Doubting Easter

Well, good morning.

This is the first Tuesday after Easter and just reading

today in this last two chapters of the Book of

John just still with Eastern Mind.

And this past Sunday, we talked about this idea of

of this encounter how encounters have transformed our lives and

how once we've encountered Christ and his grace and mercy

will never be able to be the same.

We know that.

You know, not everyone really is able to believe that

that level and that death at times, uh, without experiencing

some doubt.

And we all experienced out this morning I was reading

from John Chapter 20 starting with Verse 24.

And it says now Thomas, who is also known as

Didymus. One of the 12 was not with the disciples

when Jesus came, this was after his resurrection says the

disciples appeared, or Jesus appeared to the disciples.

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.

A week later, his disciple here in the house again,

and Thomas was with them.

Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among

them and said, Peace be to you.

Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, see

my hands, reach out your hand and put it into

my son.

Stop doubting and believe.

And Thomas said to him, My lord and my God,

then Jesus said to him, Because you have seen me,

you have believed Let's There are those who have not

seen and yet have believed you know so much at

this time of year we take for granted.

Eastern. We just assumed that everyone who comes beliefs without

really any struggle and we believe that she's, you know,

came and lived and and I think most people do

believe that and, uh, and and that he was executed

by the Romans.

I think most people believe that.

But when it comes to him being raised from the

dead and his resurrection, that's where people struggle with doubt

because it doesn't seem logical.

And there's anything.

Obviously you should know is that you know, if you're

trying to make your faith in some ways seem logical,

that's just not going to work.

Faith is not about logic.

Faith is called faith for a reason.

And I like Thomas.

Um, and I think we're all a lot more like

Thomas than we are.

You know, someone who can just believe with outside We

would love to be able to say what Thomas said.

Well, if I could touch the nail scars in his

hands and his side, then I be able to believe

so many of us, you know, we think this way

this way.

Um, it would be so much easier for us to

truly believe the Easter story and place our faith and

our trust in Christ.

If if we could If we could do that very

thing, put our you know, our hands in in the

nail scars on his hands and his side Put our

fingers there and and to see the Lord, you know

that you know, so many people over at 40 day,

period after his resurrection, where he was still on the

earth before his ascension.

Got to see Jesus.

And that's one of the reasons why you know, the

belief in Jesus really, really grew over those 40 years.

And when he ascended into heaven.

People were ready to birth the church.

The disciples were ready to spread his name all over

the earth.

But it was this proof that they had that dispelled

all of their doubt.

I'm I'm encouraged today, 2000 years later, Uh, we're not

going to have that opportunity to see him in the

flesh to touch his scars on his hands on the

side. But I'm encouraged just by this statement says.

Blessed are those who have not yet seen and yet

have believed.

That's all of us.

We're the ones who have not yet seen and yet

believe in.

The Bible says We're blessed that which means that God's

favor rests upon us.

And so I want that to be an encouragement to

each of us today.

If we truly believe in the resurrection, there were Easter

people or followers of Christ.

Then we can know without a without a shadow of

a doubt that we have God's favors upon us because

we don't believe because we have believed would say, John

John, 3 16 for God so loved the world that

he gave his one and only son that whoever believes

should not perish.

But have everlasting life.

So today we can be certain that we won't perish

eternally. But we're gonna have everlasting life with Christ in

eternity. What a wonderful promise that we can.

We can just rest on today.

And so that's my encouragement to you.

If you believe If you're if you're a follower of

Christ, then then we're blessed.

You and I are blessed because we believe that we

are what we haven't seen.

And if you're doubting today, that's OK too, because one

of his disciples doubt and And they had to wait

until Jesus revealed himself.

And I'll be continued to pray that those of you

who who are doubting today that God will reveal himself

to you.

Father God, today we were thankful for this wonderful Easter

celebration we have this past weekend.

We're just for this this week that comes after and

just the, um the peace and comfort that we've experienced

from your your promises and celebrating the resurrection.

What a prayer for anyone's listening today if they're doubting,

help them to know they're not alone.

Even one of your disciples doubted and refused to believe

until he could see you face to face and and

see your scars.

Um, see, you're resurrected body.

And so to doubt us is not something that is

considered a horrible thing.

And God's, uh, in God's mind.

But it does say that we are favored if we're

able to believe.

And what we haven't seen it.

So let's pray that, Lord, when doubts creep up, just

continue to remind is the promises you made and and

the way that you've always been faithful in our lives.

Lord, go with us today.

May other people see you alive in us.

See your resurrection alive Enough.

The faith that we have in you alive in us

today we pray this in Jesus' name.

Amen. Well, grace and peace have a wonderful day.

Doubting Easter

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