How can I believe without evidence? This is perhaps the single biggest stumbling block of our modern age. The biggest objection our friends and family have to Jesus.

And, if we’re honest, it is a question we often struggle with.

Christians have struggled with this question throughout history… …and tried to come up with various “proofs” for God:

Cosmological: everything has a cause, and so must the universe.
Contingency: everything depends on something else, God is it.
Teleological: there’s order in the universe, therefore a designer.
Ontological: the idea of God is so great, he must exist.
Moral: morality exists, so must have been given by God.

These ideas are repackaged today by modern apologists:

The historical evidence for the resurrection.
The fact that Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus.
The manuscript evidence for the New Testament.
The internal need for meaning in life.
Religious experience: I lit a candle and felt special.
Or the idea of Christianity as the foundation for modern science.

Many Christians today feel they need to make arguments like these …and some people have built whole careers releasing books, raising money, to develop them. Before I was a Lutheran, I often leaned on arguments like these.

The problem is: they are powerless. Just talk to a thinking atheist for a couple of minutes: arguments like these don’t feel persuasive.

Even as a Christian: they don’t feel wholesome. Like me, you may feel uncomfortable saying these things. The best they can do is clear away misunderstandings, but they often generate more misunderstandings.

We are right near the end of John’s Gospel. And John has spent 20 chapters, telling us about two types of belief: false belief based on what people see, think and feel and true belief based on what Jesus says. He’s just described Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins, and resurrection from the dead to make us righteous. And so one obvious question the reader has is this: Should I believe in Jesus? or even How can I believe Jesus? In other words: How can I believe without evidence?

And there are three parts to John’s answer in 20:19-31:

1) Jesus sends you with the Spirit’s power
2) Jesus commissions the Apostles to share what they’ve seen
3) Through the Apostolic Word the Spirit gives faith

The first part of John’s answer: 1) Jesus sends you with the Spirit’s power

Please look again at v. 19:

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’

John is not trying to present the Christian faith as “reasonable” here. Jesus has physically risen from the dead. That is not reasonable. Somehow, as a human he is everywhere, able to physically appear behind locked doors. That is not reasonable. There is no rational argument that can explain or defend this.

And the disciples cower in fear from the crowds showing their claims are neither culturally relevant, nor plausible to the man on the street.

But, despite the lack of rational arguments, we now see a complete change in the disciples, v. 20:

After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

In v. 19 the disciples are locked away in fear. But, in v. 20 the disciples are rejoicing. The difference is not the resurrection.

Becuase in v. 19, the disciples already knew Jesus had risen from the dead.

Peter and John saw the empty tomb in vv. 1-10 of this chapter. Mary Magdalene literally just talked to him in vv. 11-18.

So the disciples knew Jesus has risen from the dead, but were anyway scared. Something happens to turn that fear into joy. The new thing is what Jesus says to them.

Jesus promised this in 16:33:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Now, risen from the death, the first thing he says is “Peace be with you.” This isn’t emotional or psychological peace. This isn’t the existential argument for God.

It is the assurance that God is not angry with the disciples. That Jesus has died for their sins, and by his resurrection gives them his righteousness.

That’s why Jesus shows them his wounds. As God, Jesus’ human body is everywhere, even behind closed doors. And he’s defeated death itself. Given these things: why does he have wounds?

Only because he chooses to reveal himself with wounds. Because those wounds show God’s attitude to us: that he sees our failures on Jesus on the cross.

Jesus is glorious, victorious, the defeater of death, risen, but, he relates to us in suffering, as the crucified Christ, in this life, his power is hidden in weakness. Because God has forgiven you.

And while Jesus has objectively achieved this in his resurrection, this message, this proclamation, this statement: “Peace be with you.” is what gives the disciples’ faith to receive that subjectively.

This is how we receive faith: not by rational arguments, or persuasive ideas, but by hearing the assurance that God has justified us.

