Believing without Touching – 16 April 2023
Thomas, “the Twin” (John 20:24). The Twin? This nickname makes little sense unless this man was the sole survivor of a pair of twins, the other having died at or before birth. Reminded of his family's loss every time anyone spoke to him, perhaps of their resentment (real perhaps, probably imagined by him alone) that he had survived, this looks like someone programmed to be untrusting of reassurance, inclined to blame himself for everything including the weather. We notice again the patience of Jesus. –– David Tripp
John 20: 19–31
Chapter 20 is concerned to declare the truth of Jesus' resurrection and to picture the vibrant life experienced by the community of Jesus now that Jesus is physically absent. The stories of Mary Magdalene and Thomas work together to lead the reader to hear Jesus' words of blessing for those who have not seen and yet have believed. The gospel writer intends for the reader to understand that the first generation of believers did not enjoy any significant advantage over believers of every generation to follow.
While Jesus' contemporaries were able to be physically near Jesus, to see and touch him, it is precisely this opportunity, especially touching, that is dismissed as relatively unimportant. Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch him. Thomas had indicated a need to put his finger in Jesus' wounded palms, but then in spite of Jesus' command to do so, he confessed Jesus to be Lord and God without touching him.
The insignificance of physical proximity to Jesus is directly related to Jesus' gift of the Spirit. The Spirit blows where (and when) it wishes, among every generation of believers in every location. The gift of the Spirit is intimately connected to Jesus' declaration of peace, the commissioning of the disciples by Jesus to represent him as he had represented the Father, and the instruction to announce forgiveness (or to withhold forgiveness). It is the Spirit that empowers the apostles to be witnesses and guides them in sharing the word of forgiveness. It is forgiveness that makes it possible for disciples to be at peace with God.–– Aaron J. Couch
1 Peter 1:3–9
Following the salutation addressing believers in Asia Minor, the pseudonymous author continues with words of blessing directed to God. These words are also directed to the people of God, reminding them of the joy that fills their lives, flowing from the profound and powerful gift they are receiving from God. –– Aaron J. Couch
Acts 2:14a, 22–32
As we see the church in Jerusalem in Acts 2, we observe a growing and thriving community that celebrates the glory of new life in Christ. But it is a life that looks like few of our churches: people relinquished the privilege (or right) of private property and held all property in common. Koinonia,which we often translate as fellowship, literally means joint sharing, to commingle or merge. This is rendered in 1 Corinthians in many translations as participation (“The bread that we break, is it not a koinonia in the body of Christ?” 1 Corinthians 10:16). We may choose to be partners in the glorified Lord, but what about the crucified Christ? We may choose eternal blessings, but are we willing to surrender earthly blessings? –– Todd E. Johnson
Aaron Couch is a co-pastor of First Immanuel Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon.
David Tripp, a United Methodist minister, served Salem United Methodist Church in Indiana and the British Methodist ministry for twenty-eight years and wrote in liturgics and related subjects.
Todd E. Johnson served for a number of years as associate professor of worship, theology, and the arts at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, and is now the Senior Pastor of First Covenant Church in Seattle, Washington.
Homily Service 41, no. 2 (2008): 102–112.