Sonrise 61

Last Sunday, it was 70+ degrees, sunny. This morning it was 24 degrees, and snowing. We've been going to Easter Sunrise service at Hampton Park for the past 25 years; only missed two, I think. There's something about getting up before dawn and gathering in the chilly morning air, to celebrate the Sonrise. There's no pageantry, no fancy dressing (and today, no sun!), but there is always a sense of a special camaraderie as like-minded folks draw together to worship the Risen One, and to hear from God. This morning, 61 one of us huddled together. We were really cold, but it was wonderful!

For the past two years, my husband, Bruce, has had the honor of leading the service. And both times, he has delivered a unique and relevant message from the Word of God. Here's an excerpt with,a few of the highlights:

“We can’t really hear what the stories of the Bible are saying until we hear them as stories about ourselves” (Buechner).

So, let's explore the Resurrection... through the eyes of the disciple, Thomas. He had a nickname of Didymus or “Twin”. But most people recognize Thomas by his other nickname.... “Doubting Thomas”, which seems to exemplify unbelief and lack of faith.

He's barely mentioned in three of the gospels but in John’s gospel, his character is fleshed out. Thomas is the pessimist, the worry wart. When Jesus announced (John 11) that they had to return to Jerusalem, despite the danger for their lives, it was Thomas who said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” He demonstrated heroic leadership, loyalty, and commitment to the Master, even unto death. Thomas seemed more willing to die with Christ, than to live without him. And then Jesus died; He was gone. Worst case scenario.

Days after the crucifixion, the disciples were huddled in a locked room, fearful and perplexed. And Jesus came to them... alive... spent time with them, and ate with them. Can you imagine? And Thomas missed it; he wasn't there! We don't know why, or how long it was until he rejoined them, but when the others told him about Jesus, the doubter was afraid to believe, to hope it could be true. Disappointment hurt too much.

And then v.26 opens with three words, “Eight days later...”. We often just roll over these words because we know how the story ends, but for a moment, try to appreciate the tension that all of them were experiencing during those eight days, especially Thomas, the pessimist. Have you ever noticed how much of life occurs during those 'eight days'…the time between God’s promise and His delivery? Sometimes it’s eight days and sometimes it’s eight years, waiting. It’s during those eight days that Thomas had to face the greatest fear of any pessimist….to hope in the impossible. But he stayed, he waited.

Then, Jesus met Thomas on his own turf, and He gave him the evidence he asked for, plain and simple with no reproach. Hope had flesh and bones. And Thomas declared the truth of his testimony, "My Lord and My God!"

In some respects it would seem that Thomas has taken the rap for all of them. They all demonstrated the same attitude of unbelief prior to their seeing with their own eyes. Yet, it's his doubt that we memorialize, and perhaps identify with. We're never introduced to Thomas's 'twin'. Perhaps we all, at some time or another are Thomas’ twin. Perhaps we've grown cynical, or perhaps we've decided to 'play it safe' in order to not risk getting hurt again. But the problem with 'playing it safe' is that you really ending up not playing at all.

The same Christ who rose from the dead and restored Thomas's brokenness and pain is alive. He stands before each of us this day, not with reproach, but with compassion and empathy. He says to me, and to you, "Place your fingers here in my hands. And believe again… Believe in My promise of goodness to you and for you.”