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Easter 2 2015
April 12, 2015
In 2002 archeologists found a 1st century ossuary and it was claimed to be the ossuary
of James, the brother of Jesus. An ossuary is a container similar to our modern day
urn. Ossuaries were used for a limited time in 1st century Palestine. There was a
shortage of tombs and so people would be placed in a tomb and then a year or two
later, after the body had decomposed, the bones would be removed and the tomb
could be reused. The bones would then be placed into an ossuary, a small stone box.
The bones in this particular case were gone but the inscription on the ossuary was still
legible. The inscription reads, “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” The find of
this was big news. If, in fact, it really is the ossuary of James, it is the oldest nonBiblical source and proof of Jesus’ life. There's a reason why every time archaeologists
discover some inscription referring to King David, Pontius Pilate, or some other
biblical figure that this news immediately makes a splash in the pages of Christianity
Today. Here, we are told, is further "proof" that the stuff in the Bible really did
happen! It isn’t so much that we do not believe exactly; it is just that we also quietly
yearn for something more tangible that can bolster the confidence we have in our
faith. Over and again we find ourselves wanting more.
The story is told of Rabbi Feldman who’d been having trouble with his congregation.
They could agree upon nothing and controversy filled the air until the Sabbath itself
became an area of conflict and unhappiness filled the synagogue. The president of the
congregation organized a meeting of 10 elders and the rabbi. They met in the
conference room of the synagogue, sitting about a magnificent mahogany table. One
by one the issues were dealt with; and on each issue it became more and more
apparent that the rabbi was a lonely voice in the wilderness.
The president said, "Come, Rabbi, enough of this. Let us vote and allow the majority
to rule."
He passed out the slips of paper, and each man made his mark. The slips were
collected and the president said, "You may examine them, Rabbi. It is 11 to one
against you. We have the majority."
Whereupon the rabbi rose to his feet, "So", he said, "You now think because of the
vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, I stand here -- and he raised his arms
impressively -- and call upon the Holy One of Israel to give us a sign that I am right
and you are wrong."
Suddenly, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning that
struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was filled with smoke and
the president and the elders were hurled to the floor.
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Easter 2 2015
April 12, 2015
But the rabbi was untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his face.
Slowly, the president lifted himself above what was left of the table. His hair was
singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, and his clothing was in disarray. He
said, "All right, all right make that 11 to two. But we still have the majority."
What does it take for you to believe; what does it take for you and me to have
confidence in our faith? And what exactly is it that we are supposed to be believing
anyway?
And this brings us back to Thomas.
Thomas knew, like we know, that folks who are executed don’t somehow spring back
to life. The one man who had raised people from the dead was dead. And if he was
dead there was no one else who could bring the dead to life. And somehow it seemed
different this time. He brought back to life those who had been sick. But Jesus had
been executed. They had ripped the life from him. They tore it from him just like they
tore the skin and meat from his back when they scourged him. They beat the life out
of him as they clubbed him to the ground and knocked him in the head over and over
again. And finally the life drained out of him as the blood rain out of the holes made
by the nails and then the spear.
No, Thomas knew that Jesus was really dead. And with his death it followed that all
those years of discipleship were now clearly a waste of time. All the hopes of a new
kingdom and brighter days for Israel were now dashed to pieces. You need to
understand, it was not only a personal loss for Thomas - no doubt he loved Jesus. But
the death of Jesus, the way it happened, it was the death of a dream, the loss of his
purpose to life.
And it did no good for the other disciples to tell Thomas that Jesus was alive because
the dream was over. Just like it is no good telling people that God still is good and
that things are going to be all right when they are in the middle of this sort of spiritual
crisis.
How does one deal with something like that? What happens when whatever you think
life is about, when whatever you are basing your life upon is suddenly taken away,
suddenly wiped out? People to whom this happens ask, “What is going on? How can
a good God allow this sort of thing to happen?
What is it that we believe? What do we believe about God, about Jesus? What do we
believe Jesus did when he came two thousand years ago?
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Easter 2 2015
April 12, 2015
You see if we think that since we believe in Jesus everything is going to go very well
from now on, that God is going to always bless us and ours, troubles will vanish, if
that is what we are thinking, well that is something that’s not true. Jesus told us that in
the world we will have tribulations - we will have hard times.
Jesus told us in so many words that this world is not our home so if we think, like
Thomas did, that things are going to work really great here on earth, then we are
going to be disappointed and disillusioned like Thomas was.
What happened when Thomas saw Jesus? We are told that when Jesus said, “Do not
doubt but believe” he replied, “My Lord and my God!” In that moment of seeing
Jesus alive, seeing his wounds, Thomas understood. Thomas realized Jesus was God.
He was the first disciple to finally and really understand.
You recall that Peter said at one time that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living
God. But right afterwards he goes on to tell Jesus what he could and could not do.
But Thomas understands that Jesus is God. At the beginning of this gospel the writer
John tells us that Jesus is God; and then he goes through the life of Christ with his
disciples all the way until this point to where we along with Thomas finally get it,
finally understand who Jesus really is.
You see, if Jesus is God and He died and rose again then we can be sure that his
kingdom has been established and what he says is true and is going to happen. If he is
God, and seeing the marks of torture on his body, then we should realize that we are
loved by God more than we could have ever imagined. And finally, if he is God and
he loves us this much then we can trust him no matter what happens to us and
around us.
What do you believe about Jesus? Do we need more archeological proof; more signs
from heaven? Have you placed your faith in Him as Lord, as Savior, as God? If you
have not, pray so that you will be able to see and understand and be convinced who
Jesus really is like Thomas.