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INTRODUCTION
On the Easter Sunday the choir has told us the story, the marvelous story one more time. This
is the greatest day on calendar. Easter is Resurrection Sunday. For 2000 years the church of
Jesus Christ has remembered with joy, lived with renewed dedication, and some even died
because of truth we celebrate: that “Jesus is Lord, He has Risen from the dead and He is
Lord.” We accept the truth by faith - because - we were not there.
One of my favorite questions: Do you know how blessed you are? Think of the many blessings God
has given you - the great things you have seen. We have witnessed some amazing events and
people of history.
But, do you know you are blessed because you were not there in person when they crucified our
Lord and when He rose from the dead? We are blessed because missed seeing it 2000 yrs ago. We
were not there.
An interesting statement made by Jesus to skeptical Thomas is actually spoken directly to us
today. TEXT: John 20:29
1. Thomas’ Belief.
- On Resurrection Sunday Jesus made several appearances: to Mary Magdalene and some
other women, the 2 men on the Emmaus Road, and later in the day appeared to 10 of the
11 disciples 20:18-24
- Thomas been called Doubting Thomas. He was not there when Jesus first appeared. Maybe
he had given up on Jesus, maybe he wanted to forget. He doubted anyway. But he missed
Jesus’ first day of appearances.
- v. 25 But next 7 days he heard all about it from those who
were there. But he was skeptical. He had to see proof. He had to see to believe.
- The disciples had no idea when Jesus would appear next...
- v. 26 But the next week, another Sunday, the disciples were
gathered together and Thomas had been convinced to rejoin them. Maybe it was the first
day he did rejoin them, maybe that was a reason Jesus appeared that day, He wanted to
make sure all His disciples witnessed Him - Jesus miraculously appeared again, turned,
directly talked to Thomas v. 27.
- “Thomas, you want proof, here I am - touch me, I want you to believe.“
- v. 28 There is no record that Thomas touched Jesus,
Thomas’ statement of faith was a statement of recognizing the full deity of
Jesus, in fact made personal: “MY Lord and MY God!” Thomas
believed. Doubt was gone.
- Each believer must come to the point of declaring this statement about Jesus in their
life. Jesus seeks skeptics. Can you say to this line to Jesus?
- Faith in Jesus is personal, not abstract or distant. Faith in Jesus connects us to God.
We have a new library book Unveiling Islam. It explains that the
god of Islam is not the same God as ours. Theirs is unknowable, distant, has no
Son, not personal. Their god is a god to fear not to love. Our God is a God who
loves us and a God we can love.
- v. 29 Jesus goes on with Thomas to make an important point
about faith. Jesus reminds Thomas “Did you have to see to believe? You did
didn’t you? BUT there is a greater blessing to those who believe Me without
seeing.”
- “Blessed” “How happy.” First word of the Beatitudes of the
Sermon on the Mount. In fact, this is a beatitude itself, the greatest of the
Beatitudes. Do you know how blessed you are? You weren’t there 2000 years ago
and you can believe!
2. Your Belief
- Let us talk about your faith. Is Jesus speaking directly to you? v. 29b.
- The nature of Christian faith is believing without seeing. Taking truth at face value
of what Jesus said and did. We trust the Bible to be True. In fact the Apostle John
believed in resurrection before he saw Jesus (20:8).
- Please understand there is plenty of evidence for us to believe. It is not a blind
leap into the dark. It is a leap on historical facts, plenty of evidence in the Bible,
plus circumstantial, historical, legal, archeological, and testimonial. And our faith
is made sight already in that we see the evidence, but someday we see Jesus face to
face and behold Him in all His glory.
Books: Evidence Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell Campus Crusade,
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel a lawyer turned preacher.
C.S. Lewis, Paul Little - Know Why you Believe, etc...
- How is Christian faith believed? Romans 10:9,10 Do you need
to see the risen Jesus in person? No. Just believe facts that Jesus is Lord (God), and
He is risen from dead. This is the Gospel 1 Cor. 15:3-5
- Did you have to be there 2000 years ago to believe in Jesus? No
- Do you need to see the empty tomb in Israel to believe? No
- Do you need to see divine miracles of Jesus to believe? No
- Do you need to touch the resurrected Jesus to believe? No
- Do you need to be on the mount when he ascended into heaven? No
- Simple belief, simple trust in the person of Jesus Christ is all! Much evidence is
available for us to see an accept by faith.
- This week’s Newsweek magazine had a debate between Pastor Rick
Warren and atheist Sam Harris who wrote the book The End of Faith.
Rick Warren says: “I believe that history split into A.D. and B.C. because of
the Resurrection. And the Resurrection is not only the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
it is the hope of the world; it says there is more to this life than just here and
now... I believe in both faith and reason. The more we learn about God, the more we
understand how magnificent the universe is. There is no contradiction to it. When I
look at history…Christianity has done far more good than bad. Altruism comes out of
knowing there is more than this life, that there is a sovereign God, and that I am not
God. We’re both betting. He’s betting his life that he is right. I’m
betting my life that Jesus was not a liar. When we die, if he’s right, I’ve
lost nothing. If I’m right, he’s lost everything. I’m not willing to
make that bet” (Newsweek, April 9, 2007, page 63).
CONCLUSION
Let us make this personal - Have you confessed Jesus is Lord? Do you believe Jesus rose from
the dead? Can you state as the choir: “My Savior, My God” As Thomas “My Lord
and My God.” You are blessed if you do! More so than Thomas - because you believe first
without seeing. Then you will see what you believe. John 14:1-6
I would love for you to make a specific decision today. Easter is the highest holy day of our
calendar. Use this day to set a landmark in your life that this day forward Christ is Lord of
your life.
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