The Proof Is In The Pudding

4/27/25

Message; “The Proof is in the Pudding.”

Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:3-9 and John 20:19-31

1 Peter 1:3-9

(3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

(4) and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, 

(5) who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

(6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 

(7) These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

(8) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

(9) for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

John 20:19-31

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

(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!” 

(20) After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

(21) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 

(22) And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (23) If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 

(24) Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 

(25) So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

(26) A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 

(27) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

(28) Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

(29) Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

(30) Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 

(31) But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This is the word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

 How many of you are familiar with the saying;”The Proof is in the Pudding”?

My parents would likely say that when I was a child and told them I was going to do something good that I wasn’t in the habit of doing. You know, like washing their car or weeding the garden without being told. 

 I still hear that from my wife when she reminds me of something I have

promised to do, some task and it’s not high on my priority list.

 The proof is in the pudding is an expression that means the value, quality, or truth of something must be judged based on direct experience with it—or on its results. The expression is an alteration of an older saying that makes the meaning a bit clearer: “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”.

The more I studied the Scriptures for this week, the more questions kept popping into my head. Questions like where was the locked room? Was it in Galilee where they were told Jesus would meet them? Were there other reasons they locked the door other than “fear of the Jews”? Were they hiding from Jesus because of the guilt they felt because of their lack of action on the day He was crucified? Why did John record for us that Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven”. Did he make this statement to let them know that “The Proof is in the Pudding” and they should do the same? Is that why He said: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

 Why wasn’t Thomas with the other disciples locked behind a closed door for fear the Jews that first day? Why was it a week later in that same house with the doors locked again, did Jesus come? Was it to prove to Thomas and reaffirm to the others that, “The Proof is in the Pudding? Let’s look at our scriptures today and see if we can find some answers.

 In John’s gospel that first Easter Sunday wasn’t filled with rejoicing and relief among Jesus’ disciples, but with confusion, confinement, and concern.

 Even after Mary Magdelene’s prompt reporting of her experience of the risen Jesus at the tomb. Those she tells don’t seem to grasp the meaning of an empty tomb. Instead of running to see the tomb themselves or even going out to search for this risen Jesus, Mary claims to have seen and spoken with. In John’s text the disciples keep that news quiet and themselves locked down throughout the day. It is not until evening, that the disciples’ world is transformed.

 They had remained behind locked doors all day “for fear of the Jews.” And in their minds rightfully so. As recognized associates of the man who had so enraged the religious establishment that they had gladly turned him over to their Roman oppressors for crucifixion, the disciples’ fears would seem to be well-founded.

 But for John those locked doors serve also another purpose. Jesus’ sudden appearance within the locked room suggested the unique power and presence of his resurrected body.

 Jesus’ first words to these disciples is a common enough Hebrew greeting, “shalom alekem,” or “Peace be with you.” In the confines of that locked room, where despite Mary’s news, Jesus’ friends and followers had been huddled all day, this greeting of “peace” is reaffirming and restorative. Even though

they did not go and find him, the risen Christ found them.

 Jesus repeating that declaration of “Peace” again in verse 26 re‑emphasizes its significance, suggesting it is more than a greeting. It is, in fact, a reminder of Jesus’ promised gift to his followers sited in John 14:27 and 16:33.   

 Remember His words. “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.”(John 14:27)

“I have told you these things, so that in me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

 So despite his mysterious appearance through locked doors, Jesus’ first action is to demonstrate his reality. He shows the physical marks of his execution, the punctures in his hands and his side. With this proof that it is Jesus himself who stands before them, the fear that had gripped these disciples all day is removed and they rejoice, just as Jesus had told them.

 Earlier in John 16:20‑22 it’s recorded for us that, Jesus told them: “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 

 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

 So know filled with joy and peace, the disciples are ready to receive the commission Jesus now gives them. Saying: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

 The Son was sent from the Father is a recurring theme in John’s gospel. The connectedness between God and the Word who was sent into the world was established in the beginning of John’s Gospel, and carries through to this moment of commissioning. Now as He had been “sent” by the Father, Jesus sends out those who stand before Him in peace and joy, assured that their Lord lives. Jesus has accomplished the mission for which He was “sent,” and now His disciples’ mission proceeds from that triumph.

