Why Do you Doubt?

Doubt and Fear

Doubt and fear appear to go together like two peas in a pod. Over the course of this pandemic we have seen first hand what doubt and fear can do to a society. In today’s scripture the resurrected Christ transforms doubt and fear, to joy and wonder.

Everyone of us here today have doubts which means we also have fears. Being a church in transition waiting for God to call the next pastor can bring doubts and fears of its own. Seeing the brokenness of our communities can lead to doubts and fears. Brother’ and sisters today God challenges us to give him our doubts and fears at the altar and let the power of the resurrected Christ transform them to joy and wonder.

Today Jesus finds his followers behind locked doors because of fear of what the authorities that crucified Christ might do with them. There were lingering doubts over who Jesus said he was because, the Messiah was supposed to restore the Kingdom of Israel, not die by the hands of the Romans. It is in this room Jesus appears, offers peace and asks Why are you frightened? Why do you doubt?

This resurrection encounter teaches us in the middle of our doubt and fear God speaks peace. The resurrected Christ transforms doubt and fear to joy and wonder. He once again reveals who he is to the disciples. Finally this encounter commissions us his followers to proclaim the gospel of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. May this encounter with the risen Christ transform our doubts and fears and may the Holy Spirit empower us to proclaim the message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

What God is doing

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 2 Homiletical Perspective

Jesus taught and commissioned: his whole life, death, and rising were about what God is doing in the world—reconciling the world to God’s self. From the law of Moses to the prophets to the Psalms, it has always been about God and God’s purposes, aims, and agenda for creation—repentance that leads to forgiveness of sins and the wholeness of creation.

This resurrection appearance follows on the heels of the two on the road to Emmaus. We now know where Jesus disappeared to when he vanished from their sight at the table. He appears here to his disciples. Who are hiding behind locked doors.

John 20:19–21 NRSV

19 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.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Doubt and Fear

In a room with so many people their doubts and fears are as different as each one of them. Jesus doesn’t specify what the doubt is. On the surface sure there are doubts about resurrection. In light of the message of repentance and forgiveness, I tried to think of this encounter like Peter. Peter denied that he knew Christ 3 times then ran and hid. On a personal level did he doubt whether Christ would forgive. Imgaine how liberating Peter must have felt to hear the message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

In the middle of their doubt and fear God extends peace and fills them with joy and wonder.

Jesus again opens their minds to who he is.

Moses:Deut 18:17-19, the Prophets: Hosea 6:1-3, and the Psalms: Psalm 2

We need to rely on Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit to open hearts and minds.

Transformed people proclaim the message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Repentance for the Forgiveness of sins

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 2 Homiletical Perspective

Today we live in a world of war, poverty, disease, neglect, prejudice, fear, isolation, and sinfulness. God seems powerless and absent in the face of ongoing suffering and pain.

Today through this resurrection encounter God reminds us despite all our doubts and fears God extends peace. In our doubt and fear God gives us joy and wonder through the resurrected Christ. Christ through scripture continues to open our minds to understand who he is. Through the work of the Holy Spirit empowers us to be like him and to proclaim the message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins to all people.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 2 Homiletical Perspective

Today’s text challenges us: What in our communities needs the presence of the risen Christ? What kinds of experiences and understandings do we need so that we can be credible witnesses to God’s aims in the world? What is our communal response to God’s presence and work in the world? How do we participate in God’s work on earth?

We need the transforming power of the resurrection at work in us, and in our communities. Today God wants us to bring our doubts and fears to the altar and trust that he is at work. How can we work with God to proclaim the message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins? Where in the community of Leicester is the presence of the resurrected Christ needed?