My Lord and My God!
John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt 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 come to believe.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
A man walks into a bar, the bartender asks, “what do you need?” the man replies, “Oh, just some fruit punch.” The bartender sighs and shakes his head and barks, “If you want punch, you’re gonna have to wait in line.”
The man looks around, but there is no punchline. J
Allow me to play the role of the bartender and ask you: What do you need?
Being able to answer this question (or some version of it) is a sign of maturity. When my boys were little and we’d go out to eat, my husband and I would order for them. They didn’t know how to communicate their needs to the server. But now, and fairly recently for my nine-year-old, when the server asks, “What do you need?” they can answer. And because they can name what they need, they usually get it.
I get it, you’re all grown up and you’ve been communicating your needs effectively since you were nine-years-old. But have you? Really?
A few years ago, I was talking with one of my dearest friends out in Texas. She articulated that she had been feeling terribly lonely of late. Naming this, of course, is quite a vulnerable act. She said to me, very clearly, “I need for us to talk more often.” Knowing what she needed, and naming it so clearly, she got what she needed!
Now, there are some people who can anticipate their loved one’s needs (unlike yours truly who had to be told in no uncertain terms exactly what was needed from me.) What a gift to be able to anticipate another’s need without being told! What a burden, AND what a gift.
It seems to me that the resurrected Jesus had this gift. He knew exactly what his disciples needed in order to believe. They didn’t have to name it for Jesus to know it.
So on this first Sunday after Easter, I want us to look briefly at three familiar stories from scripture—three appearances Jesus made after he was raised from the dead. As we consider these stories, we’ll reflect upon what each person needed, whether or not they knew what they needed, and how Jesus met each person’s unique need. And as we do so, I invite you to consider: what is your deepest need from God today? Let’s get started.
First, let’s consider Mary Magdalene. This is the story from John 20 that I read last week on Easter Sunday. Mary is standing at an empty tomb weeping because she thinks someone has taken Jesus’ body away. Peter and John have come and gone, confirming her story. She’s exhausted after walking and/or running six miles that morning (three two-mile jaunts between Golgotha and Bethany). Jesus appears to her, the first resurrection appearance! But she doesn’t recognize him. She needs something from him, but she doesn’t even know what that is. Do you remember what happens next? Jesus calls her by name. “Mary,” he says. And in hearing him call her name, she instantly knows it’s Jesus. “Rabbouni!” she cries out. She finds the other disciples and tells them, “I have seen the Lord!”
Did Mary know what she needed from the risen Lord? No.
What was it that Mary needed from the risen Lord? She needed to hear Jesus call her name.
For Mary, it was all about RELATIONSHIP. That’s what she needed most from the risen Christ.
Next, let’s consider Thomas, the story I read earlier. Thomas gets a bad rap with the moniker “Doubting Thomas.” I prefer something more like “Thinking Thomas” or “Reasonable Thomas.” To be fair, Jesus died. Countless people witnessed the death. Hours hanging on a cross after having been beaten and scourged. And just for good measure, one of the Roman soldiers stuck his sword in Jesus’ side, just to make sure he was dead. Jesus was dead. People don’t just rise from the dead. You know this. I know this. Thomas knew this. So Thomas told his friends, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” So one week later—one week after that first Easter Sunday— the disciples are gathered once again. This time Thomas is with them. Jesus appears once again! And without Thomas saying a word, the risen Lord says to him, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Did Thomas know what he needed from the risen Lord? Yes.
What was it that Thomas needed from the risen Lord? He needed to touch Jesus’ wounds.
For Thomas, it was all about REASSURANCE. That’s what he needed most from the risen Christ.
The third story I want us to consider is the story of Peter’s encounter with the risen Christ from John 21. Peter and six of the disciples are fishing, but they aren’t catching anything. A man standing on the shore tells them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. And when they do, they catch so many fish they can barely pull it back in. “It is the Lord!” Peter exclaims. Peter jumps into the water and makes his way to the risen Jesus, who is cooking some fish over the fire, with some bread. Jesus invites them to put some of their catch onto the fire. After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” (Three times, perhaps, because Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times.) “Do you love me?” Jesus asks him. And three times, Peter says, “Yes, Lord. You know I love you.” Jesus tells him three times, “Feed my sheep.”
Did Peter know what he needed from the risen Lord? Hard to say.
What was it that Peter needed from the risen Lord? He needed breakfast—he needed to taste the food that Jesus lovingly prepared.
For Peter, it was all about RESTORATION. Restoring the broken relationship. That’s what he needed most from the risen Christ.
Relationship: when Mary heard Jesus speak her name.
Reassurance: when Thomas touched Jesus’ wounds.
Restoration: when Peter tasted food that Jesus lovingly prepared.
What about you? What do you most need from the Lord this morning?
Maybe you’re like Mary and you don’t know what you need, or maybe you’re more like Thomas and know exactly what it is you need, or like Peter, somewhere in between.
But the thing is, we all need something from God whether we’re aware of it or not. And like the risen Christ appearing to Mary and Thomas and Peter, God stands ready to give us just what we need so that our faith might be strengthened, and our hope restored.
What do you need?
Maybe you’re in need of some peace and comfort in the midst of struggle or challenge. God stands ready.
Maybe you’re in need of forgiveness and redemption for a mistake or a lifetime of mistakes. God stands ready.
Maybe you need a sense of purpose or direction for your life. God stands ready.
I don’t know what you need for your tomorrows. I only know God stands ready to meet your needs today.
So I invite you to take a moment to reflect:
What do you most need from God right now?
What challenges are you facing?
What worries or fears are keeping you up at night?
What dreams or aspirations need God’s help to come to fruition?
No matter what you’re going through, God stands ready. And not from a distance, mind you.
Last Sunday, on Easter Sunday, I had roughly 20 kids up here with me for the children’s sermon. And per usual, they gave me a “run for my money.” When I said that God was on the cross, one little boy corrected me: “It was Jesus on the cross!” he demanded. “You’re right. It was Jesus on the cross.” After which a little girl informed me, “Jesus is in my heart!” “You’re right! Jesus is in your heart!” Out of the mouth of babes, right?
Whatever you’re facing, whatever your challenges, whatever your worries, God stands ready to give you whatever you need. And not from “somewhere out there.” No. From the inside.
Of all three individuals who encountered Jesus that I discussed this morning, Thomas was the one who seemed to understand this.
Mary, upon recognizing Jesus, cried out “Rabouni!”
Peter, upon recognizing Jesus, cried out, “It is the Lord!”
Only Thomas personalized it. “My Lord and my God!” He cried.
Thomas got it. Do you?
What do you need this morning? Deep down in your soul. What do you need?
God, through the power of the Holy Spirit abiding in you, stands ready.