And so, Jesus goes on in v. 21:

Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’

Luther gives a great explanation of this verse:

The first and highest work of love a Christian ought to do when he has become a believer, is to bring others also to believe in the way he himself came to believe. And here you notice Christ begins and institutes the office of the ministry of the external Word in every Christian; for he himself came with this office and the external Word. Let us lay hold of this, for we must admit it was spoken to us.

This ministry, this external Word, given to you, to me, to every Christian: is nothing less than the power of Christ himself, look again at vv. 22-23:

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

Back in 7:38-39 Jesus has prophesied that the OT pictures of water flowing from the Temple were about the Spirit:

As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Like water flooding the Temple and flowing out to the city… through the Word, the Holy Spirit puts faith in Christians’ hearts so that through them speaking the Word, the Spirit spreads faith to others.

Again, Luther’s explanation is so helpful:

This same power belongs to every Christian, since Christ has made us all partakers of his power and dominion… this power pertains to the conscience, so that by virtue of God’s Word I can pass judgment as to what the conscience can cleave to, so that against and above that no creature can do anything, neither sin, nor the world nor Satan. This is true power.

When you say to a friend: “Jesus has forgiven you”—the Spirit puts faith in their heart

If they reject the message, you warn them: “Unless you trust God’s forgiveness, you won’t receive it.”

Your words are the reality you speak. That’s what Jesus says. Either creating in faith, or hardening in judgement. Every one of you has this power, but when we gather together as a church, there must be good order where one person speaks for all, and so God instituted a public ministry, where I, by your consent, exercise this on behalf of everyone.

That’s what’s happening every week when we confess our sins, and I give you absolution.

Jesus sends you with the Spirit’s power

Jesus speaks peace to the disciples: and through his Word they receive the Spirit and faith.

So, now, you and I have this power too: Speak this Word of peace, the Gospel—and people will believe.

Which leads us to John’s second point: 2) Jesus commissions the Apostles to share what they’ve seen

Faith comes as the Spirit works through Jesus’ Word—the Gospel: which is the assurance that God is at peace with us. And everyone who receives the Spirit through that Word is sent by Jesus to share that Word with others.

But, how do we know the Word we have today really is the Word of Jesus?

Lots of people today claim that Jesus proclaimed a different Gospel. This started even in the New Testament period. Paul begins his letter to the Galatians, 1:6, by writing:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel

And he prophesied in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 that a global Christian leader would arise and deceive many people through miracles and false teaching:

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception

Luther showed that this prophecy has been fulfilled in the Papacy.

In fact, every book of the New Testament except Philemon, warns against false teaching about what Jesus’ Word really is.

So, it’s not a surprise that today: The Qur’an says Jesus refused to be worshipped as God. And many modern people claim Jesus’ message was just that we should love people.

This is why Jesus specially appointed 13 men as apostles: 12 apostles to the Jews. 1 apostle to the non-Jews. Their role was to be eyewitnesses of Jesus, and so to preach and share his authentic Word.

The Apostle John references this at the very beginning of his Gospel, 1:14:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus promised he would commission them, 15:27:

And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

And Jesus prayed about them the night before he died, 17:20:

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

So, here, in 20:21 Jesus is first sending the Apostles… …as his eyewitnesses with Jesus’ authentic word. And through their Word, he sends every Christian who receives the Spirit.

But, Jesus only appeared to 10 of the Apostles to send them, because Judas had betrayed Jesus, and Thomas was not there at the time, vv. 24-25:

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

Like the other disciples in v. 19, Thomas has not yet received the Spirit.

Their unbelief expressed itself as fear, Thomas’ unbelief expresses itself as stubbornness.

But, because Thomas is one of Jesus’ Apostles, it is essential that he is an eyewitness to the resurrection, so, Jesus appears to him in vv. 26-28:

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!

Again, Jesus appears and the first thing he says is to proclaim the Gospel “Peace be with you”. Because this is the means by which the Spirit gives people faith.