 To bring His “body” to life and equip it for its mission in the world, Jesus “breathes” into them just as God “breathed” into Adam and brought him to life. Jesus declares to those gathered, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Whether or not John was aware of the Pentecost event Luke records in Acts 2, it is clear that this gospel writer intends his readers to understand that it is by receiving the Holy Spirit that Jesus’ disciples are empowered for their mission as the body of Christ in the world.

 It’s only because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that this new Christ-body, the Christian community can participate in Christ’s authority to forgive sins or to point out the presence of sins. The ongoing body of Christ, which is the church, witnesses to the world through the impartation and implantation of Jesus’ gift to His disciples of the Holy Spirit. 

 To make it simple the disciples were sent to show others that, “The Proof is in the Pudding”. Just as the church is sent to do-still today.

 So now as we continue in John’s narrative, someone misses this moment. Someone important to the story misses this miraculous, mission‑making moment. Thomas.

 When Thomas returns he becomes the first missionizing moment for this new Christ-body. Despite the Holy-Spirit-charged atmosphere within that room, despite the wondrous witness of all present testifying that “We have seen the Lord,” a key member of the body remains unconvinced.

 If Thomas were with us today, he would probably say quite rudely. “The proof is in the pudding.” Thomas is declaring he himself must jab or thrust his fingers into the nail holes and spear pierced side before he will believe in a resurrected Christ.

 We’re told a week later, suddenly, again miraculously, Jesus stands within the midst of this gathered group. Also, again, Jesus’ first utterance is to proclaim the greeting of “shalom alekem,” or “Peace be with you.” Having once again distributed the peace that only He can give to His ongoing body, Jesus turns and addresses Thomas.

 Jesus’ presence offers Thomas the miracle of His resurrected self, and the gift of His peace. Jesus has perfect knowledge of all that had been said. 

 Thomas’ faithlessness and the other disciples’ failure to convince were both known to this resurrected Lord. So now Jesus invites Thomas to do exactly what he had demanded he must if he were to believe — to place his own hands in the scars still borne by His resurrected body. But more importantly, Jesus challenges Thomas to accept the new reality that stands before him saying: “Stop doubting and believe.” “The Proof is in the Pudding”. That’s what Jesus was saying to him. Thomas confronted with Jesus’ personal presence and peace, his doubt dissolves and his knees bend. Instead of examining wounds he worships, saying: “My Lord and my God.”

 In John’s text, the one member of the body most doubtful becomes the first proclaimer of a resurrection truth: Jesus is “My Lord and my God.” Yet despite the greatness of Thomas’ spiritual insight, Jesus’ response challenges all His disciples to yet another level of faithfulness: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have faith.” The Thomas “leap of faith” from pouting and doubting, stewing and brewing to creed and confession—is impressive. But the faithfulness of those who not only “don’t touch” but also “don’t see” is the faith that will be most “blessed” and celebrated. And many times that faith, that belief comes from times of confusion, confinement, and concern.

 I’m reminded of the story of a man who was cleaning leaves off his roof when he slipped and fell. As he slid off the edge, he managed to grasp the gutter for dear life. Dangling there between the heavens above and earth below, the frightened homeowner cried out, “Can somebody up there help me?” Quick came the reply, “Have faith, turn loose!” Taking one look at the ground, the man looked again into the heavens and said, “Is there anybody else up there

who could help me?”

 Confusion, confinement, and concern happen. Sometimes it is explainable. Most often it is indescribable. Suffering happens. So the real question of faith is not “Why do people suffer?” The real question is “How do we handle suffering?” And that’s what Peter, writing this little letter of 1 Peter is all about. 

 It was written to encourage Christians of his day to hang on when life is hard and the pain is real. It has a message for us too. We handle suffering by faith.

 Let’s read again what Peter writes: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:3-9).

 We may not have the answers to all our questions, but we do know that, “The Proof of our Salvation is in the Pudding. Amen?

In His service,

Pastor Joe