.

 Sometimes going back to the beginning is where we find a new start.

We are on a road to Pentecost.
But, if we look at things from the disciples perspective, they don't see that.
They have no idea what is coming around the corner. Jesus is alive. They know that much.
They have seen him. Touched him. Witnessed him eat.
Later, the apostle John would write words to support what they have beheld.

1 John 1:1-4

New International Version (NIV)

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴ We write this to make our^[a] joy complete.

 These same disciples are now back where it all started. Sitting on the seashore.
Watching the waves. Looking at the sky. The same places where they were once cleaning their nets and finishing up a hard days work when a would-be messiah came by and called to them.

Matthew 4:18-20

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

After 3 years of walking with him, watching his miracles, witnessing his death, what do they have to show for it? Now, apparently, Jesus is alive. But, where do they go from here? What's the next step? As the ponder their future, they go back to where it began. The fishing business.

For one man, this moment is personal.
He has been the closest to Jesus. He has been outspoken. At times, maybe too bold. Peter swore he would never leave Jesus' side. Swore he would go with him all the way. He refused to have his feet washed, then asked for the his head and hands also. I wonder what must be going through the man's mind as he sits there on the shore.

Our scripture opens the door...

John 21

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.^[a] It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus^[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^{[c] 9} When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Lets pause for a moment...
"I'm going out to fish" and Peter is back where it all began. Fishing.
And, like so many times before, he goes out and has nothing to show for it.
Such is the life of a fisherman. To put it all out there, trying to catch something, but many times finding nothing. It was such a time as this that Jesus came and told them to cast their nets on the other side. They caught a load so heavy it nearly sank the boats. Oh, for times like that again, Peter might be thinking. And in the early morning, the call comes.

"Friends, haven't you any fish?"

The answer comes back, "No". Then this stranger suggest a familiar thing. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They catch a load so big they can't haul it in. I imagine them looking at the fish, then at the shore. It is John who blurts out the now obvious. “It is the Lord!” Immediately, Peter does what you would expect. He jumps in and swims for shore. No thought for niceties or etiquette. He needs to see the Lord now!

Did anyone catch the all important thing that stands out in this passage? FOOD!
It's breakfast time. And, it seems Jesus has taken it upon himself to make some food for his hungry disciples. Fish and bread. How many times now has it been this simplicity? Fish and Bread fed 5000+ on a hillside. 4000+ on another. When Jesus revealed himself to the men from the Emmaus road, he broke bread. When he appeared to his disciples on the first day of the week, he asked for fish.

Come on, if you don't get who this man is by now..... None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” It is the third time Jesus has revealed himself. 3 times. Hang on to that for a moment.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
²⁰ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹ When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
²² Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” ²³ Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
²⁵ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

You have to eat. Sometimes it's better to eat first and then deal with the issues at hand.
Comfort food before comforting the soul.And, Peter is in need of comfort.
Maybe that's why he came out to fish in the first place. He is in need. And, Jesus knows what he needs. 

He needs someone to relieve his guilt. He didn't follow through on what he said he would do. And, now it eats at him.But, how did he get here? That's an important thing to ponder. Did he get here because he failed at some point in following God's Law? Absolutely not. Jesus predicted that this would happen, true. But, Jesus didn't put any requirements upon Peter. He did not demand that Peter follow him to the end, to the cross, through death. Peter declared that he would. It was Peter who heaped those interjections upon himself. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”

Isn't that how it happens in life? We get to caught up in an idea that goes through our own minds, our hearts. Words come slipping off our tongues and we find out that we don't have what it takes to stick with those original notions. Or, maybe, we can't help but let the sarcasm and the crass words fall from our lips and we end up hurting those near and dear to us. The truth is we end up making it more about ourselves than the people around us. And, we end up hurting those around us. Peter said he would never leave Jesus' side. He was pretty adamant about it too. But, it wasn't so much about Jesus as it was about Peter. He spoke up and out based upon how he felt about the issue rather than simply letting Jesus lead the way. Maybe, Jesus actually knows what he talking about guy. Maybe you should sit this one out. Nope, Peter barges forward and opens his mouth and now he sees where he has fallen short.

The blatant truth about this passage of scripture is that Peter is the cause of his own hurt. But, he can't find forgiveness on his own. And, so he does what any person might do. He goes back to what is familiar to him. Fishing. And, it is in that place that Jesus comes to look for him.

