Doubting Thomas Sunday

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

The First Sunday after Easter

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

YouTube link ->https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQLkQDcTYnk here

The Hymn #206        Jesus Christ My Sure Defense

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

As newborn babes: desire the sincere milk of the Word.

Hear, O My people, and I will testify unto thee: 

O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto Me.

Psalm. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength: 

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17

The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who have celebrated the solemnities of the Lord’s resurrection may, by the help of Thy grace, bring forth the fruits thereof in our life and conversation; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us. Hallelujah!

V. The angel of the Lord descended from heaven: 

and came and rolled back the stone from the door 

and sat upon it. Hallelujah!

The Gospel               

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22     
The Sermon Hymn #656        Behold a Host     

       

Fear, Despair, and Peace Through Faith

Communion Hymn # 200       I Know that My Redeemer      

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
Hymn #267        If God Had Not Been on Our Side

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical treatment - Randy Anderson - hospital, Lori Howell, Sarah Buck, Pastor Jim Shrader and Christine, Kermit Way.
• Pray for our country as the major trials continue. And help all those suffering from economic difficulties.
• Reformation Seminary lectures - Tuesday 11 AM - Son of God, Son of Man. Thursday 11 AM.

KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

First Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thine ineffable grace, for the sake of Thy Son, Thou hast given us the holy gospel, and hast instituted the holy sacraments, that through the same we may have comfort and forgiveness of sin: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Thy word; and through the holy sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Fear, Despair, and Peace Through Faith

KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Fear is the first word used in describing the disciples, locked in a room assembled because they feared the Jews. They were not rejoicing, because they were consumed by conditions leading up to the crucifixion and knowing about the death of Jesus Christ. 

The Gospel of John describes how Jesus was not confined by His human nature, many times. Those who like Latin terms call this the non-reciprocity of the second genus. His divine nature was not confined by His human nature. Children respond simply by saying "Jesus is God. He can do anything." That response shows that children often have more faith in Jesus, so we must believe as a child, as Jesus taught, not as philosophers who deal primarily with Latin (genus maiestaticum).

Fear locked them in the room, but the risen Lord did not confine himself to His human nature. He appeared before them still bearing the marks of His torture and crucifixion. Knowing what had happened, through John - who was there at the cross - and through the women at the cross, they assumed they would be next. 

Simon Greenleaf, who was a famous lawyer at Harvard, wrote an essay supporting the harmony of the Gospels. ("The Testimony of the Evangelists," reprinted from the 1903 edition as an appendix in John Warwick Montgomery's The Law Above the Law, 1975. Christina and I had lunch with him at the Chicago Inerrancy Conference.)

If we had all the details of everything, from the death of Jesus up to this moment, the Gospels would be very lengthy. And it would still not be enough to satisfy the doubters. Unless we believe as children, we will not see the Kingdom of God. 

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 

Luther:

2. Faith, as we have often said, is of the nature, that every one appropriates to himself the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, of which we have already said enough; namely, that it is not sufficient simply to believe Christ rose from the dead, for this produces neither peace nor joy, neither power nor authority; but you must believe that he rose for your sake, for your benefit, and was not glorified for his own sake; but that he might help you and all who believe in him, and that through his resurrection sin, death and hell are vanquished and the victory given to you.

Jesus showed His hands and His side to the disciples (minus Thomas) who were overjoyed.

Fear and despair are obliterated by faith in Jesus Christ, through whom we have peace and everlasting life. 

Luther's sermon is especially good in comparing the fear and despair of the disciples with the joy they found - being given peace by Christ Himself. "A pivotal role, point, or figure in something is one that is very important and affects the success of that thing." They changed from utter despair to joy in a second - their futures were horrible to imagine until Jesus proved otherwise.

Faith in Jesus Christ is the pivot in our lives. Strangely, we cannot predict what is ahead, and yet we can be completely overwhelmed by what we imagine. That can be quite a battle because faith is not within us unless the Gospel Word is in our hearts. Last week a framed photo fell off its hook on the wall and crashed in the middle of the night. (It had been hanging in the same place for 12 years.) Charlie Sue jumped and I did too - a very loud sound. I cleaned up the framed photo and the shattered picture frame. I looked around the house to convince myself that nobody did that. I kept looking and listening. The tangible fear continued to manufacture doubts even though reason said otherwise.

Pilgrim's Progress is great medicine for our fears and doubts. This world famous allegory has Christian (the Pilgrim) stuck, because he wandered into Doubting Castle where Giant Despair is eager to harm him. This is very important - he had the solution in his pocket. They are keys - the Promises of God.

Luther emphasized that we can go through difficult times where there is no peace, nothing but turmoil, inwardly and outwardly. When we confess our sins and trust in the Savior, everything can be changed from that moment and left behind, as far as the East is from the West. It is important that we offer forgiveness from the Savior and receive forgiveness through Christ.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

How could that possibly be? That is the most powerful weapon, beyond our imagination, yet we can feel that and see the results. What seems to be so little and not worthy of respect is God's own medicine to remain with the one True Vine and bear fruit.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Thomas was not with them the first time, but he had all the witnesses to tell him exactly what they saw and experienced. Just as they had to be taught the importance of Jesus risen from death, so Thomas had to experience the same revelation, truth coming to him just as the Savior provided the week before. We might say that was the greatest miracle, to comprehend how the Son of God could be risen from the tomb and present with them, beyond all hope, yet with them. 

Thomas was the ultimate pessimist, even before. When Jesus wanted to visit Lazarus, Thomas said, "We can all die together there." Didn't they all rejoice together with Lazarus going to Jerusalem with them? the funeral party going with them? the crowds meeting them and cheering the Son of David revealed completely?

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Thomas, who had to have the proof, was given the proof. It is best to assume Thomas did what Jesus commanded, not only for him but also for us. The ultimate proof of Jesus' resurrection, both natures - divine and human - was proven for all the disciples except Judas who continued in despair and without faith.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

That is the verse for all of us. Do we believe in all of God's miracles without seeing? There are so many we do not see - but take place beyond our imagination. Could it be that so much more is there for believers? 

The end.