- John 20:19-31 - Doubting Thomas
- Acts 2:14, 22-36 - The second half of Peter’s Sermon
CLICK FOR 2013 (YEAR C, 2013) COMMENTARY ON JOHN 20:19-31
Episode 60: No Take Backsies or 2nd Sunday of Easter A
Opening Music: Faith covered by Hayley Legg
For Sunday, April 27, 2014
Episode 60
Welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, where two local pastors discuss the lectionary reading for the week. One is my Daddy, you can call him Robb, and the other is my Uncle Eric.
This is episode 60 for Sunday April 27, Eric’s birthday and the second Sunday of Easter, Year A.
John 20:19-31 - Doubting Thomas
Acts 2:14, 22-36 - The second half of Peter’s Sermon
Check-in
- Listener poll went with Acts
- NBW TNS - Free Book giveaway. Share on Facebook or Twitter to be entered into drawing to win an autographed copy of the book Pastrix. Drawing on May 1st.
- “Low Sunday”
- Jesus year!
- Initial Thoughts
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- Women had told the disciples that he had risen, but they are locked in a room out of fear.
- “Fear of the Jews” is a troubling phrase.
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Shootings at Jewish centers in Kansas City
- Reports of Ukrainian officials requesting registration of all Jews.
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- Exaggerated, but still disturbing in their plausibility.
- Exaggerated, but still disturbing in their plausibility.
- Common English version: “For fear of the Jewish authorities”
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Excellent bulletin insert about scripture references to “the Jews”
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Shootings at Jewish centers in Kansas City
- Women had told the disciples that he had risen, but they are locked in a room out of fear.
- Bible Study
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- John merges the events of Easter and Pentecost.
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- Giving of the Holy Spirit occurs while Jesus is present.
- Jesus is closely linked to church
- Mission of Jesus as sent from God is parallel to mission of Church as sent from Jesus.
- “The beginning of the community’s life is not separated from the story of Easter; indeed, in John, the gift of the Spirit and the commissioning of the church occur on Easter Sunday evening… [which] serves as a reminder that the church’s life is intimately bound to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection” (Gail O’Day, New Interpreter’s Bible v. IX, p. 848)
- Giving of the Holy Spirit occurs while Jesus is present.
- First appearance
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- Door locked for “fear”
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- “In truth, Easter absorbs both the joy and triumph as well as the fear and disbelief, and is irreducible to just one experience of it. It would be easier if Easter were only the trumpet blasts and Alleluias. Or, it might even be easier if Easter were only fear and disbelief. But Easter is all of this, it holds all of it, even the contradictory emotions, and makes them one.” (David R. Henson, “Easter for Doubters”)
- “In truth, Easter absorbs both the joy and triumph as well as the fear and disbelief, and is irreducible to just one experience of it. It would be easier if Easter were only the trumpet blasts and Alleluias. Or, it might even be easier if Easter were only fear and disbelief. But Easter is all of this, it holds all of it, even the contradictory emotions, and makes them one.” (David R. Henson, “Easter for Doubters”)
- Jesus appeared in the midst of the locked room, and said “Peace be with you.” Then they rejoiced.
- Reports of his resurrection were not enough, his assurance of peace is what brought them to rejoicing.
- He showed them his scars.
- He breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Mini-Pentecost.
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- Forgives them - for their abandonment, for their fear, for their paralysis.
- Sends them out to forgive others.
- Forgives them - for their abandonment, for their fear, for their paralysis.
- Door locked for “fear”
- Second appearance
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- Thomas demands no more evidence than they received.
- He does not doubt Jesus, he doubts them.
- Doors shut (not locked) Jesus appears
- Jesus’ first words again, “Peace be with you.”
- He shows Thomas his scars (no evidence that Thomas actually had to touch him). Jesus’ presence and assurance were enough.
- Thomas’s response is the greatest yet, “My Lord and my God”
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- Only time in Gospel of John where Jesus is referred to as “My God”
- “Doubting Thomas” is a pretty bad nickname. He is actually the first to declare Jesus’ divinity.
