Too Good to be True
What is something that is just too good to be true?
From out of the blue, you receive a phone call informing you have won $500,000. – Too good to be true!
Your neighbor tells you he purchased a new care cheaper than the one he bought five years ago. Too good to be true.
You discover a diet pill guaranteed to help you lose ten lbs. in one week. – Again, too good to be true!
You find an exercise plan that will do the same yet with even better results. – Too good to be true!
A farmer in the early 1950’s claimed he saw a turtle with a shell over 10’ round in his family pond. Locals came flocking and to this day the beast of ‘busco has yet to be found!
For Thomas, the news of the risen Jesus was magic, brilliant, excellent, fabulous, wonderful, terrific, and marvelous.
It was just “too good to be true!” And yet for Thomas and for you this day what appears to be too good to be true is in fact true – which is good news indeed!
Law/Gospel Theme: The world sometimes tells us to be skeptical and hunt for evidence to support whatever we might consider. There are plenty of things that are difficult to verify, especially in the story of the resurrection. But we know from the Bible that Jesus rose. We know that He appeared to His disciples. He also told them that those who believe without sight are especially blessed.
Prayer: 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 both LORD and God; through Jesus Christ our LORD. Amen
Hymn: #55 Jesus loves me
Confession/Absolution:
LORD - we pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. In Your compassion forgive us our sins. Known and unknown. Things done. And left undone. And so uphold us by Your Spirit. That we may live and serve you in newness of life. To the honor and glory of Your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you. Forgive you all your sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And may He strengthen you in all goodness. And by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
John 20:19-32
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 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.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.
Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Hymn: #57 Just as I am
In our gospel lesson today, Thomas had a hard time believing what others tried to tell him. The story of Jesus appearing to his disciples after Easter is so exciting. Imagine watching Him die. And feeling so upset. And then seeing Him alive again! But Thomas missed out.
He wasn’t there in the room when Jesus came. And Thomas didn’t see him personally. He did not believe what his friends told him about witnessing Jesus.
Thomas promised that he wouldn’t believe it until he saw Jesus face to face. When Jesus did show up later, and showed His wounds, Thomas must have felt embarrassed.
But the wonderful thing is that Jesus said “blessed are those who have not seen, and yet still believe.”
He commended people who believed in Him without witnessing face to face. Do you know who that is? That’s you!
You haven’t physically seen Jesus. But you still believe in Him.
How? How do we know about Jesus? We ang about that in our first song. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!
We might hear about Jesus from other people, and that is great. But we have the word of GOD, most importantly.
We have the stories of the Bible. And we know what God’s word says is true.
In order to trust someone or something, we have to know that it is trustworthy. God has most definitely proved Himself trustworthy. He does what He says He’ll do. His promises are real and are true.
The Bible gives us great hope. We can’t see God physically. But we see His evidence and know He gives us life. The Bible is God’s word, given to us so that we can know and believe! {1}
Prayer: Thank you, LORD for your love and care. Thank you for those who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. Help us to trust even when we cannot always see.
As the Lord has given us one another and we give thanks for God’s grace and mercy as we offer prayers on this day.
As the Lord has given us neighbors, friends, families, and coworkers to share the joys and burdens of this life. We thank you Lord, for the privilege of loving others.
As the Lord has given us a promise that where He goes, He will prepare a place for us.
We thank you Lord for the gift of life and for giving us to one another for safekeeping. Bring us home when it is time. Lord in your grace, hear our prayer.
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