“The Eyes of Faith”

2^nd Sunday of Easter (March 30, 2008)

Rev. Steven D. Spencer – Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Salem, OR

John 20:19-20 + 1 Peter 1:8+9

Several years ago a pastor told me that affixed to their pulpit was a permanent metal plaque with words from John 12:21: “Sir we wish to see Jesus!”  The reason that those words were on the pulpit was to remind the pastor that every time he preached it was his job to help the congregation see Jesus.

The sermon text for this morning is just a portion of the Gospel Reading for today. It takes place after dark on that first Easter Sunday. Please listen to John 20:19-20 under the theme of “The Eyes of Faith.”

“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.”

(John 20:19-20)  So far the text!

The events of that day, those eye-witness reports no doubt led to discussions that were examined and reexamined, over and over again, mulled over countless times trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Did the women just imagine Jesus speaking to them? Were they caught up in some type of hysterical hallucination? I imagine that each disciple must have handled the news quite differently. Some, no doubt, received the news with an oppressive disbelief while others with great joy and anticipation.

Imagine the conversations concerning all the things that happened that day: the earthquake as the women journeyed to the garden grave, the Easter angel at the tomb, the empty grave except for the burial cloths, the fierce-but now trembling-guards who became silent statues, the angelic announcement that the Lord had risen, Mary Magdalene’s dash to the disciples with the report of the empty tomb and the Resurrection, the race of Peter and John to that cave, the two angels in the sepulcher who appeared to Mary after Peter and John had returned to their homes, the appearance of Jesus to Mary, her second trip to report to the disciples what she had seen and heard, their subsequent disbelief and disregard concerning her report, the amazing report of the late afternoon appearance of the risen Jesus to the Emmaus disciples, but above all else, fear. The disciples were so afraid that what happened to Jesus might also happen to them that they went into hiding and locked the doors.

“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."

Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Though you all left Me and fled into the darkness of night and transgression, I say to you, “Peace be with you.” Though you have doubted and disbelieved the Word concerning My Resurrection and deserve nothing except eternal death and destruction, I, Who has crushed the head of Satan on your behalf, I say to you, “Peace be with you.” Though you have sinned against the Lord God Almighty in thought, word and deed, and have earned for yourself nothing except the Lake of Fire, I, Who endured the agonies of hell on your account and your sins, I say to you, “Peace be with you.” Though you have nothing to say before the Bench on Judgment Day except, “Guilty,” I, Who have paid the price of all your iniquities when I died for you on the cross, I say to you, “Peace be with you.”  For all who occupy a pew at Messiah Lutheran Church, or who often don’t, and who walk to and fro upon the face of this earth, I say to you, “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.” The Resurrected Jesus showed Himself to His disciples. The very Body that was broken on the cross for us now stands before them. Look at Him, dear disciples. Behold those nail-pierced hands from which the very Blood of Jesus was shed for you for the remission of all your sins. “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”

Into that little room, filled with fear, filled with anxiety, comes the gentle, wounded Shepherd who once for sinners slain. Jesus comes quietly, humbly. He doesn't break down the doors. Even His greeting doesn’t seem spectacular, shalom. It’s such a common greeting today simply translated as peace. It’s much like saying hello. But it wasn’t always that way.  Shalom has a much deeper meaning. The peace that is talked about comes from the Shalom Aleichem. It is a traditional song sung Friday night at the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath. It is a liturgical song.

Peace upon you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High, of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He. Come in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He. Bless me with peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He. May your departure be in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

That liturgical song was shortened or abbreviated for daily use with these words: Peace be with you or The Lord be with you. And the response: And with thy spirit or also with you. Shalom.

The One who burst from the tomb without bothering to roll away the stone has no need to break down locked doors. He comes to the disciples quietly and humbly. But make no mistake about it, in this greeting Jesus reminds them Who He Is.  This is He who comes in the name of the Most High, for He is the Most High, the Supreme King of Kings, for He is the Holy One, the Blessed One who comes in peace to give peace.

The Good Shepherd comes to His sheep; the sheep don’t come to Him. He comes as the Lamb who had given His life to save them. He comes and stands in their midst. Jesus had been there all along, really present but not seen. Now He permits His disciples to see Him as He is, raised from the dead. This is the One who died and now lives and is really present for His disciples in a new and profound way.

With all that occurred earlier that day, did the disciples believe that Jesus was alive? I doubt it! Remember Mary Magdalene and the other Mary was instructed by Jesus to tell the disciples to go to Galilee to meet Him. Had they gone? ---NO!--- They didn’t leave, because they didn’t believe. With all the enemies of Jesus looking for them, one would assume they would have left Jerusalem immediately. Wouldn’t you leave if in their situation? But they didn’t! They were frightened and hid behind locked doors, waiting for the enemy to appear. All those men with clubs, with swords and with spears, men filled with rage and hatred. Fear kept them locked behind doors. What fears keep you locked behind locked doors? What enemies do you fear?

What comfort Jesus' words of peace must have brought to His disciples! They all had failed Him in His hour of glory. Peter had denied Him three times. The disciples had abandoned Him. None of them had believed His words - that on this day, the first day of the week, He would rise from the dead. None of them had trusted the words of Jesus concerning His own death and resurrection. Would they now trust Jesus with their lives? Will you? Their hearts were filled with fear. Is yours? Yet Jesus doesn’t scold them for their unbelief or rebuke them for the lack of faith. Instead, He comes graciously to them to speak His peace. And so He comes to speak His peace to you!

His peace is real peace, as real as His wounds, the nail marks on His hands and the wound of the spear that pierced His side. From these rich wounds comes the peace of which Jesus speaks. Isaiah the prophet knew of this peace for He tells us about it in Isaiah 53:5: “The punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds are we healed." For wherever Jesus is, there is His peace. That is what is celebrated in the greeting of shalom, the very peace of God, the very presence of God. For where God is, so there is His peace.  And God’s peace personified has a name and His name is Jesus. For in Christ Jesus God has made peace between Himself and you.   

            So important is that peace, that shalom, that we celebrate it every time we join in worship. As it was in the ancient Jewish liturgy so it is in ours.  “The Lord be with you,--- and with thy spirit.” SHALOM! We draw into the very presence of God. We say it before the collect and we say it again before the Lord’s Supper to remind us that we are in the very presence of God we have His peace.

            You may have never seen Jesus with your eyes but you know He is present. St. Peter tells us in 1^st Peter 1:8+9:  “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.”  For the disciples saw with their eyes yet they doubted, you see with the eyes of faith and have believed.  Believe that Jesus died and paid for all your sins, your sins of thought, word and deed. Believe that He rose on the third day and sits at God’s right hand and makes intercession for you. And know beyond a shadow of doubt, that you truly have peace with God because all your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Shalom! In Jesus Holy name, amen!

And now may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen!