In medieval times (the time of people like Copernicus and Galileo) if you asked someone why they believed what they believed about anything their typical answer would quite simply be: “The authorities.”
Meaning the Bible, the Pope, the Priest. If you asked them the next question: “How do you know that they are the authorities?”
The answer would be: “Never ask that question.”
* * *
Somewhere between the 15th and 18th Centuries a great shift happened in the way people thought about the world. Scientists - like Copernicus dared to confront the “authorities” of their day with questions about whether the earth moved around the sun - or the sun around the earth.
In an age when the world was thought to be flat (and at the centre of the universe) Copernicus said it revolved around the sun - and Galileo followed suit.
The Church of the day was unhappy with this idea; scripture - in their eyes seemed to dictate that the sun moved round the earth - as Psalm 93:1 (and other verses seemed to suggest) “The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.” And other poetic passages suggest.
People like Augustine and Copernicus challenged “The authorities.” And soon the way people thought changed extensively.
* * *
Today we live in a very different world. We are taught to question everything - and believe nothing without first testing and trying it - and forming our own personal opinion.
* * *
John’s gospel (in which we read our passage this morning) is written as an encouragement to the community of early Christians to whom he writes, an encouragement to them to question - and ultimately come to faith.
In verse 31 of Chapter 20 as we read today he states the purpose of this whole book: ‘these have been written down that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through faith in him you may have life.’
John’s hope is that readers of his gospel will be convinced that Jesus is the Messiah - the Son of God. The revelation to the world of who God is.
And that in believing they will have life in abundance. As John describes it in John 10:10.
When John calls us to have faith - the faith that he calls us to is that of believing that Jesus is the Messiah - the Son of God.
The difficult thing that John is calling us to do - The crux (if you like) especially in this age - is the question of faith.
* * *
Now ‘faith’ as a word has a mixed reputation… It is used in ways that confuse us: (And I’ll have to apologise in advance for my own cynicism).
When we think of a faith healer we often think of someone who fakes miraculous healings and takes people’s money. (And it does happen.)
Sometimes when we think of having a lot of faith - we mean that someone is completely out of touch with what we know as reality.
Sometimes we think of faith - as a kind of mind power - Urigela bending spoons. Concentrating so hard that we believe something and it happens.
Some of us have painful associations - thinking people we know haven’t been healed or cured because we think that they - or we - didn’t have enough faith.
Sometimes we think that having faith means we have to put our brains in the baskets along with our collection.
* * *
In John’s gospel faith is not about that sort of thing; its not about convincing yourself to believe - against the odds.
It is about trust.
Simply trusting that Jesus is the Messiah; the Son of God. (God in the Flesh) And accepting the implications of that wonderful claim.
* * *
In the 21st Century we don’t just believe stuff… we Google it to see if it’s true (that’s for those of you who have the internet).
We research things beginning to end. We have learnt (wisely) not to trust what medieval people called the authorities - we flick between E News and SABC 3 to see how differently the news is presented by government and the privatized media.
We search through our Bibles when the preacher says something that sounds a bit strange…
Nothing gets passed us.
* * *
Thomas’s encounter with Jesus in the upper room is a message to us from John that the God we serve - revealed to us in Jesus is OK with a bit of doubt…
In him we live and move and have our being - his existence is not dependant on our faith - ours is rather dependent on his.
(It reminds me of a story of a Russian priest who confessed to his wise bishop: “I’m not sure if I believe in God anymore” - and his Bishop replied “Don’t worry - God still believes in you.”)
* * *
The encounter with Thomas in the upper room reminds us that faith does not mean convincing yourself to believe something even if you don’t think it’s true.
Faith means that you trust in God - in a reasonable way - and that trust leads to a response.
* * *
In John’s gospel Jesus disciples are locked up in a room because they are afraid of the people who disagree about Jesus’ being the Messiah. (They arrested, beat and murdered Jesus - what will they do to his followers?)
In a locked room - paralysed by fear - John tells us that the risen Jesus appears to them - having died three days earlier - and shows them his hands and his side… He says to them: “Peace be with you, As the Father has sent me, so I send you” - he breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit.”
He then gives them the authority to do what got him into so much trouble - forgive sins… and to go about proclaiming this forgiveness (in the reading from Acts we see them getting in trouble because of their faith).
* * *
As soon as the disciples see the risen Jesus (and as a consequence have faith) he sends them out into the world to do his work.
* * *
Thomas doesn’t accept the disciple’s reports - he demands proof.
In Thomas’ doubt, Jesus has mercy and appears to him - allows Thomas to touch him - And Thomas’ response is in his simple words: “My Lord - and my God!”
Simple words, but words that are so incredibly heavy with meaning.
My Lord (A title of authority) - means that Thomas makes himself obedient to Jesus - willing to do what Jesus has taught him to do.
My God - means he recognises that Jesus really is the revelation of God in the world.
* * *
Jesus comments that those who trust him - without needing proof will be happier than those who need proof.
But he does accept and reach out to Thomas in spite of his lack of faith.
* * *
Too many of us have come to believe that an encounter with the living God is somehow conditional - coming to us if we think or do the right things… (If we concentrate hard and suspend all our doubts like Urigella - God will answer our prayers.)
Jesus comes to Thomas in spite of his doubts. And I know that Jesus will also come to us in spite of our doubts.
* * *
I invite you to grow your trust in Jesus - by bringing your doubts.
I also invite you - as you trust in Jesus to go beyond intellectual into the practical - to learn to live as a faithful disciple of Jesus.
When our faith is authentic - and not pretend - when it leads us to a response - then I believe we will be bringers of the
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