3 times. 3 times Peter denied Jesus that night. Three times he opened his mouth thinking he could avoid the truth. "This night before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times" Have you ever been in a place where you probably should have spoken up and said something about your faith in Jesus? Peter has. I'm willing to bet many of us have as well. But, we conveniently have ways to sideline the subject. We talk about the weather or bring up the local sporting event. We change the subject. Or, maybe we are even as blatant as Peter was that night. We just don't think anybody really needs to know about our faith. We know better.

Or, at least we think we do.

Jesus comes now to Peter, Simon son of John, and ask him the most basic of questions. "Do you love me?"
"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." And, Jesus gives him one request. "Feed my lambs."
I cannot process this passage as a straight discourse. Three questions and it's over that fast. I wonder if there was that awkward silence between the questions. They sit there eating fish and bread. Looking out at the water. Thinking about life. Pondering the last three years.
Jesus extend a question to Peter again, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And, again, a simple request. "Take care of my sheep"

Does he really understand what Jesus wants? "Feed my sheep" "Take care of my sheep." Take up the same work I have been doing Peter. Feeding, caring, making sure people know about the kingdom of God. If doesn't get it now, he will after one more question. We are spoiled in the reading of the scriptures. We can see it coming. I wonder what be going through Peter's mind. Is he thinking, "Man, don't ask me one more time. I don't know if I can take it." Or, maybe he is completely oblivious.

Either way, Jesus extends the third question. “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter is crushed. Three denials. Three questions. Three times of asking if he loves Jesus.
As hard as it might seem, this is Jesus extending grace.

It is grace that draws people to Jesus and it grace that brings us back.
Back to the beginning. Back to the place where we can see what we really need.
The guilt has been wiped away. Forgiveness extended. A relationship made right.

This is what Jesus does. He brings comfort and peace to us. And, then tells us to go do that same.
"Feed my sheep". "Take care of my sheep". "Feed my lambs".
Bring them the comfort food they need just as the same comfort was brought to you.
When you have opened your mouth, when you have said to much.
Jesus comes to the place you have run ans beckons you to come back.
Back from the depression. Back from the gates of hell. Back to the path of righteousness.

Forget about what you don't know or what you don't understand.
Peter wonders about John and Jesus tells he to forget it. Focus on this. Focus on what just happened for you. The quickest way to lose our comfort is to focus on this things that don't matter or pertain to us.

The passage from John's gospel said it last week and returns with the same emphasis for us here.
"These things were written that you might believe"
Believe. Follow the grace. Find comfort.

And, get ready. The Holy Spirit is coming.

And On The Eighth Day (Doubting Thomas)

 

You can find sermon audio for this message at the Sound Cloud page. 

 The name says it all.

What I'm hoping to do this day is take a well known scripture and turn it on it's head. To take the negative connotations attached to it and make something positive out of it.

We'll start off right away by reading the scripture.

John 20:19-31

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus^[a]), 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.”
²⁶ 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!” ²⁷ 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.”
²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe^[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Don't you hate being the person who gets left out?

At school, there was a party the day you were sick and at home.

During church, there was special music & potluck the day you were gone.
In life, someone seems to get blessed with a special moment and you did not.

We are looking at just such a moment today.

"Doubting Thomas" - an ominous title that has left many in its wake.
Do you know of anybody who likes to be tagged with that title?
It insinuates that we don't have a handle on things, we have a hard time believing, or we can't see it unless we actually see it with our own eyes.

It's one of those titles that begs us to look into what it means.
A name. We have not looked anything like that up before. Lots of words , but never a name.
Found a real interesting site called "Behind The Name" ( http://www.behindthename.com/)
They had this to add on the name "Thomas":

THOMAS

GENDER: Masculine

USAGE: English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek

OTHER SCRIPTS: Θωμας (Greek)

PRONOUNCED: TAHM-əs (English), TOM-əs (English), to-MAH (French), TO-mahs (German, Dutch), tho-MAHS (Greek)   [key]

Meaning & History

Greek form of the Aramaic name תָּאוֹמָא (Ta'oma') which meant "twin". In the New Testament this is the name of the apostle who initially doubted the resurrected Jesus. According to tradition he was martyred in India. Due to his renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world.

