ON THE PERSON OF THE JUDGE.
THIRTIETH SERMON.
ON THE JUDGE AS GOD.
Subject.
Christ will be a terrible Judge: first, because He is God; secondly, because He shall then be a God without mercy.—Preached on the feast of St. Thomas, Apostle.
Text.
Venit Jesus, januis clausis, et stetit in medio.—John xx. 26.
“Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst.”
Introduction.
There are two circumstances worthy of note in this visit of Our Lord: first, the manner in which He comes to His disciples; secondly, the object of His coming. “Jesus cometh;” how? Quite unexpectedly, when the disciples in all likelihood were not thinking of Him. He did not even open the door of the room, “the doors being shut,” but entered through the closed door, and “stood in the midst,” before they had the least idea of His being there. Why did He come? To comfort with His presence His disciples, who were at the time abandoned, sorrowful, and fearful; and especially to confirm in the faith the doubting Thomas, and bring him back to the right path. Therefore when He had greeted them all with the words, “Peace be to you,” He turned to Thomas and said to him: “Put in thy finger hither, and see My hands, and bring hither thy hand, and put it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.” Whereupon Thomas, submitting at once, exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” My dear brethren, hitherto we have treated of another
