"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" (St. John 20:19)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. When Jesus says, “Peace to you,” His words deliver what they say. He speaks peace to frightened disciples and delivers peace. He speaks forgiveness and delivers forgiveness.
Thomas didn’t believe the words of the Apostles, the ones sent to deliver the Words of Christ. He had a list of things that could be done to prove to him that Jesus was truly alive. If Jesus met his criteria, He would then believe.
“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." (John 20:25)
St. Thomas was dreadfully wrong. He should have believed the disciples. The Words of the Apostles trump whatever Thomas could figure out on His own. The same goes for us! Faith receives what Jesus says. Faith sets aside what we think, feel, and know, and holds fast to the Word of God.
But Thomas did get one thing right: He tells us where to locate the peace of Christ: His hands and His side. There are the scars which won our forgiveness and our eternal life. Those wounds are the place where no amount of sin, no amount of doubt, no fear can ever change. For those wounds confess how God loves us! God loved the world this way: He gave His Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Those wounds are delivered to you the way they were delivered to Thomas: with words! His Words do what they say, they deliver what they say. This week we hear about His men being sent to deliver His Words: “’As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” (John 20:21-23)
You have been given a place to have receive the wounds of Christ delivered to you in a real and tangible way. The Father has sent your pastor to forgive the sins that trouble you. That’s why he’s there! What he forgives is forgiven, what he retains is retained. It is as sure as our Lord’s words to Thomas!
When Jesus says, “Peace to you,” His words deliver what they say. He speaks peace to frightened disciples and delivers peace. He speaks forgiveness and delivers forgiveness. Today, He speaks through the your pastor He has sent you. Peace be with you! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Higher Things Reflections are written by Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX.