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Jesus Appears to His Disciples

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Jesus Appears to Thomas. Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 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. [NRSV]

Who is missing?

After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus went to Jerusalem, just as he said, to meet the disciples.

Judas was missing. Overwhelmed with regret and confusion takes his life and is missing from the circle. Given the events in the garden the disciples would have at least known why Judas might not show up.

Thomas was also missing. Where was Thomas? There is no mention of his absence at the first appearance of Jesus. Neither by Jesus nor the others, Thomas was absent.

What he afraid? Was he hiding? Had he given up? Did he not check his email or Facebook page or maybe his cell phone battery was not charged after a busy weekend. His absence goes un-noted for the moment.

This is one of the occurrences in the church that is just as true today as it was then. If we take a moment and look around at who is missing.

Some folks have recently died and we continue to grieve for the emptiness of their home going.

Others are ill and not physically able to be her or it is hazardous to their health or ours if the came to worship. Other have other limitations that keep them from being in this place.

Some are on vacation. Some are sleeping. Some are working. Some are accounted for, while others are missing, absence and not connected.

Which category did Thomas fit into?

Because we are so focused on our own worship, our own needs, and our own stuff, that we are looking to Jesus for all the help we can get. We make no note of who is missing.

So look around and see who is missing:

Not that we will take away a gold star, no demerits, no red ‘X’ by their name, but think back to last Sunday, where nearly 250 people gathered in this place and this morning, some of those are missing.

Still others were missing last week and like Thomas have come today. Thanks be to God that you are all hear.

Be know it is important that we have our shepherding ministry of paying attention to who is not hear, so that a week, or month , or a season does not go by and we not notice who is not in the fellowship, not in the circle.

Did you ever think Thomas was out evangelizing and telling the world about the resurrection? It is doubtful as he questions the resurrections when he has the opportunity to see Jesus in the flesh.

Thomas want to see the evidence, the proof, the touch and hold the hands and side confirmation, that what Jesus said was true and real.

Here is Good News, Thomas shows up. And, when he shows up he wants to believe. He wants to see Jesus. Jesus wants him to have peace. Jesus wants him to believe. Jesus wants him to know the power and gift of the resurrection is for Thomas too.

Think about what Thomas is asking Jesus

• Jesus who died for Thomas
• Jesus who conquered death for Thomas
• Jesus who rose from the dead for Thomas
• Jesus who came looking for Thomas and Thomas was missing
• Jesus who came looking for Thomas a second time is met by Thomas’s question and challenge.

..I will not believe unless I touch his hand / feel his side.

Despite any arrogance or ignorance: Jesus wants Thomas to believe.

Jesus is going the extra-mile of the extra-mile for the extra-stubborn folks like me… Praise the Lord!

SO Jump ahead to 2015

Jesus has been reveal to us in worship, Word, works of grace and service in his name. He STILL lives..

Why are their folks missing out?

Is there something missing the witness?

Here is a test question: Will your grandchildren (or that generation) know what your grandparents believed? That’s a five-generation spread of 100 years, @20 years.

We all know “WE” believe, but what about those who are missing what we cherish and treasure?

What if folks are looking at our hands and stand at our sides, do they see and touch Jesus when they are around us?

Is something missing?

• Jesus Gives the disciples PEACE
• Jesus Gives the disciples SPIRIT
• Jesus Gives the disciples WORD
• Jesus Gives the disciples Repeat Visits
• Jesus Gives the disciples hands-on
• Jesus Gives the disciples the Church
• Jesus Give the Church the peace, spirit, word, presence, contact and life to share with the world that is missing from the table.

Do you know anyone who has seen the signs, but is missing the:

Peace, Spirit, Welcome, Presence and/or Christ in their daily living? Then you know what’s on your disciple’s to-do list this week.

Show the signs,

breathe the presence and spirit,

share the word,

ask and invite again,

Jesus lives for us and those who are missing.

Jesus is sending us to show the cross and it’s Good News

Jesus is resending us to live the life for the missing.

Who is missing? So get to work.