Once again, we have an embarrassment of choice for scripture readings that the Lectionary has engagingly entwined together to entice the preacher – in this case, myself – into some moral, ethical or theological minefield! We could consider the way God delivered the Israelites from the advancing Egyptian army, despite their whining to Moses that they might as well have died in Egypt as out here in the desert with no protection from the enemy and, apparently, only a cul-de-sac ahead, from which there was no exit other than via a watery grave. We may pause to enjoy the spectacle of Aaron’s sister, Miriam - rather inappropriately we might think today - leading the women in dancing for genocidal joy over the deaths of the entire, drowned Egyptian Cavalry.

Or, perhaps, we might be filled with Missionary zeal as we take heart from the Apostles’ defiance of the Religious Police and the High Council. And so on. Tempting as these are, and much as I enjoy exploring the lesser-travelled tracks of the Old Testament, as well as the stirring exploits of the Apostles and the Early Church, I am going to take us into a locked-and-barred room, where, notwithstanding the fact that Mary Magdalene had earlier come breathlessly declaring, “I have seen the Lord!”, the disciples were in hiding “for fear of the Jews”!

Into this space of fear and trembling steps…Jesus??!

He offers them the peace: “Peace to you,” he says, softly, like there’s nothing unusual here. Because, hot on the heels of fearing the Jews – which, considering the circumstances, is possibly understandable – comes fear of ghosts.

Again. Remember, in John 6 we are told that Jesus walked on water as darkness descended on the disciples rowing across the Sea of Galilee. Walking on water; walking through walls and doors. What on earth is going on?

Come to that, I wouldn’t think it was actually helpful that Jesus showed them his holed hands and sliced side, to be honest! It’s too much information in the context, surely!

Yet the disciples took the stigmata as proof-positive it was really him, really alive, really in the room! More than just warts-and-all, too!

Then some even more weird stuff as John relates that Jesus “breathed on them,” saying, “receive the Holy Spirit.” Have you ever tried that? Breathing on someone to impart the Holy Spirit? I didn’t think so. If we do anything, it’s usually the laying on of hands!

We can look back with hindsight and our clever-clogs theological training and see a parallel echo of the Genesis story about the in-breathed creation of ‘Adam’ – of humanity. Or the prophetic breathing of the Spirit of Life into the Dry Bones of Ezekiel’s valley vision. Or the sibilant sigh of God speaking to Elijah in the cave.

And whatever else is happening, there is the new incentive to forgive and be forgiven; to liberate, or to leave in lockdown.

The disciple named Thomas, we discover, was not in the room at this time. He has not seen the use Jesus has made of Quantum Physics to re-materialise through matter like some scene from Star Trek! Who was Thomas, anyway? His name means, literally, “Twin.” Whose twin? Some say Jesus’! We know Jesus had brothers - not least of whom, James. And sisters. So, maybe he had a twin, too.

Told by his friends about the Mysterious Matter of the Locked Room, Thomas doesn’t believe them and consequently earns an additional nickname – “The Doubter,” or “Doubting Thomas,” – most unfairly, I would say! He just wants some empirical proof!

Don’t we all? Fortunately for Thomas, as for us, seeing is more than believing. Although Thomas makes his credulity conditional on actually putting his fingers into the nail-piercings, and his hand (his HAND!) into the slice in Jesus’ side, eight days later Jesus meets him where he is, having materialised through matter, again, (surely a very vulnerable kind of self-exposure?) and invites him to a particularly intimate touching.

Thomas’ response is ecstatic worship: “My Lord, and my God!”.

“So, because you have seen me, do you now believe?” Jesus asks, I think with a love-laugh in his voice. “Oh, how happy and secure in God’s favour will those be who have not seen me but believe, nevertheless!”

Doubt enables, engenders, enlarges, and empowers Faith! Please understand: the opposite to - and enemy of - faith is not doubt, it is certainty. Faith is a spiritual assurance – a re-assurance – of what we have come to believe. It is the substantiation of things unseen. What’s more, faith does not come from us ourselves: faith is the gift of God. Indeed, we are alive in this body, Paul affirms, “through the faith OF the Son of God who loves us and gave himself up for us.” (Galatians 2:20, amended). “For it is by grace [we] have been saved through faith, and that [faith] is not of your doing; it is the gift of God, lest anyone boast through self-effort.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Friends, we can’t have more faith than Jesus! So, stop beating yourself up over your so-called “lack” of faith! As Simon Peter affirmed: This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour.

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. (2 Peter 1:1-4)

This, my friends, is what made Thomas so spiritually, emotionally, and physically ecstatic in his love-response to Jesus.

It is why we, too, are so blessed.

Embrace your doubts; give them honestly to God, in the risen Christ Jesus.

Like Thomas: tell it like it is.

Tell it like you see it.

Tell it like you mean it.

The faith in you is the faith of Jesus the Christ.

Trust it.

Trust Him.

Hallel U Yah!

Toby Perks, LLM in training