Rev. Cary M. Richert
2nd Sunday of Easter (Series B)
April 23, 2006
Failures Forgiven
Acts 3:17-20
P: Christ is risen! Alleluia! C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The late E. Stanley Jones, a Methodist evangelist to India, told this story:
A Christian preacher was preaching in the bazaars of India, and a Mohammedan said, APadre Sahib, we have proof in our religion that you haven't got in yours. We can go to Mecca and find the tomb of Mohammed, but when you go to Palestine you can't be sure that you've got the tomb of Jesus'
AYes,' said the Christian preacher, Ayou're right. We have no tomb in Christianity ... because we have no corpse!' (1)
Thomas B the doubting disciple in today's Gospel Reading simply couldn't believe that Jesus had risen ... and, that the Lord had appeared to the other disciples a week earlier. Not without tangible proof. The news was simply too good to be true! He had to see with his own eyes that, the corpse buried a week earlier was walking and talking! Thomas had a failure of faith.
The disciple best-known for doubting the Lord's resurrection without visible proof ... is also well-known for taking the beautiful and powerful message of the Gospel as far as India! John MacArthur notes:
There are churches in south India whose roots are traceable to the beginning of the Church age, and tradition says they were founded under the ministry of Thomas. The strongest traditions say Thomas was martyred for his faith by being run through with a spear B a fitting form of martyrdom for one whose faith came of age when he (put his own hand into) the spear mark in his Master's side. (2)
So what happened to change this Adoubter' into a bold proclaimer of the Gospel? Peace be with you! Jesus said. Thomas' failure of faith was forgiven. And in Thomas' words to Jesus: My Lord and My God, [John 20:28] ... were a confession of his lack of faith ... and a realization that, Jesus' death had atoned for Thomas' failure in faith. Forgiveness and restoration. Gracious gifts from God that gave Thomas a renewed faith and strength to share the good news with others!
Peter had denied Jesus 3 times, while standing in the courtyard awaiting the outcome of Jesus' questioning before the Sanhedrin. I don't know anything about Him! I'm not one of His followers! I don't know this man! The rooster crowed twice. Peter realized what he'd done. He wept bitterly. Peter failed in his faith.
Yet, in our text today, Peter boldly proclaims the message of salvation to curious onlookers who saw Peter miraculously heal a lame man. So, what happened to change this Adeny-er' of Jesus ... into a bold Aproclaimer' of the Gospel ... into a man who'd one day willingly die a death similar to that of his Lord Jesus?
During one early morning, on a quiet beach along the Sea of Tiberias, the big fisherman heard the healing words of Jesus' forgiveness and restoration. Peter's denials of Jesus were graciously forgiven by the Lord. In Peter's words: Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you, [John 21:17] ... were a confession of his failure in faith and an appeal for his Lord's forgiveness.
Three times the Lord responded: Feed my lambs ... Tend my sheep ... Feed my sheep, [John 21:15-17]. And then Jesus said: Follow Me, [John 21:19]. Failures forgiven. Peter's relationship with Jesus restored. Gracious gifts from God that gave Peter a renewed faith and courage to share the good news with others!
Thomas and Peter. Disciples of Jesus, whose well-known failures in faith have been preserved in Scripture for all time. Why? Perhaps to teach us about the reality of sin and the grace of God. You see, we, too, experience Afailures of faith.'
When, in fear ... or anger ... or disillusionment ... or self-protection ... or pride ... or any other fleshly temptation, we fail in what true faith calls us to believe ... or to do ... or to say ... the Lord calls us back to Himself with the same gracious invitation that a forgiven and restored Peter proclaimed centuries ago: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, [Acts 3:19].
Faith is a precious, undeserved gift that God gives us by grace through the power of His Word and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, [Romans 10:17; Titus 3:5-7]. Often in our lives, our faith is tested ... stretched. It's at these times that, we must rely ... not our intellect ... not on our feelings, BUT on the sure and certain promises of God.
When things happen in our lives that we simply can't understand, we turn in faith to God's Word, that reminds us: As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts, [Isaiah 55:9]. And, therefore, also invites us to: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, [Proverbs 3:5]. When it seems as though God is nowhere to be found when we need Him the most, we trust in faith on our Lord's gracious promise: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you, [Hebrews 13:5].
Satan would love for us to fail in our faith ... to outright give up our faith ... when it appears that God isn't doing what we think He should be doing in our lives. And sometimes, like Thomas and Peter, we do experience failures in our faith.
BUT, the heart of God's good news to you and me today is that, in Christ, God has redeemed our lives from the eternal consequences of our failures in faith. In place of sin and death God offers us forgiveness, restoration and life. With nail-pierced hands and open arms, our Lord Jesus lovingly invites us to bring our failures to Him in humble repentance, trusting in His gracious promise to forgive us and to restore us in our relationship to Him. Peace be with you, He says. Follow Me. A chance to start fresh! Failures forgiven!
There's nothing so unbearable ... so overwhelming ... so tragic in this life that Jesus can't help you walk through it. Cast all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall, [Psalm 55:22]. If God is for us, who can be against us, [Romans 8:31]? And, there's nothing in all of creation that can ever separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, [Romans 8:39]. It was true for Thomas in his doubting. It was true for Peter in his denial. And, no matter how difficult it may be to comprehend in your situation, it's true for you today!
Will you join me in prayer:
Oh, for a faith that will not shrink // Tho' pressed by many-a foe;
That will not tremble on the brink // Of poverty or woe;
A faith that shines more bright and clear // When tempests rage without;
That, when in danger, knows no fear, // In darkness feels no doubt;
Lord give us such a faith as this; // And then, whate're may come,
We'll taste e'en now the hallowed bliss // Of an eternal home. (3)
God grant it for Jesus' sake. Amen
P: Christ is risen! Alleluia! C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
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NOTES:
(1) F. Schumacher, ed. For All the Saints, III (Delhi: ALPB, 1995) 1049.
(2) J. MacArthur. Twelve Ordinary Men (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2002) 164.
(3) The Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941) #396.