Is Jesus Still Alive?

Easter 2 (Quasimotogeniti)
April 19, 2009

GOSPEL LESSON: John 20:19-31
19On 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." 20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld."
24Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."
26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." 28Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Is Jesus still alive? The witness of the disciples and other followers of Jesus is very clear. Jesus did rise from the dead. Even Thomas lost his doubts when he touched Jesus. When Jesus was crucified, his hands and feet were nailed to the cross. Those scars remained. When Jesus had already died but still hanging on the cross, a soldier pierced Jesusf side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out from his dead body. For Thomas, those were scars that would prove that it was Jesus, and not an imposter, and would prove that Jesus had really died and had really risen. It was no ghost; Thomas could feel the physical body of Jesus. The body was solid, it was warm, it was alive. It was Jesus. And Thomas understood at that moment that Jesus was not just an ordinary person. He was not just an ordinary religious teacher or rabbi. Jesus was divine. Jesus was God come-down-upon-this-earth. And Thomas proclaimed, "My Lord and my God."

Yes, Jesus was alive. Then Jesus gave that life to his disciples. On that first Easter Evening, Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Holy Spirit might come at Pentecost, but that Easter Evening Jesus gave the disciples the power of the Holy Spirit in order that they might do the work of the Holy Spirit on this earth. This was not the power to speak in tongues or do miracles. This was the work of the Holy Spirit to make people holy. In other words, Jesus gave the disciples the authority and the power to forgive sin. That is the message of the cross. Jesus died to forgive our sin. And now the disciples have the mission to bring that forgiveness to the world. Listen again to John 20:21-23.

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld."

We studied about this in Confirmation class just last week. We studied that part with the funny-sounding name of "The Office of the Keys." They are the keys of forgiveness that open the gate to heaven to repentant sinners who feel sorry for their sins, and close heaven by not forgiving the sins of people who do not believe in Jesus as their Savior. Forgiveness is pure grace. It is pure gospel. Catechism Question and Answer #271 tells us how this forgiveness of sin is given to people. First, through the spoken word when preached to the whole world so that people can know that Jesus died on the cross to forgive their sins. When this gospel is believed, sin is forgiven. Second, sin is forgiven through Baptism. Third, sin is forgiven through the Sacrament of the Altar. Fourth, sin is forgiven through the confession and absolution given by the pastor. And Fifth, sin is forgiven through the so-called "mutual conversation and consolation of brethren." This means Christian fellowship. Because it is in the fellowship of believers, as we talk together, pray together, play together, eat together, study and worship together, that we use the dynamic of repentance and forgiveness toward each other. It seems we are constantly offending each other in what we say or do, often in fun without even knowing it, but at the same time, there is constant forgiving. There is constant forgiving because we do not want anything to come between us that would hurt our friendship. I heard someone say that forgiving each other is just being a Christian, because that is what Christians do. They forgive because Christ forgives. We forgive because Christ forgives us.

Last week in confirmation class we studied the Office of Keys. The Worcester boys put this Christian forgiveness dynamic into action. As good students, they showed me how it worked. One boy slugged the other. "Ouch!" "Oh, I am sorry." "I forgive you." And then the other boy slugged the other. "Ouch!" "Oh, I am sorry." "I forgive you." Being brothers they could have continue this all afternoon.

In our Gospel reading, the disciple Thomas wanted to be sure that Jesus was really alive. What we need to do today is to be sure that Jesus is still alive. Jesus is eternal God, so of course he is alive, but is he alive today on this earth in the hearts and minds and lives of people who believe in him? Is Jesus still alive in your heart and in your life? Does the living presence of Christ make a difference in your heart and in your life? It should. But if being a Christians makes no difference in the way you lead your life, then Christ is dead in your life. When is Christ dead? It is when we do bad things even when we know they are bad. It is when we do not want to control our actions or take responsibility for our mistakes. Christ is dead in our hearts when we chose to hold a grudge rather than forgive someone even if they say they are sorry. Christ is dead in our hearts when we no longer pray or worship.

But Christ rose from the dead! The Gospel has been proclaimed. Christ died to forgive our sin. When we believe that, we know that our sin is forgiven. At that time, Christ is surely alive in our hearts. At that time we know how precious forgiveness is. That is the time we say with pride and humility at the same time, "My Lord and my God." It is a confession of faith, and it is a prayer that Jesus would be the Lord of our lives and the Almighty God who brings us eternal salvation.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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