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Apr 12, 2015

Touch, Taste, Hear, and See: Thomas' Faith and Ours

Touch, Taste, Hear, and See: Thomas' Faith and Ours

Passage: John 20:19-31

Speaker: Rev. Vivian McCarthy, Pastor

Category: Discipleship, Faith

Keywords: faith, thomas

Why do we wind up labeling Thomas as a doubter?

About 10 years ago, I lost my entire preaching research library when the Conference Center became a sick building.  There was mold – the toxic kind – that permeated the paper and made my books toxic.  Some people weren't allergic, but I was.  So I began doing most of my research and background reading online.  It may sound funny, but one of my favorite sites is desperatepreacher.com.  That’s because it’s a lectionary forum where preachers share their thoughts on the week’s texts.  I don’t always share that little piece of information because I don’t want worshipers going home and speculating over your Sunday chicken about why I’m so desperate!  However, I wanted to share this one thing that was in almost every post this week on that site:  just about everyone talked about how Thomas got a bum rap!

I have to agree.  I love this story.  It is just so real – so honest.  And it is important for us to understand when we want to offer faith to our children and youth.  You see, I think that Thomas’ need to see and touch Jesus before he could believe is just genuine – real – what WE need if we’re honest!

I remember hearing many, many times in my life about Doubting Thomas as if this man had some kind of character flaw because he wanted to see and touch Jesus.  I wonder if you noticed that at the beginning of the reading, it tells us that Jesus showed the other disciples, too!  They had the benefit of seeing and touching if they wanted, so why do we wind up labeling Thomas as a doubter?

Notice what Jesus did.  He didn't laugh at Thomas.  He didn't turn away from him.  He didn't say anything that would indicate that he thought Thomas was being silly or dumb or inappropriate.  Jesus simply said, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side.”  Jesus patiently and directly allowed Thomas to do what he needed to do.  Also notice that the text doesn't say that Thomas actually wound up doing it!

Now the others were excited.  The story tells us that “they rejoiced.”  A perfectly reasonable reaction to finding a friend, whom they thought to be dead, alive and walking around, greeting them and offering them a blessing of peace.  But what did Thomas do?  He recognized Jesus as the Savior:  my Lord and my God.  I always have this visual pop in my head when I hear that part of the story – Thomas falls on his knees in worship and adoration.

Now, I’d like for you to notice something in the text.  In the New Revised Standard Version and several others that I checked out, it says, “"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

It doesn't say, MORE blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.  It just says they are blessed.  Interesting, isn’t it?  I don’t know about you, but I suspect that we've just kind of unconsciously inserted the word “more” and assumed that Jesus was reprimanding Thomas.  That is just sad – that we assume he was “bad” because he wanted to touch and see.

Let me ask you:  How did you come to have faith in Jesus?  Who helped you to touch and see Jesus?

Thomas isn't much different from us – and I guarantee he’s not much different from the adults, youth and children who are part of Sunday School or Vacation Bible School or other classes in the church.  Developmentally, children are concrete in the way that they think.  They have great imaginations, but try to explain concepts or use symbolic language with kids under the ago of about 10, and they may be very confused. 

Touch, taste, see, smell and hear, they get.  Eating a special meal – being included at the table, they get.  Trying to explain to them how the bread is Jesus and the juice is Jesus’ blood they don’t always get.  And sometimes I wonder if all the adults thoroughly understand the deep theological meaning of communion.  We all, however, understand being part of a meal where God offers love and forgiveness to us and we all count!

Sunday School and Bible School teachers have one of the most precious roles in the lives of children.  Their role is to make it possible for the children and youth in their classes to experience Jesus.  Today I want to tell the teachers and the parents and the grandparents this:  Be like Thomas.  Help the kids and youth in your classes  -- the kids you know -- to touch, taste, see, and hear – and smell from time to time, too!  Help them get in touch with Jesus.  Give them experiences that help them not only know stuff about Jesus but help them see what Jesus was like and feel the love that Jesus has for them.

This often means that you -- the teacher or other mentor in the lives of children and youth – show them their own scars and warts and let the students know what it is that helps you know God. 

So, I have another question for you:  What makes you aware of the presence of God?  Or maybe a better question is: what makes you know for yourself what God is like?

There is one more thing.  Did you notice what John wrote at the very end of this reading?  It says, “these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”  As I read that this week again, it struck me that belief isn't even the real point here.  The point of the passage is that belief is a means to an end – to life.  

Now, I don’t know about you, but I want our children to have life.  I want our youth to have life!  I want every adult in this community to have life – oh and not just any life.  I want them to have the life that is abundant because that life is the kind that only God in Jesus Christ can bring.  Life that is lived in thanksgiving.  Life that is filled with joy.  Life that is focused on grace – both given and received.  Life that has purpose and a foundation where strength and courage are resources for living through those things that aren't easy.

May you come to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and through believing, may you have life in Jesus name!