John 20: 19-3

April 23, 2006
The 'Other' Tomb

Today we remember two tombs in Jerusalem. One made of stone and clay, hewn both by human hands, but also by the raw forces of nature over hundreds of years: water, wind, perhaps even fire. There are no windows in this tomb, but only a door. A hole, an opening really. Covered over by a very heavy rock when needed. This tomb once was held a body, cold and lifeless, but now it is empty.

Another tomb, only this one is made of wood, mud, branches, and straw, completely the work of human skill. There are windows in this tomb, only they have been deliberately covered, a heavy cloth draped over them to keep out light and who knows what else. There is a real door to this tomb, locked tightly. This tomb once was empty, but now it holds several bodies, cold and seemingly lifeless.

Strangely, the same singular event that transformed the first tomb, which once was full and is now empty, also altered the second tomb, which once was empty and is now full! Oddly, the earthshaking event that brought new life to one brings fear and trembling to the others.

What caused this shift? What emptied one tomb and filled another? The resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Jesus being raised from death to life, his closest disciples became sorely afraid, and hid in a room, terrified of what was to become.

Why did the disciples hide in that second tomb? Fear, yes, but not fear of “the Jews” as John’s text says. This offhanded accusation is not only absurd, but terribly dangerous. John’s frequent use of “the Jews” as scapegoats for the Christian community’s very real frustrations and angers has caused thousands of years of not only mistrust and hatred, but violence and murder. Such false claims must be stopped once and for all.

It is a horrible tendency, but not an uncommon one for one oppressed group to blame another oppressed group in order to divert attention of the tormenters to another target. The tiny Christian community had nothing to fear from “the Jews,” who were a small powerless community themselves. Both had a great deal to fear from the Romans, that is, if the Roman government really ever noticed them. No, the fear that kept the disciples inside was something far more basic and fundamental to the spiritual lives of those that had walked and learned from Jesus. It was the fear of being called by God to respond to the Good News!

Good News Must Be Proclaimed
Why would something that was good news cause the disciples to be afraid? This is the great irony of most of the resurrection appearances of Jesus. The news “He is risen!” is met with “They were afraid” time and time again. Why were they not on the rooftops celebrating? Perhaps it was the realization that good news necessitates a great responsibility. Good News must be lived and proclaimed. Good news requires something from us. We cannot ignore it, avoid it, pretend it never happened.
Oddly enough we human creatures have no trouble whatsoever living and proclaiming bad news – our airwaves, back fences, and internet connections are filled to overflowing with bad news. Some news channels seem to specialize in it!

We have this bizarre image that bad news is neutral, that it doesn’t require anything of us – therefore we pass it along freely, frequently, giving much time and energy to it. But this is a bad habit based on a nasty illusion, for bad news does demand a great deal from us, it wastes our time and drains our resources. Furthermore, it destroys much of what comes in its path. Bad news is death dealing.

Likewise, good news requires much from us, but not as much as we fear. We are compelled to go and act on good news, offering words and deeds which recreate the very good news we share. The exciting thing is that good news leaves a path of healing and hope in its wake. Good news is life-giving!

The disciples have heard good news but treat it as bad news. Perhaps because they knew that to truly believe Jesus was risen from the dead meant they would never ever return to their old ways of being. Treating Jesus’ resurrection as bad news would get them off the hook, allow them to return to “the way things were.” What they didn’t count on was good news is good news, and they became entombed by their fear of what this good news might call them to do and to be and to believe.

But this tomb does not stay filled with bodies either. How does it get emptied?

Open, Honest Doubt & Inquiry Must Be Encouraged
Over the course of a week’s time, according to our scripture, these disciples, represented by Thomas, discover the possibilities for a good news life. How? One way was that room was made for honest, open inquiry, and doubt. Jesus recognized and honored Thomas’ suspicions. At least he wasn’t afraid to get out and do what needed to be done to survive. That first Sunday Thomas isn’t even there. Afraid? Nah! He’s out doing what needs to be done to survive. Practical realist that he was, he wasn’t going to let fear lead his life. He was convinced that death had taken his teacher and savior, and that was the end of the story, no matter what a few delirious women had said!

Would Jesus have made a return visit if Thomas had not doubted so openly and honestly. I believe not. Jesus honored Thomas’ doubt by returning.

We Must Have Faith In The Promise
But Jesus did not leave the disciples there in their doubting. But he didn’t give them a lot of evidence, either. Faith based on facts is weak. Faith based on trust is stronger. Trust in what? The promises of Jesus. The words of Jesus. What does Jesus say? “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Just as I preached last week, John’s Gospel emphasizes the same conclusion as Mark’s: trusting the promises of Jesus is what faith in the resurrection truly means.

