Holy Humor Sunday Sermon- John 20: 19-31 "Did You Hear the One About..."
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house
where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said,“Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his
hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 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.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to 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.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him,“My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him,
“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
*********************************************************
A Baptist preacher just finished her sermon for the day and proceeded toward the back of the church for her usual greetings and handshaking as the congregation left the church. After shaking a few adult hands she came upon the seven year old son of one of the Deacons of the church. Good morning, Jonathan," the preacher said as she reached out to shake Jonathan's hand. As she was doing so she felt something in the palm of Jonathan's hand. "What's this?" the preacher asked.
"Money," said Jonathan with a big smile on his face, "It's for you!"
"I don't want to take your money, Jonathan," the preacher answered.
"I want you to have it," said Jonathan. After a short pause Jonathan continued, "My daddy says you're the poorest preacher we ever had and I want to help you."
**********************************************************
A man pulls his pastor aside and says, “I need your advice. I think my wife is trying to poison me.” The pastor promises to look into it and calls him back a week later. “I talked to your wife… I talked to your wife for three hours… Take the poison.”
**********************************************************
A man was circling the block searching for a parking spot. Finally, after the third time around, he prays,“God, if you help me find a parking spot, I will go to church every Sunday and tithe ten percent of my income.” Immediately, a spot opens up, and the man
prays, “Never mind, I found one.”
We believe when we want to, don't we? In what fits who and where we are and what works for us...
Thomas is not so different from us; even though we pick on him for doubting. But something miraculous had happened, and he wasn't there to see it- the disciples all sealed up and locked in that room together after Jesus' death- don't you picture a dark, musty damp room? And the room stinks too- not just with smells of men and old food and drink... but the room stinks of
disappointment.
The disciples had been duped. They believed in a man who claimed to be the Messiah- a man who they were sure would free them and their people from oppression- a man who they believed to be God's annointed one- God's chosen one- who would bring about a new era of peace and salvation. They had left everything to follow him- families, businesses, security- only to watch him be crucified- executed as an enemy of the state...
Messiah? No. God would never allow the chosen one to be murdered; especially in such a shameful manner.
It was downright embarrassing... and on top of it, they were afraid- scared that they might also be rounded up and killed by sheer association with Jesus... he had surely pulled one over on them.
And after awhile, the must and the damp and the stench get strong enough to where Thomas can't take it anymore and he goes out to get some air... or a stiff drink... or something that would bring some relief.
But when he gets back to the room, the stench is gone- the disciples are buzzing and laughing and praying... and Thomas stands in the middle of the room looking bewildered... "What happened?"
And the disciples start to tell him- "Jesus was here- and he brought Peace- and he told us to get busy forgiving people... that's our job now..." and the more excited they get, the angrier Thomas gets. It didn't make sense.
This is beyond what Thomas can fathom- it's beyond his faith box- So he says, "No- I'm not buying it... until it see the nail prints and put my finger in his side... "
******************************************************************
Did you hear the one about the magician who worked on a cruise ship? He performed mainly sleight of hand tricks. He had a regular spot on the ship's cabaret evening entertainment. He was actually quite a good magician, but his routines were regularly ruined by the captains parrot who would sit on his perch next to the stage and give away his secrets like:
"IT'S UP HIS SLEEVE, IT'S UP HIS SLEEVE!" or "IT'S IN HIS POCKET, IT'S IN HIS POCKET!" or "IT'S IN HIS MOUTH, IT'S IN HIS MOUTH!"
The magician was getting pretty sick of this but he couldnt do anything about it as the parrot belonged to the captian. That evening right at the climax of his act, just as he was about to ring the parrots neck for ruining another performance, there was an explosion in the hull and the ship blew to splinters... Amazingly, the magician and the parrot were the only two survivors. The magician was lying on a piece of driftwood in a daze. As he opened his eyes he could see the parrot staring at him out of its beady little eye. The parrot sat there for hours just staring at him and eventually said, "OK, I give up, what did you do with the
ship?"
************************************************************************
Sometimes we are so busy looking for how it could have been done, we don't believe what's in front of us. Until I put my finger in his side... until I know this isn't some kind of trick...
