St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church of Watertown, WI
Sermon delivered by Pastor Anthony E. Schultz
Easter 2 April 20 + 23, 2006 John 20:19-

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors 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 side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God:

Do you remember a man named Ken Jennings? He was the guy who holds the record for winning 74 consecutive episodes of Jeopardy! He won over 2.5 million dollars for being so smart! He knew answers to questions like—with a book about the south—who was the first President of the United States past or present to publish a novel? Do you know? President Jimmy Carter wrote a novel about the Revolutionary War titled The Hornet’s Nest! Did you know that? Or which title character who debuted in 1999 was created by a former marine biology teacher named Steve Hillenburg? Sponge Bob Squarepants! Did you know that? The fruit of North America that shares its name with a character who debuted in a 1876 novel? Huckleberry! And after 58-yers of flirting—what woman broke up with their boy friend in issue #720? That would be Lois Lane! This is the kind of trivia that this world values to the tune of $2.5 million dollars. What really matters—what has eternal consequences—is the simple profound good news we heard last Easter Sunday—and will hear again today. Jesus of Nazareth—the Son of Man and the Son of God rose from the dead at dawn on the first day of the week. And because Jesus died and rose again Jesus can say:

Easter Peace To You!
1. Jesus takes away our fear!
2. Jesus fills our hearts with joy!

It must have been horrible for the disciples that first Good Friday. Judas Iscariot was in absolute self-destructive despair! Simon Peter was so ashamed of himself that grown man and strong fisherman that he was—he went out and cried bitter tears! The disciple Jesus loved—had sat at the foot of the cross—watching through tear blurred vision as Jesus cried out—“My God, my God why have you forsaken me!” The sun stopped shining in the middle of the day. Jesus cried out, “It is finished!”—and bowed his heads and gave his spirit back to his Heavenly Father. Now unafraid—Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea—who owned a garden with a never used grave in it—claim Jesus’ body. As quickly as they can—they wash Jesus’ body—washing off the sweat and blood and dust. They quickly wrap Jesus’ body in strips of clean linen with myrrh and aloes—and place him in the grave. A small linen napkin over his lifeless head! Then came Saturday—a day of sadness and worry—a Sabbath—a day of rest for their bodies—but not rest for their souls! They must have gone over the last hours and days—again and again. The Passover—the Lord’s Supper—the hours of teaching—the time of prayer in the dark—the arrest and the trials and the crucifixion. It just didn’t make sense! What were they going to do now—now that their Rabbi and best friend was dead? What were they going to do now? Would the Chief Priests, the teachers of the law—the elders, the Pharisees and Sadducees and even the Scribes come after them? If they had put Jesus to death—surely they wouldn’t hesitate to arrest and kill them, too!

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews. “With the doors locked for fear!” Fear is a terrible feeling. It makes your tummy hurt. It makes you head hurt. It makes your heart beat faster. It makes it hard to eat—or hard to stop eating. It makes you jumpy. It makes it difficult to sleep. Fear is a terrible thing! The disciples were afraid—that the leaders of the organized church were going to try to do to them—what they had done to Jesus! They were afraid that what would ultimately happen to Stephen—grinding teeth, people screaming—dragging them outside the city walls—and throwing stones hard and fast at them—until they were dead! That’s why they were gathered together with the doors locked—for fear! Obviously the disciples forgot the promises the LORD—the Great I AM—the Holy One of Israel made in the Scriptures. Like Psalm 121. I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Think about it. Who is looking out for you? The One who made Heaven and earth! Can the Creator of the sun, the moon, the stars, the planets—the maker of the Mediterranean Sea—the Sea of Galilee—the Jordan River and the Dead Sea keep you safe? Can the Creator of Heaven and earth not keep his people safe from arrogant, self-righteous and puffed up hypocrites who hate the Gospel with a white hot hatred? He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep…The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore! I have seen a commercial for this cooking contest—where three famous people are cooking this gourmet meal—with the flaming pans—with chopping the food so fast with these knives—then flipping the food in the fry pans—way up in the air. They show this one contestant running for more ingredients—when he slips and down he goes! With all the sharp knives—and hot food and flaming stoves—how dangerous is that? He will not let your foot slip. Our Heavenly Father does not fall asleep. He does not doze off. He is not distracted! Think how great are his promises—the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore! Forevermore!