Thomas was a show-me-the-facts Christian. Great, but this doesn’t get us very far, and leads us to believe the negative far more than the positive. God-in-Jesus calls us to be have-faith-in-the-promise Christians.

This is why I am very wary of fundamentalist, literalistic religious people. Fundamentalism is short-sighted, and never really allows a person to live fully into faithfulness. A perfect example is the misguided evolution-intelligent design debate. I am a Christian pastor who believes both in the wonder and beauty of evolution AND in God’s marvelous and awesome acts of creation. One route answers the “how” question (show-me-the-facts) and the other answers the “why” question (have-faith-in-the-promise)

We have no trouble believing in and using technology (most of us, at least) even though I would guess the majority of us don’t understand all the “hows” regarding cell phone, television, or computer technology. I use a wireless telephone and computer without thinking about how the information is actually being passed through the atmosphere. Now, although I can’t see the waves that carry my communications, I believe they are there because of my experience.

Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, an ordained Lutheran pastor, reflects on the limitations of inquiry.
“There are other areas of my life, however, for which scientific evidence and historical data fall short for providing me with what I need as a human being. When I engage the deeper questions of the purpose and meaning of life, when I face relationships that require reconciling, or when I struggle with life's tragedies, I need something greater than what the current circumstances offer. When situations arise that leave me speechless or that are just too horrific for my thoughts, I need more than what I can engage with my five physical senses. I need to believe and trust in things not yet seen.” (1)
It reminds me of the story about a pre-civil rights African American community in Florida, before every American was assured the full and unencumbered right to vote. The story says that during times of political elections, this community would go through the complete voting process, with poll workers and election judges and all – even though no one would receive their votes. Now, they knew that their votes would not be counted, but they voted anyway. When asked by members of the white community why they did this every year, they replied, "Oh, just practicing. Just practicing.” (2)

Believing in what is not yet seen means we practice or behave as if it is already exists. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” This is what quality leaders and powerful visionaries do. They know that questions of “why” are far more important than questions of “how.” People of faith who help us “have-faith-in-the-promise” always lead us further than those who always must “show-me-the-facts.”

We Must Know & Study The Word
So we have faith in the promises of Jesus. But how can we know those promises if we don’t read them, study them, discuss and question them, and then live them. Education about the Word of God is absolutely necessary to a resurrected life. You must be involved in consistent and quality education about the scriptures to move from the tomb of “show-me-the-facts” to the open streets and broad plains of a “have-faith-in-the-promise” life.

Jesus relied upon this motley band of rag-tag disciples because he knew they knew the promises, the Word of God. Maybe they didn’t always understand it, but they had heard it, they had probably debated it and discussed it over many an evening fire, and they knew it. This is why showing up at church and going to Sunday School and Wednesday night Bible Study is so very important. Yes you are smart and wise and beautiful… but if you don’t have interaction with God’s Word you will always be limited. And since we don’t have Jesus himself teaching and preaching among us, we need to do Bible study in community, learning from one another. If Jesus had wanted us to learn the Bible all alone, quietly in our own private living rooms or dining rooms, would he have called together a community of disciples to pass it along? No! If we are going to “have-faith-in-the-promises” of God, and honor doubt and inquiry, and proclaim this Good News to the world, then we’ve got to study and learn about this resurrection in community. And if you don’t like what is being taught, or who is teaching it, or when it is being offered – then pick a day and time and offer a class yourself!

Conclusion:
Every day we confront two tombs and we must decide what we are going to do with them. The first tomb is empty. Word has it from beloved friends and family that Jesus has been raised from the dead and is going on before us.

Will we enter that second tomb? Will we allow our fears to keep us locked up in the tomb of bad news, an unquestioned and simple just-show-me-the-facts faith, truly ignorant of the promises of God? Or are we going to unlock that door, throw open the blinds and proclaim the Good News, no matter what the cost, expose our doubts, have faith in the promise, and commit ourselves to being life-long disciples of Jesus Christ? Let’s leave both tombs empty. Whattya think?

Rev. Allen V. Harris
Franklin Circle Christian Church
www.FranklinCircleChurch.org

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 (1.) "Must We See to Believe?" the Rev. Dr. Wyvetta Bullock, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2006. http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/bullock_4912.htm
 (2.) Ibid.



 

Copyright 2006 -- The Rev. Allen V. Harris

Franklin Circle Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

1688 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH 44113-3096