A quick question... what was it exactly that Thomas didn't believe? I'm not sure it was the possibility that Jesus could have come back to life... I mean, he had seen Lazarus raised from the dead- that was one of the last things he had seen Jesus do before his arrest. But Lazarus hadn't claimed to be the Messiah... he hadn't been mocked and make fun of... and he certainly hadn't succumbed to violence.
Perhaps what Thomas had trouble believing was that the person he trusted to be the Messiah would have allowed himself to be crucified- the most shameful of deaths! And now to come back and offer Peace? Forgiveness? How do we forgive those who hurt us? How do we get peace by succumbing to violence? By looking weak and foolish? 'Until I can understand why "God" would allow this type of violence to happen to himself... No-I'm not buying.'
So a week later... all the disciples are together, including Thomas, Jesus shows up again, and says "Peace be with you..." and turns to Thomas..."Here I am Thomas... no tricks... Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side... do it Thomas! I dare you... I'm right here... touch, smell, taste... do whatever you have to do to believe that I am real and that what I said was true.... "
But without even touching Jesus, Thomas falls to his knees and proclaims- "My Lord and My God..."
You see... Thomas 'got it'... not just that Jesus was alive, but that he was the Messiah- God's anointed one who would bring an end to violence and bring about Peace- but who would do it by nonviolent means. His succumbing to the violence of the world modeled for us the way we are to respond to violence.
Things clicked for Thomas- Jesus' teachings about turning the other cheek, loving your enemies, praying for those who persecute you, welcoming back the one who hurt you, forgiving those who have done you wrong, on and on... and for Thomas it becomes crystal clear... this is how the new era of shalom will come... and the followers of Christ are to be bearers of that peace... by forgiveness.
This doesn't make any earthly sense for most of us. To respond non violently to those who have attacked us, especially with violence, is unimaginable... or at least, unthinkable in the moment... Our first response is usually fight or flight... We want justice... we sometimes even call it, sacred violence... when the evil doer is called to account. In fact it's why Jesus was killed- he was convicted an enemy of the state- we like thinking of Jesus as an innocent victim, but he was intentional in provoking, intentional in his non violent, non compliance with the law. So, justice (in the eyes of the world) was evoked- the wrongdoer was punished. To act any other way would have made the state appear weak... like a joke...
This is the way the world works...here, we defend ourselves and our position at any cost... somehow in forgiving instead of fighting we feel we are playing the fool, that people won't take us seriously... we could put on a rubber nose and a frizzy wig and get more respect in the eyes of the world.
"And this is what is so hard to believe... (for Thomas and for us) that our cure for violence is sacred violence, and that God's cure for violence is completely different. God submits to our sacred violence in the cross and reveals it as meaningless and powerless compared to God's power of life. (Jesus modeled for us that) the only way to ultimately stop violence is to completely refrain from doing it, even if it means submitting to it, revealing its meaninglessness.... If we want to truly be challenged by something in which to believe, try believing that there is ultimately a nonviolent way to stop violence."[i]
And that is exactly what Jesus is calling us to... to get on the business of believing in that way... to get on with forgiving one another, or it won't get done... to spread the Easter message of resurrection, yes, but also of bringing about shalom through love and forgiveness... Jesus was willing to appear the clown in the eyes of the world- continuing to love... continuing to forgive...
went to the cross to show us how it's done... and he stands before us now, daring you Thomas... " Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do it, Thomas...I dare you... I'm right here... Touch! Smell! Taste!...Do whatever you have to do to believe!”
Because when you do believe it, you'll understand that it's ok to look foolish- it's ok to don the clown suit or whatever you picture 'foolish' looking like- and the world will think you are nuts when you act on it... but that's the joke... Did you hear the one
about the God who's plan it is to bring about peace through forgiveness? Did you hear the one about the God who loved the world so much that he gave his only son? Did you hear the one about the group of people who believed him, and changed the world? "My Lord and my God!"
