Stop Doubting and Believe (John 20:1-31)

Stop Doubting and Believe

 

John 20:1-31

 

Last week, we studied about Jesus’ being crucified on the cross. Today, we are going to think about the event that Jesus rose again from the dead. Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection are two columns of the Christian gospel. And the two are actually inseparable one body. There cannot be resurrection without death on the cross, and without resurrection, death on the cross is as meaningless as any other death. Romans 4:25 says, “He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” All our sins were redeemed as Jesus died on the cross as a ransom sacrifice. Through this grace of redemption, we are to receive the gift of “justification.” And resurrection is the vehicle that carries the gift to us.

 

There was a popular Korean sitcom drama called “High Kick Breaking through the Roof.” In this drama, Mr. Soon-Jae Lee loved beautiful lady Ja-Ok Kim. Lee was in his old age, but he wanted to look young and strong. So, when he was invited to Kim’s meeting with her friends, he went there by bicycle in bike suit and helmet. Kim was so impressed by the sporty appearance of Lee on the bicycle. She proudly introduced this good-looking boyfriend to her friends. Then, Lee lost his bicycle. Soon-Jae Lee, who was still in bike suit and helmet but “without the bike,” didn’t look great at all. Rather, he looked “funny.” Ja-Ok Kim now felt ashamed of the appearance of her boyfriend.

 

To us Christians, “cross and resurrection” can be compared to “bike suit and bicycle” in this drama. When Jesus said to his disciples about his suffering and death, he always mentioned together that “he would be raised to life on the third day” (Matthew 16:21; 17:22; 20:18-19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; Luke 24:7). To Jesus, the entire process of suffering on the cross and rising from the dead was “glory” (John 12:23). And we are believing this “gospel of glory” (2Corinthians 4:4; 1Timothy 1:11). If Jesus was not raised again, or if we do not believe the resurrection of Jesus and our future resurrection, our living as a Christian will be like wandering around in bike suit (cross) without a bike. We will feel ashamed of ourselves as such, and of the cross too. Then, sooner or later, we will take off “the clothes of Jesus” and put on the clothes of the world. Resurrection is a natural consequence that Jesus had as he took up the cross. Accordingly, resurrection is the meaning and purpose of cross. Soon-Jae Lee had the bike suit and helmet in order to ride a bicycle. When he was on the bike, everything fit perfectly, making a meaningful, wonderful, and powerful image. In the same way, resurrection becomes the meaning and purpose of our lives that gives strength and direction to our every step when we follow Jesus and walk his way of cross in this world. Therefore, we need to meditate on the word of St. Paul: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

 

Jesus’ resurrection is described in detail in all of the four gospels. Although there are minor differences in details, there is one point told clearly in all the gospels. It is that Jesus’ “body” was raised alive. The four gospels say that the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid was found empty. In today’s text as well, the stone blocking the tomb had been removed from the entrance, and Jesus’ body was not in the tomb. According to verses 5-7, moreover, the strips of linen that had wrapped Jesus’ body and the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head were all removed from the body, and folded and placed in order. It looked as if the person woke up, took off and arranged his night clothes, and went out of the room. Jesus’ resurrection in his body is also evidenced by other happenings. In today’s text, Jesus shows his hands and side to his disciples, and let doubtful Thomas put his fingers on his hands and side. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus eats bread with two of his disciples (24:30), and he also has a piece of broiled fish in the presence of his disciples (24:42-43). To his disciples who were frightened by risen Jesus, thinking that they were seeing a ghost, Jesus says, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luke 24:37-40). These words suggest that resurrection in the Bible means not only the resurrection of our souls but also that of our bodies. And the gospel writers are spotlighting the resurrection of the body emphatically. The well-known “Apostles’ Creed,” which summarizes the contents of Christian faith, says in its ending part: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.” In this confession as well, we can find “the resurrection of the body” as the key element of Christian faith. In other word, the contents of our faith must include the resurrection of the body.

 

Then, why is it so important to believe the resurrection of the body? First of all, the resurrection of the body is the completion of salvation. In Romans 8:23, St. Paul says, “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” Paul says of the believers including himself “We, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit.” We have fruits of salvation in us that have been produced by the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul says, however, that he is waiting for “the redemption of our bodies.” It is because our bodies are still weak and mortal. God promised to give us a body imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual (1Corinthians 15:42-44). This body is not a whole new body but “the perishable clothing itself with the imperishable” and “the mortal clothing itself with the immortal” (1Corinthians 15:53). That is, it is not the case that our body perishes and we receive an imperishable new body, but that our mortal and perishable body puts on the clothes of eternal life through the process of resurrection.

 

The body is an important part of our being. In Matthew 10:28, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” What is certain from this word is that we “always” exist in body and soul together. That is, both our body and soul may be redeemed together, or both our body and soul may be destroyed in hell together. God’s salvation is “perfect.” Any part of my being is not excluded from God’s salvation. Therefore, we should believe in God not only for our souls but also for our bodies. Especially, we should believe “the resurrection of the body.” We may think that faith is “a spiritual matter,” and therefore, it is non-biblical to emphasize the resurrection of the body. But one who does not believe the resurrection of the body cannot be spiritual. It is because he always fear “those who kill the body.” It is because he worries about what to eat and what to wear for this body. It is because he lives according to the needs and desires of his body. Ironically, only those who believe the resurrection of the body and are waiting for the redemption of the body can lead a spiritual life, fearing God and trusting in Him. In this sense, like the resurrection of the body is the completion of God’s salvation, believing the resurrection of the body is the completion of our faith.

