Despair, Hope and Easter           Second Sunday of Easter, 2008, Cycle A

The scene in the reading takes place on Sunday evening, probably a few hours after the women told the disciples about the resurrection that morning. All the male disciples except Thomas are hiding out in a back room somewhere in Jerusalem, hiding in fear. When Jesus was executed on Friday afternoon, more died than just his body. Their expectation of a messiah died with him, and the report that he was alive didn’t help their fear.

We all face those situations from time to time. John Masefield wrote a poem that tells a story of a dramatic agony. A young man has been convicted of crimes against the state. In the large crowd waiting to see his hanging is his widowed mother, who is about to be left all alone in the world. The trap door opens and the noose does its deadly work, and the woman sobs uncontrollably. Those who were close enough to hear her heard her say over and over again, broken things, too broke to mend.

Part of her anguish is her feeling of utter hopelessness. Grief like hers had completely closed her in. Now that her son was dead, her own future was taken from her. When you lose someone like a son or a daughter, its liking losing a leg or an arm. It's like losing part of you. This woman's past and present were now meaningless. And for her, there was no thought of a future. It is a terrible feeling when you feel broken; it is the absolute essence of despair when you feel "too broke to mend."

When we experience a loss, it’s easy to have the feeling that we are too broke to mend. It could be any loss, a job, a marriage, the death of a close friend or family member. For young people, it could be when you get dumped by your girlfriend or boyfriend. It could come when you don’t make the cut for the team or are rejected from the group. These are situations in life where the bottom has dropped out; life will never be the same again. That’s when we are too broke to mend.

For Jesus’ disciples, just two days ago, they saw their leader go through horror and humiliation I hope none of us will ever see. They didn’t just kill Jesus, they hideously tortured and executed him. They never saw it coming, even though they knew there would be trouble. Thomas, of all people knew that once Jesus went to Jerusalem, they would kill him. He said, “Let us go and die with him.” He was ready to go to battle with Jesus, his messiah, and be a hero. But Jesus never even tried to defend himself.

Their idea of a Messiah is one who was strong, who would liberate their people from centuries of oppression. Their messiah would bring law and order, and make the world safe for his followers. But it didn’t turn out to be that kind of a battle. While the soldiers were torturing Jesus to a bloody pulp, Jesus did not resist. Thomas and the most of Jesus other friends never did a thing. After that horrible execution experience, they were ashamed of and beaten. So they sat in shock and awe, in fear and uncertainly, hiding away in the small back room.

Then Jesus suddenly stood in room with them. Was he a ghost that came to haunt them? Was he going to lambaste them for their lack of courage? But instead he said, "peace be with you." They were glad and rejoiced. He showed them, his hands and his side, the wounds of his execution. He breathed on them, the breath of life that God first blew into Adam. He sent them out to spread the good news that he was alive. He commissioned them to forgive or to retain sins. Then he was gone.

Yes, they saw Jesus was alive, but they still didn't move. Eight days later, they were still stuck in the same old room. Why didn’t they go out and do what Jesus had taught them to do? Why didn’t they spread the good news of his resurrection, and offer the forgiveness of sin?

This is what many Christians and churches do. We hear about Jesus’ resurrection; we have a grand worship on Easter Sunday, but then we stay stuck in the same place. Attendance the Sunday after Easter is usually down. We understand what Jesus wanted us to do, but we just can’t move. What’s holding us back?

I think this story from John’s gospel gives us an answer. The problem for Thomas and most of the disciples was that they didn’t know how Jesus could be the messiah. They couldn’t get past the fact that Jesus could be executed and tortured, but still be God’s messiah. They could not yet see how the crucified Jesus liberates us from sin and brings God’s kingdom to the world. Eight days later, the disciples were still hiding behind locked doors, fearing what the future would bring.

Thomas, wasn't there for that first appearance. He said that unless he could touch the wounds in his hand and feet, he would not believe. I used to think that Thomas simply wanted clear evidence before he reached his conclusion. I preached that message many times before. But now, I think there’s something else happening in Thomas doubts.

You see, I found that Thomas saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead less than two weeks before he was crucified. It wasn’t that Thomas doubted that God could raise Jesus from the dead. There was something else he questioned. Notice he didn’t just want to see Jesus; he wanted to touch his wounds in his hands and his side. Those are the wounds Jesus suffered in his execution. Thomas wanted find out if the crucified, executed Jesus was really God’s messiah.

Then, Jesus appeared to them again and said, "Peace be with you." To Thomas, Jesus said, Put your finger here and see my hands, and here and see my side. Be not unbelieving, but believe." Thomas touched the very wounds of Jesus' execution. He believed, and he said, “My Lord and my God.”

I’m going to assume you do believe the Easter. He is risen! After all, you came to church this morning! And Jesus gave us his special blessing when he said, blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. Since we believe this Easter message, do you see what that does for us? We’re never too broke to mend! Since Jesus endured the torture and execution of the cross, and God raised him, we who are baptized into him are free to a new life. We have the power for forgiveness of sin. We are sent to tell others.

Even when the bottom falls out, God is active in what happens to us. What kind of thing can God do? What happened on Easter answers that question. God raised Jesus from the dead, and can make dead things come to life again. God is more powerful and merciful than any evil in world. Since God can raise us from the dead, imagine what God can do for our families, our marriages, our careers, our situations where we once felt like we are too broke to mend? Why do we sometimes feel that we are too broke to mend?

If it’s any consolation, the disciples did the same thing. One would think that just one appearance of the Risen Christ would be enough to get going and follow Jesus. Now with two appearances, one would think the disciples would have to go out immediately and start spreading the news and forgiving sin. But that's not how it happened.

In the weeks that follow, we will see that it took them many weeks until they finally went out and started walking the walk and talking the talk of a disciple. Eventually, they would recognize the power of Holy Spirit, and bring this gospel to others. Eventually, Thomas went to far off places. There are even congregations in India that say they were started by St. Thomas. He must have been a great preacher!

We don't have any sermons by Thomas in our bible, but we do have several of Peter's. Peter quoted the psalms when he said, "God has not abandoned us to Hades, nor did the Messiah experience corruption. This Jesus was raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses."

In plain terms, this means Jesus went through hell when he died, and from time to time, we will suffer, too. Life can be very, very hard. We too could be mortally wounded like Jesus was. But God did not abandon him, and will not abandon us. God will go to hell with us and will raise us up, wounds and all. That’s Peter’s sermon! Peter finally understood what kind of messiah Jesus was.

We can learn from Peter, and Thomas and all of those who experienced the Risen Christ. They have handed down the gospel, this good news to us. Even when the bottom falls out and we are too broke to mend, the breath of the Holy Spirit can give us the peace of God. God has a future for you, and me, and more than enough power to lift us up when the bottom falls out. With God's power, we are never too broke to mend. Come and receive the Risen Christ's body and blood, and my sins and your are forgiven so that we can live in him, as he lives in us.

Amen!