[i] http://girardianlectionary.net/year_c/easter2c.htm
Notes: 1. This sermon was written for HOly Humor Sunday- hence the jokes that come out of nowhere and frankly, don't transition very well
2. I owe much of my theological thinking on this sermon to the wonderful people at the above website
where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said,“Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his
hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 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.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to 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.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him,“My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him,
“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
*********************************************************
A Baptist preacher just finished her sermon for the day and proceeded toward the back of the church for her usual greetings and handshaking as the congregation left the church. After shaking a few adult hands she came upon the seven year old son of one of the Deacons of the church. Good morning, Jonathan," the preacher said as she reached out to shake Jonathan's hand. As she was doing so she felt something in the palm of Jonathan's hand. "What's this?" the preacher asked.
"Money," said Jonathan with a big smile on his face, "It's for you!"
"I don't want to take your money, Jonathan," the preacher answered.
"I want you to have it," said Jonathan. After a short pause Jonathan continued, "My daddy says you're the poorest preacher we ever had and I want to help you."
**********************************************************
A man pulls his pastor aside and says, “I need your advice. I think my wife is trying to poison me.” The pastor promises to look into it and calls him back a week later. “I talked to your wife… I talked to your wife for three hours… Take the poison.”
**********************************************************
A man was circling the block searching for a parking spot. Finally, after the third time around, he prays,“God, if you help me find a parking spot, I will go to church every Sunday and tithe ten percent of my income.” Immediately, a spot opens up, and the man
prays, “Never mind, I found one.”
We believe when we want to, don't we? In what fits who and where we are and what works for us...
Thomas is not so different from us; even though we pick on him for doubting. But something miraculous had happened, and he wasn't there to see it- the disciples all sealed up and locked in that room together after Jesus' death- don't you picture a dark, musty damp room? And the room stinks too- not just with smells of men and old food and drink... but the room stinks of
disappointment.
The disciples had been duped. They believed in a man who claimed to be the Messiah- a man who they were sure would free them and their people from oppression- a man who they believed to be God's annointed one- God's chosen one- who would bring about a new era of peace and salvation. They had left everything to follow him- families, businesses, security- only to watch him be crucified- executed as an enemy of the state...
Messiah? No. God would never allow the chosen one to be murdered; especially in such a shameful manner.
It was downright embarrassing... and on top of it, they were afraid- scared that they might also be rounded up and killed by sheer association with Jesus... he had surely pulled one over on them.
And after awhile, the must and the damp and the stench get strong enough to where Thomas can't take it anymore and he goes out to get some air... or a stiff drink... or something that would bring some relief.
But when he gets back to the room, the stench is gone- the disciples are buzzing and laughing and praying... and Thomas stands in the middle of the room looking bewildered... "What happened?"
And the disciples start to tell him- "Jesus was here- and he brought Peace- and he told us to get busy forgiving people... that's our job now..." and the more excited they get, the angrier Thomas gets. It didn't make sense.
This is beyond what Thomas can fathom- it's beyond his faith box- So he says, "No- I'm not buying it... until it see the nail prints and put my finger in his side... "
******************************************************************
Did you hear the one about the magician who worked on a cruise ship? He performed mainly sleight of hand tricks. He had a regular spot on the ship's cabaret evening entertainment. He was actually quite a good magician, but his routines were regularly ruined by the captains parrot who would sit on his perch next to the stage and give away his secrets like:
"IT'S UP HIS SLEEVE, IT'S UP HIS SLEEVE!" or "IT'S IN HIS POCKET, IT'S IN HIS POCKET!" or "IT'S IN HIS MOUTH, IT'S IN HIS MOUTH!"
The magician was getting pretty sick of this but he couldnt do anything about it as the parrot belonged to the captian. That evening right at the climax of his act, just as he was about to ring the parrots neck for ruining another performance, there was an explosion in the hull and the ship blew to splinters... Amazingly, the magician and the parrot were the only two survivors. The magician was lying on a piece of driftwood in a daze. As he opened his eyes he could see the parrot staring at him out of its beady little eye. The parrot sat there for hours just staring at him and eventually said, "OK, I give up, what did you do with the
ship?"
************************************************************************
Sometimes we are so busy looking for how it could have been done, we don't believe what's in front of us. Until I put my finger in his side... until I know this isn't some kind of trick...
