Sermon for 4/12/26

Sermon 2nd Sunday of Easter 4-12-26 “A” John 20:19-31

I spent two years as a substitute teacher not so long ago. I would get four or five calls a day to sub. I usually took the first one that came in. I would spend three or four days a week at South Central High School at Farina.

I was there so much the kids thought I was on full time and just moved around the building from place to place. Good morning Mr. Shuler, who are you today?

Finally one day the building trades teacher took a day off and I got to do his job. They wouldn't let me take them in the shop because of insurance policies, we had to stay in the classroom. Mr. Jones left me a quiz to give them. They had taken it earlier in the year and were bored to tears. I told them to trade papers and we would grade them in class.

The first question was “how long is a wall stud?”

I said, “OK, number one, how long is a wall stud?” They looked bored again and said, nearly in unison, ninety two and five eighth inches.

I said, “Why?” They hummed, hawed, looked at the floor, looked at the ceiling and said, again, nearly in unison, “That's what Mr. Jones said it was.”

I said, “Mr. Jones isn't here, he won't always be here, you have to know why.” I spent the rest of the hour explaining to them why a stud is 92-5/8 inches long. We didn't even get to the second question.

Keep in mind these were high school kids, they weren't disciples who had been students of Jesus for three years. They didn't see Mr. Jones get nailed to a cross. They didn't see his lifeless body placed in a hole that had been carved out of a limestone cliff. They didn't see a large stone rolled in front of the hole. And they didn't have to worry that the same people who did that to Jesus might be coming after them.

That's why the disciples are in the room, probably the upper room that Jesus had rented to have their last supper together. That's why on this Easter Sunday evening they have the doors locked. They're afraid, they're very afraid. Ten fully grown men consumed with grief and fear, not knowing which is the stronger of the two.

And they're teetering on the brink of a break down.

Every day they've been with Jesus. They watch him heal the sick and lame. Feed the multitudes with a handful of fish and bread, walk on water and raise the dead. They listen as He explains to the masses what the Kingdom of God is like and how to get there. At night they sit around a fire and listen to him explain what He has done and said during the day. They hear him say that He must be killed and will rise again, over and over. But they still don't know why a stud is ninety two and five eighth inches long.

The door at the street is locked, the door at the top of the stairs is locked, the windows are covered. They're whispering to each other. The tomb is empty. Where is the body? Mary Magdalene said that she saw and talked to Jesus this morning, but, well, you know.

Then, BAM! He's right in the middle of them.

During Jesus' lifetime He did not do ghostly things such as appearing and disappearing. He healed, raised the dead, turned water into wine and cast out demons, but He did not walk through walls.

And He says, “Peace to you.” I would imagine at first they all looked like Moe, Larry and Shemp. He shows them His hands and side. It's Jesus. They're over joyed and they gather around. He repeats himself, “Peace to you.”

School is over, the disciples have graduated, it's time they go to work. Then Jesus gives them their assignment: As the Father has sent me, so I send you.

To be sent out you need someone to send you. The Father sent Jesus, Jesus sent the disciples and the disciples in turn sent out others, all the way down the line to right here at good ole St. Thomas. The very last thing we'll hear at the service today will be “go in peace to love and serve the Lord”.

Jesus has to leave, He's got another assignment. He knows his message, the Good News, could never be taken to all men unless the church takes it.

And it's imperative that the disciples understand what happens next. They need to know why a stud is ninety two and five eights. They have to know.

And He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”.

Ah, the helper, the Advocate, He's told them about that too. The blessing of God that passes all understanding. This is where they start to remember. Little by little the things Jesus has told them start to make sense. And the scriptures, yeah, those too. The grief is gone, the fear melts away. We've got a bunch of happy campers on our hands. Except Thomas, he's not there.

The disciples have got an entire week to tell Thomas their story, but he's still not convinced, I think he's from Missouri. Thomas wants to see for himself.

So for Thomas' sake, the next Sunday, Jesus makes a command performance. This time the doors are shut but they're not locked. The fear is gone. He appears in the middle of the same room, gives them the same greeting and looks Thomas straight in the eye.

“Go on, reach out your hand, touch my side”. Thomas is in with both feet.

They understand why a wall stud has to be 92 and 5/8 inches long.

Jesus has proved once and for all that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. This is the climax of the entire New Testament. There is a God. There is life after death and what He has been saying is true.

Amen.

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