Second Sunday of Easter (Cycle A)

The tie in between today’s readings: Signs and Wonders

Psalm 118:2-4;13-15;22-24, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 1:2-9, John 20:19-31

When you talk about religion, miracles inevitably enter the conversation. As you pursue the subject you’ll discover that it all boils down to personal perspectives. For instance, you can start with the “miracle” of creation and conclude (or not) that something put it all together. When we come to our reading in Psalm 118:2-4, we discover that the something out there is really a Someone and surprise, surprise, He wants to have a relationship with you. God, in His lovingkindness, became a man. His name is Jesus. He lived with us, taught us about Himself, and performed miracles to back up His claim to deity.

Psalm 118:13 and 22 tell us that many rejected Him. Why? Perspective! They did not want to believe. In fact, when they demanded a miracle on the spot Jesus refused, saying, “Guys, no matter what I do, you’re going to spin it. If I walk on the water, you’ll say that I can’t swim. My miracles have deeper meanings. I am not here for your entertainment and I don’t do tricks! However, there will be a resurrection in the future for all of you to consider.” Bottom line, no one comes to genuine faith just by a miracle. Miracles are road maps for seekers to find God and to confirm their faith once they become believers. Still, you may think that you’re different and if Jesus would only do that walking through the wall and show me your hands thing that He did for doubting Thomas, then you would be a believer too. Let’s explore that in today’s reading in John 20:19-31.

In my opinion, Thomas was the bravest of the Apostles. At least he was out doing what apparently needed to be done for the group, instead of cowering behind a barred door. You’d think that maybe Jesus could have waited until he came back before visiting His disciples and breathing the Holy Spirit onto them. But, perhaps, this scene is recorded for the precise reason of explaining miracles and faith. Despite the account of the Lord’s visit by the other ten disciples, Thomas remained skeptical. With Thomas, I see a case of, “I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). He has to have some sort of faith. He is an Apostle, after all. So, when Jesus comes back the next week to seal the deal for him, Christ adds, “For you, seeing is believing, but it is better when believing is seeing.” This leads us to examine how miracles play into the two types of believing: head faith vs. heart faith.

My best example of miracles leading to head faith is the Exodus adventures of the Hebrews. After the ten plagues, the parting of the Red sea, manna from heaven, water from the rock, the ten commandments, etc., you can bet that the Hebrews absolutely had an intellectual belief. However, except for a few, God declared all of that generation should die in the desert and not enter the Promised Land due to lack of faith (Hebrews 3:18-19). They believed that something was out there, but they rejected the Someone who was there. They saw…but did not believe. The miracles and signs of God, which were in their faces every day, could not bring them to a heart faith.

Our reading in Acts 2:42-47 gives a contrast. Here, the early church was devoted to the Apostles teaching, prayer, breaking of bread, fellowship, and other evidence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They may have had a sense of awe at the supernatural wonders that the Apostles were performing, but these were only encouragements for them to act on the belief they already had in their hearts. For them, the miracle had already occurred. Believing was seeing. The signs and wonders were only an add on.

In the end, the miracles in the Bible aren’t the real show. The diseased are healed, but they eventually get sick again. The multitudes are fed, but they get hungry the next day. Even after the Lord raised him from the dead, Lazarus is rotting in his grave as we speak. Our reading in 1 Peter 1:3-9 brings the only two essential miracles into focus. First, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has caused us to be born again to a living hope for a future in heaven that will never end. The second miracle is seen in the changed lives of the believers as they struggle through the fire of life’s trials with the love of God and neighbors in their hearts. Let’s pray for more of that! These are the greatest testimonies of divine power in God’s relationship with mankind. Here is your proof! Here are the real miracles the world is looking for.

Now where are you in this picture? Are you waiting for a supernatural event that, even if you got it, would never bring you to a real heart faith in God? Work from the essential miracles to discover the joy of the Lord in the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering (Philippians 3:10). Forget trying to find your proof for the something out there and make room in your heart for the miraculous Someone, instead. John wrote his gospel so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ and in that believing have life in His name. If you ask and seek, then you will find God’s salvation through the sacrifice of Christ and the new birth. Take this seriously and it will become your sign! Then you will understand that believing is seeing. Jesus doesn’t do tricks, but miracles for a changed life…they are always on the table.