- Only time in Gospel of John where Jesus is referred to as “My God”
- Thomas demands no more evidence than they received.
- Generally believed to be the original ending to John.
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- Jesus last words are a call to future readers. Witness and testimony of Mary, then Disciples, then Thomas is meant to lead readers to their own witness and testimony:
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- “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” is encouragement to the readers of the Gospel
- “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” is encouragement to the readers of the Gospel
- The next paragraph is seen as an epilogue, reminding people of what they will gain if they believe.
- Truth of the Gospel lies not in historical facts, but in its ability to inspire faith in Jesus. The gospel’s own stated purpose is not to report history, but to help readers understand the truth of Jesus Christ. Once again, the writer uses two levels of meaning.
- Jesus last words are a call to future readers. Witness and testimony of Mary, then Disciples, then Thomas is meant to lead readers to their own witness and testimony:
- John merges the events of Easter and Pentecost.
- Preaching Thoughts:
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- What were they afraid of? Fear didn’t keep two of them from sprinting to the tomb when they heard the body was gone. After the tomb, they returned home. Why were they now locked in a room? Now faced with reality of resurrection, why were they paralyzed?
- Thomas didn’t want anything that the disciples hadn’t gotten themselves. He was no less a believer than any of them. He didn’t doubt Jesus – he doubted their testimony. Maybe because he was living in the same fear that they had. Once he encountered the risen Christ, that was enough.
- In Easter, Jesus is called “Teacher,” “Lord,” and “My God.” What do each of these titles mean? Is he teacher, Lord, and God? What does it mean to my life if he is all of these things?
- Doubt is the pathway to faith. When we doubt, we probe, question, and search. Perhaps Thomas started with doubt, but he ended with the greatest testimony of the disciples.
- What were they afraid of? Fear didn’t keep two of them from sprinting to the tomb when they heard the body was gone. After the tomb, they returned home. Why were they now locked in a room? Now faced with reality of resurrection, why were they paralyzed?
Song - “Just Before the Dawn,” by Rob Leveridge on Dancing on the Mountain
click the above link for lyrics and more of Rob’s great music!
Secondary scripture - Acts 2:14, 22-36 - The second half of Peter’s Sermon
- Initial thoughts
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- Response to vs. 12 - “What does this mean?”
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- This is not the resurrection, but the bestowing of the Spirit
- Obviously linked to the resurrection as Peter will claim
- This is not the resurrection, but the bestowing of the Spirit
- Four Sundays on Peter’s Sermon and the results - Three Whats
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- WHAT? - Easter 2 - Acts 2:14, 22-32 - Second half of Peter’s Sermon
- SO WHAT? - Easter 3 - Acts 2:14a, 36-41 - Response of the crowd
- NOW WHAT? - Easter 4 - Acts 2:14a, 42-47 - formation of the community
- Pentecost - Acts 2:1-21 - Pentecost (last day of Easter, not the first day of a new season)
- WHAT? - Easter 2 - Acts 2:14, 22-32 - Second half of Peter’s Sermon
- Read all of Acts 2 - How would you like if someone only read your sermon in bits and pieces and out of order?
- Read through verse 36
- Response to vs. 12 - “What does this mean?”
- Bible Study
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- Peter makes sense of the resurrection
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- The resurrection was not God fixing a mistake but making a declaration
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- No take backsies
- No take backsies
- David died, was buried and decayed and Jesus didn’t
- Therefore:
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- Jesus must be the “Holy One” David talks about in Psalm 16
- Jesus is the foretold descendant of David, who is seated at the throne, therefore inherits the sovereignty and power of God.
- Jesus is greater than David
- Jesus is the Lord and Messiah (v.36)
- Jesus must be the “Holy One” David talks about in Psalm 16
- The resurrection was not God fixing a mistake but making a declaration
- How are the death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus linked?