In England the name was introduced by the Normans (a group of Vikings who came to settle in French territory) and became very popular due to Saint Thomas Becket, a 12th-century archbishop of Canterbury and martyr. Another notable saint by this name was the 13th-century Italian philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, who is regarded as a Doctor of the Church. Other famous bearers include philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), American president Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), novelist Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), and inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931).

The Thomas in our passage here is commonly referred to as "Didymus", the Twin.
It's never clear who Thomas' twin actually is in life. Is he an actually brother to someone?
Or is this more of a 'spiritual' kinship?

What I found interesting in everywhere that I looked was that no book or reference attaches anything to his name that we commonly think of when we hear it. Doubt.

Several years ago as I began my Christian journey I was in a bookstore where many of those name plates and cards are sold. You've probably seen them. Coffee mugs, book marks, bracelets and jewelry, anything to exploit the selling of the name. And, people are real into it too. Websites upon websites of name searching material. People want to get to their origins or figure out the proper name to give their child. The name you give your child can say it all.

My dad's name is Tom. Thomas Ralph.
It seems that down through the years the name Thomas has been given to some very influential people. You would think that the name would give someone pride. But, too often, it is not the book given definition that sticks in people's minds. It is the spoken affirmation that people go with and dwell upon. "Doubting Thomas".

What in our passage today has given that ominous feeling to this man and his name?

Thomas wasn't there when Jesus randomly appeared to his disciples.
He missed out on the moment. He was left out of the glory.
And, he makes this declaration, “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.”

Hmmm. Bold words. A challenge. A declaration made to all who could hear.
Sound like anybody we know? If Thomas was a "twin" to anyone, I would make a correlation to our dear friend Peter.

You remember Peter, don't you? Our central focus for the Lenten season.
Do you remember his boldness, or maybe his stumbling?
When he heard or saw something that made no sense or that he did not understand there almost no hesitation at times. He blurts out a statement. He challenges Jesus. The teacher had to be gritting his teeth at time as he deals with his student.

Melissa has shared lots of things with me over the years.
We have laughed. We have cried. There have been times where I have had to say, "Dear, I'm eating right now. Please keep those details to yourself." But, you'd be amazed how many times there is stuff attached to a child's name. The way a child carries his or herself. The way a child relates to others. 

Was there something predetermined in the Thomas of our scripture today?
Was he destined to doubt, simply because of the name given to him?
To often we are cruel and hateful when we look people in that light.
"Well, what are you going to do with a child named _____?"
Children don't pick their own names. They are given. If we are going to blame anybody, blame the parents. But, even in that light, do parents really pick names for their children thinking that they will grow up and become this or that in life?

The bombers of the Boston Marathon...did their parents give them names pre-determining that their children would someday grow up and become these kind of people to commit heinous acts of violence and rage? I'd like to think not. Maybe in some cases there are people who do that. We'd like to think that human beings grow up and become who they want to be, not what someone else wants them to be. But, we are all shaped and formed by the events and the teaching we receive in life. We could blame our actions and words upon all of that. There is still this place in our hearts where we have to decipher and and formulate what we want to become as people based upon all that we have  experienced. It is not just some random formulation. We are who we are because we want to be that way. The responsibility comes squarely down upon our own shoulders in the end.

The disciple named Thomas in our passage simply wants to know and experience what everybody did. Everybody else got to see him. Everybody else got to touch him. He simply wants the same experience. “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.”

The comforting notion is that Jesus gives him exactly what he asked for. Isn't that amazing.
He could have just left him to him own devices. The other disciples could have simply told him, "Tough luck buddy. You're going to have to believe our words." Nope, Jesus gives him exactly what he wants. Physical proof.

As soon as given enters the scene in today's passage, the first thing he does is find Thomas.
There is no hesitation, as if he needs to talk to the others disciples first.
The thing that jumped off the page at me was just how long Thomas had to wait.
Last week's scripture says it was the first day of the week (Maybe it was Monday?)
John's passage says the same thing, but then eludes to the fact that Thomas was not there.
The RSV translation states that it was "on the eighth day" when Jesus appears to Thomas.
Why in the world does he make him wait that long?
So, basically, it's the following Monday. A little over a whole week.

Wow. There is another phrase with negative attachments. "On the eighth day..."
On the eighth day, God created brains, because he knew you didn't have any
On the eighth day, God created Chevy, because Ford was found on the road dead
On the eighth day, God created burritos, because he saw that man was hungry
                                                                              you know, silly stuff like this........