 

There is another reason for the importance of believing the resurrection of the body. It is the continuity of our being in God. By showing his body and getting it touched by the disciples, Jesus testified that risen Jesus was exactly the same as Jesus on the cross. When Jesus died and was buried in the tomb, the disciples thought that everything was over. They thought that death devoured Jesus forever. For them, the death of Jesus was “an absolutely irreversible despair.” With the death of Jesus, all of hopes and expectations they had in Jesus also died away. All the works Jesus had been doing among them became meaningless. However, such a dreadful death couldn’t do any harm on Jesus. To Jesus, death was like “sleeping.” In fact, Jesus occasionally described death as “sleep” (Mark 5:39; John 11:11). After Jesus went through death as if having a short break, he came back to the disciples exactly same as before. With the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples’ hopes and expectations rose again. All the words and promises that Jesus had given to them became meaningful again.

 

God’s time is “eternity.” However, man’s time is not eternal. Man’s time always has its beginning and its end. “Death” is the absolute end of man’s time. Even if it is not the end of life, we always live with a certain last minute of time in our mind. And we think that what we are doing is meaningful only during the finite period of time. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Inc., said, “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” In this quote, we can see the deep agony of a man who was struggling to seek the most meaningful way of life in his limited lifespan. Interestingly, what he was always looking at in the middle of this struggle was “death.” He tried to find something more meaningful before death. I don’t know what he found meaningful. Even if he found it, it is meaningful only “today, the last day of his life.” In God, however, we don’t live, looking at the end of time, namely, death. In God, we think of God and we live for “the glory of God.” St. Paul says, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1Corinthians 10:31). Eating and drinking is a very trifle daily chore, which belongs to “flesh,” and, on the contrary, the glory of God is of an extremely lofty and spiritual realm. Surprisingly, however, such a trifle daily chore of flesh can carry the glory of God. It can be very meaningful. St. Paul’s saying means that whatever we do can be the glory of God and that our entire life can be filled with the glory of God. How can this be possible? It is because we, in Jesus Christ, are not confined within the limit of death. With our faith of resurrection, our sight is not blocked by death, but see eternal God. So, we don’t have to ask, “If today were the last day of my life?” We don’t have to limit our lives with death. As our beings continue forever, we can move our entire life including trifle daily chores of flesh before God. There we live in God’s eyes and for His glory. Then, our every movement becomes meaningful, beautiful, and blissful.

 

There are what risen Jesus gave to his disciples. In verses 19 and 21, Jesus says to them, “Peace be with you!” In verse 22, Jesus breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Lastly, in verse 23, Jesus gave the disciples the authority to forgive sins, saying, “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” These words are not just greetings. Risen Jesus gave his disciples heavenly gifts, which cannot be found at all in this world. Especially for the Holy Spirit, 1Corinthians 2:12 says, “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” One of the works the Holy Spirit is doing in us is helping us understand the gifts and graces that God has given to us. In risen Jesus, we became God’s children, kings over the world, and priests of the people. As for our elevation in the Lord, Paul says, “The saints will judge the world” and even “We will judge angels” (1Corinthians 6:2-3). This elevation is not visible and knowable to the world. In risen Jesus, we are standing on the top of a high mountain, below which are thick clouds over the world. There we meet God in ever-shining bright light. Even when we are in the lowest and darkest corner of the world, the Holy Spirit leads us up to this high mountain through the clouds, and lets us meet God and enjoy his light and peace, and also has us rule and serve the world there.

 

Jesus said to doubtful Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe.” Jesus also says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The resurrection of our bodies is our future expectation. However, our today’s life is heavily influenced by this expectation. As mentioned above, resurrection is one of the two columns of our Christian faith. The way of our life is determined by this faith. And God’s heavenly gifts come through this faith. For this faith, Jesus says, “Stop doubting and believe.” I think faith is like riding a bicycle. When my children were young, I taught them how to ride a bike. In an open field, I held the back of the bike behind, and the child, mounting on the bike, put her feet on the pedals. She pedaled and I pushed the bike forward, and the bike ran. While the bike was running, I put my hands off the bike, and only pretended to hold it. Still the child pedaled well and the bike kept running forward. Then, I let her go by herself. When she found she was alone, she, panicked, stopped pedaling and fell down. But she now found that she could ride a bicycle by herself. Later, she didn’t want my holding any more. She had her own faith. The bike is running only when we keep pedaling. If we stop pedaling, it cannot stand upright. We fall down and, after all, we may lose the bike, and furthermore, feel ashamed of our bike suit and helmet. Doubting leads us to bigger doubts, and believing leads us to bigger beliefs. And the only way of having faith is just pedaling our faith, even when nothing is seen in our eyes. “Stop doubting and believe.” This word is truly our resurrection and life “today” until we see the resurrection of our bodies. May the Lord strengthen us in this faith so that we never stop believing until the Day!