Pastoral Letter 61

Dear All,

Hope you are well.

If you are not able to join us tomorrow in person for worship, here is the Order of Service and the Message. Please worship with us from home.

I have inserted the message in the Order.

Prayerfully

Krikor

MESSAGE

Surmounting Barriers of Faith

John 20:11-31

The UK and all the commonwealth countries are mourning the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. Since the news of his passing was revealed, the media, newspapers, TV and Radio, internet and all modern means were used to tell his life story, his achievements, his well-lived life, full of service for the country, as well as to the world. His life as the husband of the Queen, a married life of over 70 years and as a father and grandfather.

You know, we have a Royal prince, a King, who conquered death and rose from the dead. We celebrate His Resurrection every year which gives us hope for eternal life beyond our earthly life, which is full of pain, suffering, loss, hardship etc. But by faith in the Risen Lord, we will surely have a rich and splendid and remarkable life full of joy and happiness, but eventually when the time comes, we all die; it could be a short life of a few years, or more like ninety or hundred or more. But we die at some point.

So, what happens to us when we die? 

When we die our soul doesn’t remain in the grave – Christ defeated death and the grave when God resurrected Him from the dead, on Easter morning! Because of Christ’s victory over death and the grave our soul goes immediately to be with Jesus when we die. Now that’s good news!

When Jesus died on the cross He stood in our place and took the punishment for our sin so that we might have forgiveness.

We cannot enter into the presence of the Living Awesome God with the stain of sin on our soul.

Jesus paid the price by dying on the cross so that we can be clean and pure and stand in the presence of God.

It’s because of Jesus that we have eternal life. 

This is faith.

A total trust on the One, who came to this world to suffer and die for us, who are sinners and in need of mercy.

The bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central pillar or the cornerstone of the Christian faith. If this was not a reality, then there will be no Christian faith. The first sermon preached after the Pentecost was about the Resurrection; Peter filled with the Spirit witnessed this truth and fact.

Apostle Paul summed up the Christian faith like this:

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: 

i) that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 

ii) and that He was buried, 

iii) and that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

iv) and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 

Then He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Cor. 15:3-8).

Paul records 513 (five hundred and thirteen) men as having seen the risen Lord. Counting the 11 disciples, plus the 500 and plus James plus himself. 

Have you ever therefore wondered why?

John mentions only four post Resurrection appearances of the Risen Jesus.

In John chapter 20 we read of three of these.

His appearance: 

i) to Mary Magdalene

ii) to all the disciples except Thomas and finally

iii) to Thomas 

And in the following Chapter, John 21 we read of Jesus appearing to seven disciples including Peter, James and John, Thomas, Nathanael and two unnamed disciples and his having breakfast with them. 

Surely if the resurrection is such a big deal, why didn’t John add many more of the stories of these encounters? 

At the very least – why didn’t he simply catalogue when, where and who had seen the risen Christ.

1. Have you ever wondered what the reaction of James -Jesus’ brother – was when Jesus appeared to him? Some believe that James did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Only after His resurrection and appearance to him, he put his faith in Him.

2. I wonder if Jesus appeared to Nicodemus – the Jewish rabbi who had sought Him out at night and who had helped Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus. Nicodemus had some persuasion that Jesus was different from the others; He was a wise teacher who could answer questions. That was the main reason that he went to Him at night with a very important question.

The reason John doesn’t record more post Resurrection encounters with the Risen Lord can be found in the last verse of our Gospel reading today: John wrote: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

In other words, these three stories of John 20 have been recorded to provoke faith in us.

So, what is so special about these three stories?

I would like to suggest that each story shows a barrier to faith, which prevents us from having faith – which can be overcome by the presence of Jesus. And they are all barriers that we as Christians will experience at some time in our lives.

1. The first of these barriers to faith was GRIEF and this was overcome by hearing the voice of Jesus.

Mary, in the previous section of the Gospel reading, couldn’t see Jesus for her grief. 

It was only when she heard Him call her name, she realised He was risen.

Jesus spoke to her – and by speaking released her from her grief.

There are going to be times when we suffer from grief.

We may grieve for the loss of loved ones. And it is at times like this that we need to listen for Jesus’ voice calling us.

2. The second barrier to faith was FEAR – and this was overcome by experiencing the presence of Jesus.

The disciples were gathered behind closed doors in fear. Jesus had been crucified, so they feared for their own safety.

And so, Jesus comes to them and speaks words of peace. He showed them his crucified hands and St. John records: “The disciples were rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (Jn 20:20)

Fear can cripple us at times. It can make us irrational. And at those times, we need to seek Jesus’ presence in our lives– and it is His Presence that will bring us peace.

3. The third barrier to faith was DOUBT and this was overcome by the touch of Jesus. 

Thomas seems rather unfairly to have had a bad name for the last 2000 years. His name has even entered into the English language. (You might call someone who doesn’t believe something a “Doubting Thomas”).

But you have to remember that Thomas wasn’t with the other disciples when they saw Jesus. He didn’t have the benefit of what they had seen.

He couldn’t believe that Jesus was raised – it was something outside his experience.

There is nothing wrong with having doubt, especially when it comes to matter such as this. On the contrary it is better to start our faith process by doubt. Doubt is the first step of faith. I believe that if doubt is the first step, we take on our journey to faith, our faith will be firmer and more unyielding.

Our faith is not an unreasonable faith. Peter tells us for example: 

“Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you tan accounting for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet 3:15)

God has given us minds and wants us to use them.

Thomas in rather elaborate language says: “I’m not going to believe until I can stuff my hand actually into his side.” That’s the force of what he is saying.

Our faith has to be based on a firm foundation – and Jesus realised that Thomas needed that confirmation. 

Once Thomas got the evidence he needed, he simply said: “My Lord and my God”. What Thomas asked for was very reasonable and so Jesus gave him what he needed for his faith.

There are times when we need a special touch from God. It is not a sin to be sceptical. But sin is to go on disbelieving when we are given the evidence.

Jesus deals with each person’s needs differently. He treats us as individuals.

Mary simply needed to hear Jesus’ voice and her grief was healed.

The disciples needed to receive the peace of Jesus into their lives to release them from their fear.

Thomas needed to see the Risen Christ. He wanted to put his hand in Jesus’ side before he would believe (There is no evidence that he actually did so). 

Each of us has different needs – we all ask different questions – but there is only one solution – a touch from the risen Lord and all the barriers are lifted as we go forward. 

What we really need today is:

– To open our ears to hear His call as He speaks to us with a gentle voice.

– To open our eyes to see Him as our only hope for salvation

– To open our hearts to accept Him as our Lord and God.

He is our refuge, our Master and commander, our inheritance, our cup of blessing and our guide. He is always with us to fill our hearts with joy, and our mouths shout his praises!

He will not leave our soul among the dead or allow our body to rot in the grave.

He is our Lord and God.

Prayer of the Day

Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!