But, the eighth day in scripture was actually a very holy thing.
On the eighth day, parents would bring a child to the temple to consecrated. 
People would give offerings, times of worship and festivals happened on eighth days. 
They were considered holy and set apart for the Lord. 
So, maybe it wasn't all that odd that Jesus appeared "on the eighth day".

What must Thomas be thinking about these eight days? What is he struggling with?
Are there other people chiding him? Or, is it all internal? Is there anybody to comfort him?
"Doubting Thomas". The name beckons us to think badly of him. How many of us could take a walk in his shoes? How many of us have needed physical proof before we will believe that a thing is true?

When Jesus does come, he finds Thomas. He comforts him with his presence.
He offers his side and his hands as evidence. He offers to let Thomas touch, to see for himself.

Jesus has not gone to the Father yet. Soon he will, and this special moment will be no more.
Thomas got what he needed because it could be offered at this time. Soon, it won't be offered any more. Jesus will ascend to the Father and sit at the right hand of power and glory.

So, how do we fit in here? What can we say that might bring comfort to our own ailments?
How often have you beat yourself up over your preconceived notions about a thing?
You think this or that defines who you are and you have trouble with faith and hope.
You think because you have said certain things in life or partaken in activities that would shun you from being in God's presence. Society might look down upon you will a frown or wagging finger.
But, Jesus longs to come to you.

In our darkest moment, our moment of doubt and unbelief, Jesus can appear.
He can speak to us and show us the way. He can guide us to the truth we so desperately need.

I got some of those name cards at that Christian book store.
One night as we sat out at my grandparents house, I pulled them out and handed on to my dad.
It said "THOMAS - Seeker of Truth".
He frowned and said, "But, it means 'doubter' doesn't it?"

No, it doesn't. It means 'twin'. Thomas was a twin.
Maybe he was a 'twin' to another prominent disciple. Someone who was bold and outgoing.
Someone who longed and sought for the truth. Someone who just wanted to know what was right.

And, the same can be said for all of us. Even if your name isn't Thomas, maybe that title has been hung around your neck. "Doubting Thomas"
Take it off. Throw it away. And, realize that what you really want is the truth.

And, blessed are those who believe.

Redivivus

Comfort food is where it begins. 

Let me say a few words about our theme...

We are getting ready for Pentecost.
The next few weeks will be a preparation. Not unlike what we just went through for Lent, these days between Easter and Pentecost are also a time of preparation. In Lent, we went without something for 40 days. We went through self-denial and left ourselves open to what God wants to change. In these 50 days between Easter and Pentecost, you will be encouraged to stick to your guns. Keep up what you have already experienced. Let the focus be not on ourselves, but on Christ.

We enter the scene with the disciples just having come through a horrifying experience.
Their Savior has been taken away. He was put to death, buried in a tomb and now word comes that the body is missing. John's gospel says that Mary Magdalene saw him, talked to him, hugged him. Luke tells us of two men walking along a road to the village of Emmaus that saw him and spoke with him.

Those two men have made their way to the disciples and are in the midst of explaining what they have just encountered when Jesus, Himself, appears in the room.

Luke 24:36-49

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.
⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

You might have been eyeing that title on this message from the start.
Maybe you have even taken the initiative to go look it up. (You should feel that freedom by now.)
It's a Latin word. As I was planning out my next few weeks and months for the pulpit this word jumped out at me. I have had the pleasure of working with a 4 gospel parallel on the internet from the University of Toronto. All 4 books are neatly posted with links to parallel passages that are found in one or more of the other gospels accounts. As we approached the week of Easter I began the scroll past those passages and pondering where do we would go from there.

The section title above this morning's scripture read as such:
Jesus Redivivus in Jerusalem

And I did what many of you might have done as you looked in your bulletin. Huh???
This word jumped off the page at me and I knew where we would be headed today.
I also had a premonition that I might have bitten off more than I could chew.  
Which, of course, instantly made me look it up. 

Definition of REDIVIVUS

: brought back to life : reborn —used postpositively

It's a Latin word. First known use was in 1675. Redivivus.
Hmmm. "Reborn" was linked up in blue and I just had to click on that too.

Definition of REBORN

: born again : regenerated, revived

Ok, something really began to gnaw at me the longer I stared at these words.
Isn't this what Jesus was talking to Nicodemus about back in John chap 3.
"You must be born again" Huh. Hey, 'regenerated' and 'revived' were highlighted in blue also.....

