Lectionary Year B
April 27, 2003
John 20:19-31
Step V: Distillation
(BE) A. SALIENT FEATURES
The two uses of the word "sent" in this gospel and in our passage lead me to
place importance on this verse and its surrounding circumstances. The message I hear is
that we are being sent as messengers of Christ's gospel. It is problematic that the end
of our passage states the purpose of these writings as "that you may believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
However, one can still focus on the theme of being a messenger if you feel the final
verse speaks of the whole gospel and not just the appearance passages before it.
The thrust of being a messenger occurs as the author writes to an audience that
would have been under some pressure not to speak out. The readers were likely and
rightly scared of the forces of government and, like Thomas, doubting(at least fighting
over) the claims of Christianity. Yet Jesus has the mysterious ability to get in and
out of closed places where we hide and to give us the peace we need to come out.
As we come out, the Holy Spirit will be with us giving us truth as well as a
higher authority to do God's work than any force we must face in the completion of God's
work. This seems evident by the giving of the Spirit in our passage with its authority
to forgive and retain sins as well as by the giving of Peace from Jesus Christ.
(BE) B. SMOOTH TRANSLATION
Verse 21: Again Jesus said, "peace to you. As the Father has sent me(on a
divine mission as savior), I am sending you(on a divine mission as messengers)."
(BE) C. HERMENEUTICAL BRIDGE
The account of the huddled disciples and the account of the doubting Thomas are
very much like the lives of Christians. Christ gives us the Holy Spirit which brings
authority and peace so that we might fulfill the divine mission to be a messenger. We
give Christ our fears and doubts. Many fear even to express their faith in the church
itself(won't pray, won't sing, won't ...) There is little doubt that they will ever be
much of a messenger outside the "locked doors" of the church. Many are voicing their
faith within the walls of the church, but are worried about doing so in the other
contexts of their lives. And many simply doubt the foundational truth of Christ
crucified and resurected.
The bridge issue is what makes a messenger. Why do we choose Fed Ex over UPS?
What do we like and dislike about messengers and letter carriers? What do we admire
about them? What are the stories about messages that did not get delivered or that did
not get correctly sent (i.e. for want of a mail carrier...and/or properly conveying to the world the
forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ)?
For Christians it is the Holy Spirit that makes a good messenger. It brings
authority and the peace of Christ. With it we can unlock the doors of the church and be
recognized as believers in the face of the condemnation of the world.
The reading of commentaries has given me a deeper look into the life of Thomas
after this account and so I would add here that Thomas, as a future messenger, gives the
example here of the person who counts the cost and is slow to commit, but once decided
is unmoveable in his purpose. Like the letter carrier who delivers come rain, sleet, or
snow.
(FS) Some interaction with BE --
Last paragraph, on Holy Spirit giving us truth, authority to do God's work, and authority to forgive and retain sins --
As you stated in step II, our being given leave to retain or forgive sins is a struggling point for many (me too). Interesting that in the Gospel of John this pericope is given as the first post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to his closest disciples -- they have for the most part just failed him, denied him, and now cower in hiding behind a locked door, but he still greets them with peace. They are apparently forgiven, and are about to be commissioned as messengers. Is there an example of how his messengers are to forgive rather than retain sin? Can we today be as compassionate with those who have failed us, or "sinned" against us?
Thomas is indeed an example of a person slow to commit, but who plows ahead with the task once convinced. It's interesting (and homiletically fertile ground) that he's frank about his doubts. That doesn't seem to disqualify him from messenger duty, once those doubts are answered.
(BJSW)
This is a comment about the gospel passage for April 30:
In the wake of the recent cult suicides, today's passage seems suitable
for some hermeneutical connections.
A common response to the cult theology is, "How can anyone believe such
nonsense!" And yet, here's Thomas in the same boat.
Perhaps we can gain insight into the mood of the disciples as we muse
over the responses to outlandish cults. Haven't Christians been accused
of the very same title?
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