Sermon 8th
April 2018
Text John
20:19-31 – Not living in fear
Our first
reading from Acts seems so different to our Gospel reading from John.
Both give an
account of Jesus’ disciples gathered together after his death and resurrection –
but what a difference there is in their character.
In Acts we
read: With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
In John’s
Gospel we read: the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked
for fear of the Jews.
What is the
difference?
Why in one
setting are the disciples depicted with great power giving testimony to Jesus
and yet in another they were behind locked doors huddling in fear?
The
difference will be noted in 50 days when at Pentecost the Holy Spirit, the
power from on high, will come upon them to free them from their fear.
But look at
our Acts reading and what that freedom from fear has produced in them apart
from the ability to testify to our Lord:
The whole
group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed
private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in
common. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or
houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the
apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
The removal
of fear allowed them to put their complete trust in God to provide and not in
worldly possessions.
And that’s
what fear does.
Fear locks
us away from freedom to live trusting God and freedom to enjoy life.
Without fear
the disciples were able to not only testify boldly about Jesus but they didn’t
need to worry about worldly concerns.
The people supporting
the disciples weren’t worried about whether they would have enough to provide
for their own needs – they gave to the disciples so they could spread the word
of God.
And the
disciples weren’t worried about where their next meal would come from because
they knew that the people around them would provide for them.
We live in a
world where fear dominates our lives and changes our behaviour.
Wherever we
go now our lives are now affected by fear.
When you go
to a public event, bollards are erected for fear a terrorist might drive a car
through the crowds.
We have
metal detectors run over our bodies to make sure we’re not carrying a concealed
weapon.
Our bags are
checked and our personal effects are laid bare for all to see to ensure we’re
not carrying anything that might harm someone.
The list of
items being banned from air flights is growing.
Children no
longer walk to school but are dropped off in large SUVs because they make us
feel safer on the roads.
We have
rules and regulations that make it so hard for people to volunteer because of
fear.
Teachers and
pastors and others in leadership are afraid to show any sort of personal care
for fear that it might be misconstrued in 20 years’ time as inappropriate
contact.
Fear
prevents us from welcoming the stranger including those from different cultures
looking for a new land where they can feel safe.
Luther wrote
in his Large Catechism when explaining the First Commandment – whatever you run
to in time of fear – that is your god.
People today
run to where they can find comfort and security:
In their
bank balance – in their superannuation balance – in their share portfolio – in
the equity of their home.
And as a
result we protect them vigorously and rather than trust that God will provide
we trust that they – and only they will provide.
Look how
fear also affected the disciple Thomas.
He couldn’t
even trust his own fellow disciples who shared with him that Jesus had risen
from the dead and come to visit them.
“Unless I
see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the
nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe”.
These were
his closest friends and yet he trusted only himself.
How has fear
affected you?
Has fear
stopped you from trusting God to provide you with “your daily bread”?
Has fear
stopped you from trusting God when you pray “your will be done”?
Has fear
stopped you from forgiving as you have been forgiven?
It is human
nature to doubt like Thomas did but faith enables us to trust in what we cannot
normally understand.
As the book
of Hebrews says: Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about
what we do not see.
Sometimes we
do not see clearly what is ahead, and we are tempted, like Thomas to live our
lives saying “unless I see” rather than “I trust God”.
Fear can
limit us to living only by what we see and not experiencing the fullness of
what God provides by faith in him.
As Jesus
says to Thomas: Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those
who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
That’s what
we call faith.
Just look at
what fear has done to our society and the way we live our lives today.
Our lives
are just like the disciples in John’s gospel – locked away for fear of what might happen.
Faith,
however, allows Jesus to walk through those locked doors of fear and allows us
to live the lives that God has planned for us.
It allows
our mission not to be tied down to what we can afford but to where God needs
us.
The Christian
faith would not have grown into what it is today if the disciples had kept
themselves safe.
Going out of
that room and into the streets was not really going into a safe place but it
meant that God was able to use them.
They would
be persecuted – most would be put to death because of their faith.
As we step
out in faith we may face difficulties – we may face setbacks – we may face
rejection – we may face uncertainties – even persecution and ridicule.
But God
works with these difficulties.
It’s like
the poor widow who had 2 small copper coins.
God would
have understood if she kept them both to herself.
God would
have understood if she kept one for herself and one for the offering.
But she
chose to give it all to God and allow God to use her faith instead of the
copper coins which probably would have bought her one last meal and then
nothing.
But God’s
weakness is stronger than human strength.
But we need
to trust that weakness and not our strength.
It can be
daunting to take that first step out of the locked room where we feel safe.
But feeling
safe is restricting just as we see in society the freedom that feeling safe has
taken away from us.
Stepping out
in faith means we are not stepping out alone.
We are
stepping out with our Good Shepherd who promised “I am with you always”.
We are
stepping out with our Good Shepherd who promised – even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear – for you are with me.
Fear
affected Peter’s life – he sank instead of walking on water – he denied knowing
Jesus – he refused to follow Jesus to the cross.
But once
filled with the Holy Spirit he changed.
He boldly
proclaimed Jesus in the marketplace even though he was threatened with
imprisonment defiantly stating “We must obey God rather than any human
authority”
That’s what
faith in God can do for you.
Faith in God
can release you from your fear to let God lead you and use you where he needs
you.
Faith can
bring you greater blessings than feeling safe and secure as Jesus says:
Blessed are
those who believe without seeing.