We’ve been studying stories from Scripture about the resurrected Christ. And I think it is fitting today for graduate Sunday that we look at the famous story of “doubting Thomas”. Although graduation is a time of great celebration and joy, it can also be a time of doubts, fear, and anxiety because graduation marks a significant time of life change. Graduates, and their families, are walking into an unknown future. We believe, by faith, it is a bright future. We are excited for the new challenges ahead, but the unknown is a foggy mist that clouds what lies ahead and can make the road an anxious one to travel.
The
Disciple Thomas wrestled with what he could not see. He was absent the first time the resurrected
Jesus appeared to the other disciples.
Though they testified he cold not believe something he had not yet
seen. Perhaps his story will encourage
our graduates, their families, and all of us today.
John 20;24-29
24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the
Twin),[a] was not with the
others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have
seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the
nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the
wound in his side.”
26 Eight days later the
disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors
were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among
them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then
he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your
hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas
exclaimed.
29 Then Jesus told
him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe
without seeing me.”
Thomas had doubts, but he still showed up. I don’t know why Thomas was absent the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples, but I’m glad he didn’t give up. He’s quite honest in sharing his doubt. Even though the other Disciples are adamant: “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas was skeptical: “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” He doubted, but he didn’t walk away. He stayed connected with the other disciples. And because of that, Thomas eventually saw Jesus too.
In uncertain times, it’s so important that we keep
showing up—in worship, in prayer, in Christian community. It’s ok to have your doubts, but don’t give
up. Show up. Eventually, Jesus showed up for Thomas. He’ll
show up for you, too.
Graduates, your young adult years are some of the most
formative of your whole life. Today, you
are just barely out of high school—still children in your own thinking. Over the next 4-5 years, you will have some
of the most important experiences and make some of the most important decisions
of your life. Decisions about college,
work, career, marriage, children…
Choices that will chart the course of the rest of your life. And you will be making these decisions for
yourselves as adults, not under the direction of your parents. (Of course your parents will still love and
support and advise you, but it will be different than when you were a
child.) These are years you need faith
and direction from God. Don’t walk away
from Him in these years when you need God the most. Show up for Him (even if you doubt) and Jesus
will show up for you just as He showed up for Thomas.
Faith and doubt can coexist. Thomas’ story names our doubts and reminds us doubt isn’t the enemy of faith. Honest questions can lead to stronger, deeper faith. Jesus isn’t afraid of your questions; He welcomes them because he knows they are opportunities to be real and go deeper.
Being honest about your doubts and yet continuing to show up is how we seek a personal faith that’s real and makes a difference. Thomas didn’t want to hang his hopes on the faith of the other apostles. No, Thomas didn’t just want hearsay—he wanted his own experience with Jesus. He wanted to touch Jesus’ wounds. He wanted to see for himself.
And for us, seeing for ourselves builds a faith that
is firm and real. Having experienced the
risen Christ for myself over the years steadies me through whatever
difficulties I face. I know Jesus is
real because I talk to Him every day. I
have seen Him in countless moments of ministry.
And I have felt His comfort in the darkest nights of my soul. But I want all of you to have your own
personal faith in Jesus. When troubles
come or you ultimately face the dark day of death, you don’t want your faith to
be something you borrowed from me (or anyone else). You want it to be your own personal
experience of the risen Jesus. So keep
on seeking your own personal relationship with Jesus.
But even with that being said, I want you to know that relationship comes by faith, not by sight. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” Doubting Thomas was given a rare opportunity when Jesus showed up and said, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side.” It doesn’t happen that way for most of us. Most of us must learn to believe without seeing, but Jesus says it is a greater blessing when we do.
It is not that we believe blindly. The evidence is there. We can “see” Jesus in a myriad of
moments. I hope our graduates have
“seen” Jesus in their parents’ love, in our congregation’s support, and in the
ways we’ve worked together to bless our community. Perhaps they have seen Jesus in their friends
or in the way someone has walked through adversity. When we view life through the lens of faith
it can reveal the risen Christ among us and can equip us to face the unknown
with incredible spiritual fortitude.
This is true blessing.
After graduation (and in life in general), the path is
rarely clear. There is very little
growth or reward if we always remain hidden in the mediocrity of our comfort
zones. We must at least occasionally be
bold and have the faith to step out and take some risks to be rewarded with the
full blessing Jesus wants to bestow.
Doubting Thomas learned to walk by faith too. His faith in Christ led him to walk all the
way from Jerusalem to India (over 3,000 miles), sharing his faith in the
resurrected Christ’s all along the way.
To this day, there are churches in Syria and India that trace their
founding to Thomas’ ministry.
Where will your faith in Jesus lead you? Learn to trust Jesus step by step, even when
you can’t see the full picture.
Thomas touched Jesus’ wounds. How do we “touch” Jesus now? I can think of several ways. We can touch Him through worship. We can touch Him through Scripture. We can touch Him through the Church and through loving service. We can touch Him through the sacraments—as we encourage one another through baptism and as we partake of His body and blood in Holy Communion. We touch Him whenever we participate in any of these by faith and we can touch Him through the relationships we have with each other.
Notice, that Jesus didn’t hide His scars from Thomas or any of the disciples. Jesus’ scars became proof of His identity. His scars were beautiful scars because they showed how much He loves us. Graduates (and everyone): Perhaps you have some wounds of your own. Perhaps you will receive new wounds in the days and years ahead. But don’t forget this truth Jesus reveals: Your wounds and experiences shape you. Jesus’ scars are proof that suffering is not erased by resurrection but transformed through it into something beautiful.
If you put your faith in Jesus, the scars you have now
and whatever wounds you receive in the future can have meaning. The pain is real, but Christ has the power to
transform it all into something for which you will be eternally thankful and
proudly display as a testament to the goodness of God.
Jesus commissions all His disciples—even doubters. As we read in Matthew 28:19-20 last week, Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Graduation is not the end—it’s the beginning of your mission. Walk by faith. Live with hope. Go forth with courage. And trust in the risen Lord. This is a call forward for our graduates and for all of us.