A quick question... what was it exactly that Thomas didn't believe? I'm not sure it was the possibility that Jesus could have come back to life... I mean, he had seen Lazarus raised from the dead- that was one of the last things he had seen Jesus do before his arrest. But Lazarus hadn't claimed to be the Messiah... he hadn't been mocked and make fun of... and he certainly hadn't succumbed to violence.
Perhaps what Thomas had trouble believing was that the person he trusted to be the Messiah would have allowed himself to be crucified- the most shameful of deaths! And now to come back and offer Peace? Forgiveness? How do we forgive those who hurt us? How do we get peace by succumbing to violence? By looking weak and foolish? 'Until I can understand why "God" would allow this type of violence to happen to himself... No-I'm not buying.'
So a week later... all the disciples are together, including Thomas, Jesus shows up again, and says "Peace be with you..." and turns to Thomas..."Here I am Thomas... no tricks... Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side... do it Thomas! I dare you... I'm right here... touch, smell, taste... do whatever you have to do to believe that I am real and that what I said was true.... "
But without even touching Jesus, Thomas falls to his knees and proclaims- "My Lord and My God..."
You see... Thomas 'got it'... not just that Jesus was alive, but that he was the Messiah- God's anointed one who would bring an end to violence and bring about Peace- but who would do it by nonviolent means. His succumbing to the violence of the world modeled for us the way we are to respond to violence.
Things clicked for Thomas- Jesus' teachings about turning the other cheek, loving your enemies, praying for those who persecute you, welcoming back the one who hurt you, forgiving those who have done you wrong, on and on... and for Thomas it becomes crystal clear... this is how the new era of shalom will come... and the followers of Christ are to be bearers of that peace... by forgiveness.
This doesn't make any earthly sense for most of us. To respond non violently to those who have attacked us, especially with violence, is unimaginable... or at least, unthinkable in the moment... Our first response is usually fight or flight... We want justice... we sometimes even call it, sacred violence... when the evil doer is called to account. In fact it's why Jesus was killed- he was convicted an enemy of the state- we like thinking of Jesus as an innocent victim, but he was intentional in provoking, intentional in his non violent, non compliance with the law. So, justice (in the eyes of the world) was evoked- the wrongdoer was punished. To act any other way would have made the state appear weak... like a joke...
This is the way the world works...here, we defend ourselves and our position at any cost... somehow in forgiving instead of fighting we feel we are playing the fool, that people won't take us seriously... we could put on a rubber nose and a frizzy wig and get more respect in the eyes of the world.
"And this is what is so hard to believe... (for Thomas and for us) that our cure for violence is sacred violence, and that God's cure for violence is completely different. God submits to our sacred violence in the cross and reveals it as meaningless and powerless compared to God's power of life. (Jesus modeled for us that) the only way to ultimately stop violence is to completely refrain from doing it, even if it means submitting to it, revealing its meaninglessness.... If we want to truly be challenged by something in which to believe, try believing that there is ultimately a nonviolent way to stop violence."[i]
And that is exactly what Jesus is calling us to... to get on the business of believing in that way... to get on with forgiving one another, or it won't get done... to spread the Easter message of resurrection, yes, but also of bringing about shalom through love and forgiveness... Jesus was willing to appear the clown in the eyes of the world- continuing to love... continuing to forgive...
went to the cross to show us how it's done... and he stands before us now, daring you Thomas... " Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do it, Thomas...I dare you... I'm right here... Touch! Smell! Taste!...Do whatever you have to do to believe!”
Because when you do believe it, you'll understand that it's ok to look foolish- it's ok to don the clown suit or whatever you picture 'foolish' looking like- and the world will think you are nuts when you act on it... but that's the joke... Did you hear the one
about the God who's plan it is to bring about peace through forgiveness? Did you hear the one about the God who loved the world so much that he gave his only son? Did you hear the one about the group of people who believed him, and changed the world? "My Lord and my God!"
[i] http://girardianlectionary.net/year_c/easter2c.htm
Notes: 1. This sermon was written for HOly Humor Sunday- hence the jokes that come out of nowhere and frankly, don't transition very well
2. I owe much of my theological thinking on this sermon to the wonderful people at the above website
Photo from muhawi001
