The M3 - The Morning Morning Mail: A recap of Sunday to live Monday through Saturday!

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The Second Sunday in Lent

John 20:19-31

I led us through a Close Reading of this text yesterday, highlighting connections, emphases, and important theolgocial ideas in this great resurrection pericope. The first slide was:

In this slide I commented that it was the evening on Sunday, the first day of the new week. Jesus appears to them in his resurrected body on Sunday. This is the reason the church worships on Sunday, because Jesus rose on that day. Yet, the apostles are behind locked doors because they are afraid of the Jews. I questioned are we behind locked doors for similar reasons-afraid of our very bizarre culture. Church feels like a safe place (it should), but it is not meant to be a place to hide but rather a place to renew with the promises of Jesus. Thought they are afraid, Jesus says, "Peace be with you." I made the point that this is not the type of peace about which most people in our lives think. Rather, John 14:27 gets at the idea: not letting your hearts be trouble is this kind of peace. Jesus shows them his hands and his side to create this peace for which they are searching! He then sends thm into the world, just as God the Father has sent him--a commission from Jesus himself. He equips them for his mission with the Holy Spirit! All that Jesus does for the Apostles here he does for you and me, too!

In this slide I noted that we don't know where Thomas was when Jesus first appeared to the apostles. The Apostles tell him that they have seen the Lord. Thomas says that unless he sees Jesus' hands and touches them along with his side, he wil never believe. He wants physical proof of Jesus' tangible, bodily resurrection.

Eight days later Jesus obliges Thomas' demand. Eight days refers to the new creation–in seven days this creation that is now cursed was created and the eighth day refers to the new creation that Jesus inaugurates with his resurrection. The disciples are in the same place as before now–behind locked doors. Jesus greets them again with peace. Then he invites Thomas to see his hands and touch his side. With this invitation Jesus calls forth belief in Thomas. It happens. Thomas exclaims, "My Lord and my God." This response should not be understood as saying the same thing twice but rather Lord refers to the personal relationship Thomas has with Jesus and God recognizes Jesus' omnipotence. Jesus calls you and me and every other Christian who has not seen him but believes as blessed!

In this final slide I noted that we as Christians in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod ardently uphold the inspiration of Scripture and its complete truthfulness because God writes it but the Apostle John  himself refers to it here. John is referring to his gospel but by extension the rest of the Scripture that testifies as he does to who Jesus is. The miracles of Jesus are for you and me and create belief in him. Only belief in Jesus gives us life in the one who has made us!

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