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Matt Skinner, workingpreacher.com: “During Easter, then, we remember that the resurrection is not "death moving backwards" or God's "Plan B," it is part of the mysterious means by which God makes Jesus of Nazareth ruler over all creation, even over death itself.”
- Jesus’ death, resurrection and subsequent exaltation - proclaim that God’s purposes cannot be undone by any evil, human act, or even death itself.
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- God’s reign is still at hand
- God is still our protector and refuge, Ps 16
- God will remain faithful and deliver those who are persecuted Ps. 110
- God keeps God’s promises to our ancestors, Ps 132
- Occupation, deception, betrayal, torture, desertion and death cannot undermine God’s unfailing love for creation.
- God’s reign is still at hand
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Matt Skinner, workingpreacher.com: “During Easter, then, we remember that the resurrection is not "death moving backwards" or God's "Plan B," it is part of the mysterious means by which God makes Jesus of Nazareth ruler over all creation, even over death itself.”
- What does this mean?
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- Means we can “live in hope” (lit. “pitch our tents in hope” - see Mitzi Smith, workingpreacher.com) because God is always with us, nothing we can do, nor anything others can do to us can separate us from God
- The death of Jesus does not reveal the powerlessness or unfaithfulness of God, but the enduring love of God through the cross to the resurrection and beyond.
- Means we can “live in hope” (lit. “pitch our tents in hope” - see Mitzi Smith, workingpreacher.com) because God is always with us, nothing we can do, nor anything others can do to us can separate us from God
- Peter makes sense of the resurrection
- Preaching Thoughts and Questions:
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- When are those moments when we feel our doubts have been justified? That God has abandoned us? That the Kingdom of God is not at hand, but is very far off and the world is going to hell in a handbasket?
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- To proclaim the resurrection is to proclaim an optimistic worldview - hope eternal.
- Are we pitching our tents in hope of God or are be building institutions of sustainability? Or are we too busy pointing out all the injustices in the world without making systemic change to overcome them? Or are we too busy seeing those injustices and ignoring the blessings?
- To proclaim the resurrection is to proclaim an optimistic worldview - hope eternal.
- Jesus is dead and has risen...now what? The church has received the gift of the Spirit (but do we really know what that means?) and you are called to preach to the “gathered assembly” - what do you say?
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- How do you answer the vs 12 question?
- When are those moments when we feel our doubts have been justified? That God has abandoned us? That the Kingdom of God is not at hand, but is very far off and the world is going to hell in a handbasket?
Psalm 16
- Used by Peter when talking of his faith in Jesus’ resurrection.
- Properly understood as a voice of Israel’s faith.
- Affirmation of trust comes from understanding that life and all gifts come from God.
- God’s goodness lies at the heart of the psalm, and is the source of all.
- Memory of acute time of trouble only heightens intensity of praise for God, who worked through the difficulty for good.
- After rescue life has resumed.
- You can share in Jesus’ resurrection
- Develops meaning of the resurrection.
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- What does resurrection of Jesus mean to me?
- Affirms belief that resurrection of Jesus was about more than one many coming back to life.
- What does resurrection of Jesus mean to me?
- New life of humanity goes beyond biological function.
- Greek word translated as soul (psyche) refers “not to some abstract peice of the human being, but to the very core fo life itself.” This is not just about second life, or otherworldly aspect. Christian life is holistic. “salvation can be thought of both as present and as future” (Beverly Gaventa, Texts for Preaching: Year A, p. 270)
Song - “Just Before the Dawn,” by Rob Leveridge on Dancing on the Mountain
click the above link for lyrics and more of Rob’s great music!
CLOSING
Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Pulpit Fiction Podcast!
Shout outs:
Voters who went with Acts. 1 Peter had an early lead, but Acts came back strong.
Our opening music was Faith covered by Hayley Legg
Song - “Just Before the Dawn,” by Rob Leveridge on Dancing on the Mountain
click the above link for lyrics and more of Rob’s great music!
Our theme music is Misirlou by Dick Dale and the Del Tones and our closing music is “Oh No” by Paul & Storm.
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