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Peace be with you! This is the message of God’s Word again and again. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7 We have peace with God because Jesus washed away all our sins. Remember what Ezekiel wrote, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” Ezekiel 18:23 Our Heavenly Father is not in heaven watching and waiting for us to make a mistake. Our Heavenly Father is not setting these speed traps and the bottom of hills—waiting for us to whiz by—not pumping our brakes. Then giving us this eternal ticket because we were going too fast! Do you ever watch the news—and see the “perp” walk—the bad guy pulling his sweatshirt over his face—and want to pound on the evildoer? Our Heavenly Father is not pounding on us on account of our sins. God is merciful—forgiving all our sins for Jesus’ sake.

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. Here was evidence that you could see and touch and handle! Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 That would be us! We are the ones who have not seen Jesus’ hands and feet. We have not reached out our finger and touched his side. We have not seen our risen Savior yet. But we know with a confidence that not even death it self can shake—that Jesus is risen from the dead. We have seen Jesus on the pages of Scripture. And so we can say with Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Jesus died and rose again. That makes all the difference in the world! I read the obituaries again—from the Boston Globe. A lady named Melissa died. She worked to raise funds to fight cancer. Then 17 years ago—she got cancer herself. She only worked harder and harder—to help anyone and everyone with cancer. A man named Richard died. He was a police officer who had again and again rescued people—risked his life to save people from burning buildings. How far more wondrous still—that Jesus died to save us from the forever fires of hell! They say Richard didn’t like to talk about all the people he saved. But I would bet the people he saved will continue to talk about him as long as they live! A man named Arthur died—almost 100 years old. Arthur was a book binder from Lithuania. Arthur complained that he really never had a childhood. What with all the danger and hardships that surrounded World War I—he had to grow up very fast. How sad is that? And yet—literally 100 years later—what do you have to do with those painful troubles from so long ago? Troubles and pain and hardships that happened 100 years ago? By the power of the Gospel you need to forgive and forget. You need to let those hurts go! The sins and mistakes of the past need to be forgiven. Remember the Scriptures quoted in the e-mail that says God’s people are bringing their Synod mission offerings in great faithfulness and joy. “I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more!” Jeremiah

“Peace be with you!” This peace we have with Jesus means we will have peace with one another! This is not to say everyone will be kind and gentle and good to us. Jesus said many times that when people are hurtful and hateful to us—we have an opportunity to show them Jesus’ unconditional forgiving love! In his sermon on a grassy hillside Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Matthew 5:38-41a Again Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” Matthew 5:43-48 The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans—people living in the real world—people who are real—not imaginery or make believe. God’s Word says, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:18-21

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” How do you clean your computer keyboard? Do you know? I heard on the radio—I find this hard to believe—you are supposed to put your keyboard in the dishwasher! Do you believe that? Put it in the dishwasher and run it? Oh, did I forget to tell you—you aren’t supposed to put soap in? I repeat—no soap! Oh, did I forget to tell you you aren’t supposed to let it sit in there during the power drying either? You are supposed to put it upside down on a nice dry towel and let it drip dry for 24 hours! Do you believe that? It was in the newspaper, too, I think! I didn’t see it in the paper. The guy on the radio said that’s where he got it! Do you believe that? I don’t plan on putting my keyboard in the dishwasher—and I don’t think you should either. What I do know—I know for sure and for certain—that Jesus died and rose again. I have never ever seen Jesus. I have not seen his hands or feet nor side. But I know for fact that he has risen from the dead. And because he lives—we too shall live—not just here and now but forever. Amen!