And you can see the Spirit’s work in what Thomas says: “My Lord and my God!” A declaration that Jesus really is God himself.

Something that cannot possibly be seen with the eyes. Something that no rational argument can prove. Something that can only spring from faith—faith that is created by Jesus’ Word.

The true, authentic Word of Jesus: the Word that Thomas, along with the rest of the 12 and Paul, will ensure is preached correctly.

This is why Jesus responds as he does in v. 29:

Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

This will be Thomas’ ministry: To ensure that the Word we have today really is the Word of Jesus.

This is why:Jesus commissions the Apostles to share what they’ve seen

Which leads us to John’s final point: 3) Through the Apostolic Word the Spirit gives faith

Everything in John’s Gospel has been building to this point in vv. 30-31:

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Yes, says John, there’s loads of other things you could learn about Jesus. Lots of historical facts. Lots of interesting information. Even loads and loads of things that provide direct evidence about him: “Jesus did many other signs“

But, John doesn’t include all of this other “evidence”… …because “evidence” does not create faith.

What creates faith is the authentic Word of Jesus’ Gospel… …because as we hear that: the Holy Spirit puts faith in people’s hearts.

And so here, for you today, is a challenge and a promise. A word of Law and a word of Gospel. The word of Law, the challenge, is this:

Stop relying on your reason, your intellect, your clever arguments to create faith in yourself or to bring others to faith.

It is impossible to do this. And God has deliberately hidden his wisdom in foolishness his power in weakness. This theme is all over the New Testament:

Paul writes in Colossians 2:3 that “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in Christ… …so the way to avoid being deluded with plausible arguments, is not to build a huge intellectual system, but to have a heart that is encouraged by God’s grace to you in Christ.

And so, when Paul preached in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

It is exactly as Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Faith is not a result of works: even of intellectual works, efforts of reasoning, or thought, or philosophy, or archaeology, or logical proof.

Stop relying on these things.

That is the word of the Law, so now hear the word of the Gospel, God’s promise, his encouragement:

This Word you have… this Bible… …this simple, humble, message that Christ died for our sins, and rose to make us righteous: Is the authentic Word of Christ. Has the very Spirit of Christ. And through it the Spirit gives you the power of Christ.

Christ has sent you, and has equipped and clothed you to speak on his behalf.

In Mark 2:5, Jesus declares to a paralyzed man: Your sins are forgiven.

And the intellectuals present immediately thought he was blasphemous, for claiming to have such power.

Jesus gives you that power.

Sin is the ultimately cause of every evil. And so Jesus has given you power over every evil.

Sin is the power of Satan. And so Jesus has given you power over Satan.

John 1:29 John the Baptist sees Jesus and says:

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

But, Jesus rises from the dead and gives you the power to take away sins in the world by his authority.

Because Jesus has power to forgive sins, he has power over every demon, every sickness, every evil, every argument, every offence.

And he stands there… and hands that power to you.

This word you have is the power of God himself… …THAT is what Christ has given to you.

How can I believe without evidence?

Well, you can’t believe with evidence… …evidence is useless.

1) Jesus sends you with the Spirit’s power

He speaks the Gospel to the disciples, through which the Spirit gives them faith, and Jesus gives us his Spirit, so that we have God’s power.

2) Jesus commissions the Apostles to share what they’ve seen

If Jesus’ Word has this power… how can we know we have his authentic Word? Because he commissioned 12 apostles to Israel, And Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles.

These men were eyewitnesses, to ensure his authentic Word is passed on. Which is why the Bible is the test of everything we say and preach: it is their authenticated Word.

and…

3) Through the Apostolic Word the Spirit gives faith

So, Law: Stop looking to create faith, either in yourself or others through your reason or evidence or logic.

And, Gospel: In this Word, you have the power and authority of Christ himself. Because, as Jesus says:

Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you… Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’