April 14, 2026
Confessing Jesus - Part 2
John 20:24-25
04/14/2026
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin,
was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, ``We have seen
the Lord.'' But he said to them, ``Unless I see in
his hands the mark of the nails, and place my
finger into the mark of the nails, and place my
hand into his side, I will never believe.'' (ESV)
Last Sunday the Church prayed:
Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the
Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our
life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God.
How does this prayer fit with the faith of Thomas, the
disciple of Jesus? Ten of the disciples were convinced that
Jesus had arisen from the dead. They could not help but tell
Thomas, who was not with them on the evening of Easter, of this
good news.
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the mark of the nails, and
place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place
my hand into his side, I will never believe.''
We often are like Thomas, not believing that which reliable
people tell us. The good news of salvation by grace through
faith for the sake of Christ does not seem to fit our view of the
world, it does not seem to fit what we consider to be true.
Maybe we think it doesn't apply to us, that Jesus is for sinners,
and we aren't as bad as others. Maybe we think that science
holds the answers, that the Bible, being an ancient source, is no
longer relevant.
Can you imagine the other ten disciples, their frustration
with Thomas? They wanted the best for him, the peace of knowing
that Jesus lives, yet they were dealing with his reluctance to
hear the truth.
May our Lord open our hearts and minds to hear the truth,
that we do need the grace of God which is found in Christ Jesus
alone. Amen.