Definition of REGENERATE

1

: formed or created again

2

: spiritually reborn or converted

3

: restored to a better, higher, or more worthy state

Now, every word we have looked up so far in an adjective.
A description word. It says something about the person or thing it attached to in line.
But, notice the lay of the land on this last word...

Definition of REVIVE

intransitive verb

: to return to consciousness or life : become active or flourishing again

transitive verb

1

: to restore to consciousness or life

2

: to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state :bring back

3

: to renew in the mind or memory

Ok, every other time I have looked up a word, in preparation for a sermon, and it has been a verb and it has had transitive and intransitive properties attached to it, the transitive side is always laid out first. Usually because the side that is used most predominantly would get it's part of the definition laid out first. But, for some reason here on this word, the intransitive side is listed first. I had to wonder why that was.
There's really only two moments in scripture when a mass of people are resurrected all at once. Ezekiel at the Valley of Dry Bones and at the cross when several people got up out of their graves. The power of God moved so mightily in a moment that the Veil in the Temple was torn, the sky was darkened, thunder and lightening rolled, Jesus says "It is finished!"

And, for some, they most likely thought that it was.

So, now, we are here in Luke 24. Last week was the road to Emmaus. Jesus appears to two men as they are walking. He open the scriptures. He shares and teaches. Then they sit down at a table to enjoy a meal.
It is here that Jesus is revealed to them. He breaks bread. Their eyes are opened. Then he is gone.

The rest of the disciples back in Jerusalem are told next. These two men go back and tell them about their experience on the road and at the house. And, out of nowhere, Jesus appears.

Notice the discourse is so similar in the two passages. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus spends however long the walk is sharing the scriptures and opening their minds. Then comes the food.

Back at house where the disciple are hold up, Jesus appears just as he disappeared at the Emmaus house.
A long discourse on the scriptures is not needed here. He cuts right to the chase. He calms their fears.

³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

Explanation was needed in one instance. Physical evidence in the other. And, then came the food.

 ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

At Emmaus, he took the bread and broke it. At the house with the disciples, he takes some fish and eats.
In both instances food is present. (C'mon now, you had to know. Who's message are you reading?)

Let us take a bare boned look at what's happening here.
The thing I that stood out to me in both passages, the Emmaus road, and now this one is that food is present in both of them. Now, why would food be important to all this?
In a narcissistic way, I could imply that God knew all those millennia ago that one day my theme would be comfort food and he neatly set this all up, just for me. (Isn't that convenient?)

Food. We go to it when we need something. Comfort. Peace. Solace.
Sometimes it works too. Food can revive us. It can give us strength. It can soothe us.
The men on the Emmaus road had been walking for a while. They got back home. They are hungry.
We need to see the plain and simple here. They were not sitting down to have what we call "communion".
They were sitting down to eat. And, to start the meal, they need a prayer. Jesus had been sharing all the truths of the kingdom of God during their walk. And, for these men, here comes a new one.

Jesus is alive! He is Redivivus.
Brought back to life - reborn - born again - all the definitions read to you earlier apply.
But there is one that we should pay close attention. 

Sometimes you have to dig a bit to find what you want. Remember we kept digging until we got to the word "revive".  Lets look at those 3 lines on revive. It plays significantly into what is presented today.

intransitive verb

: to return to consciousness or life : become active or flourishing again

transitive verb

1

: to restore to consciousness or life

2

: to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state :bring back

3

   : to renew in the mind or memory

Jesus comes first. He is the intransitive party. He is risen from the dead. He returns to conscious life. What he does in his redivivus is for his followers, so that they can share the transitive part. His followers are restored to consciousness of life. Once they were dead in their sins, now they live.
His followers are restored from a depressed state, inactive because of fear, unusable because of the ugliness of their sins. Maybe now they would understand. 

John 10:11-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

It starts with comfort food. For the soul, for the body.
Jesus wants his followers to know it is real. He actually touches bread. He actually eats fish.
He speaks the same words of comfort and relief he has been speaking all along. 

John 6:25-58

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus the Bread of Life

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’^[a]”
³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
⁴¹ At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’^[b] Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
⁵² Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent meand I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Be revived. Believe. Take and eat. Be nourished.
And, get ready. There's more to come.