Trusting in the Correct One

Psalm 20

Sometimes in life we find ourselves doing battle.  Of course there are literal, physical battles, whether it is a war that our country may get involved in, or if someone picks a fight with us.  Then there are figurative battles, such as battling an illness or disease, or economic or financial battles we deal with.  And then equally as serious are the spiritual battles we fight against Satan and his minions.  Our psalm for this week is a prayer for the king as he goes forth to battle, and can also be a prayer for us in any type of battle that we may face in our daily lives.

King David often went to battle against the enemies of both Israel and also of Yahweh.  When he would prepare for battle he and the people of Israel would pray for God’s protection and help.  They prayed that the Lord would answer David when danger comes, in “the day of trouble” (vs. 1).  This refers not only to a literal battle, but also can apply to any crisis we face.  Jesus told us that trouble is to be expected and should not be considered unusual (John 16:33), but that He will hear us when we pray to Him in time of trouble (Psalm 34:17).  We should always remember to pray for ourselves and each other before the crisis hits, not only while we are in it.

As the people prayed, they knew that help comes from God’s presence, not from any type of human strategy (vs. 2).  God is the source of our victories in any type of battle (Psalm 121:2).  The spiritual battles that we face require spiritual help (Ephesians 6:10-18).  God’s help should always be sought first, not as a last resort.

David had offered sacrifices before going into battle, and the people prayed that God would accept them (vs. 3).  When our worship is offered in obedience to His Word, God will respond.  Victory is connected to a life aligned with God, not just merely asking for His help.  The people prayed that God would fulfill David’s desires and plans (vs. 4).  God will bless the desires of ours that align with His will.  We need to pray that our desires will be shaped by the Bible so that God can bless them.

As we read further, the people anticipated a victory before the battle even began.  Faith will celebrate God’s deliverance before it arrives, and praise Him in advance for what He will do.  Next David spoke, giving testimony that he knew that God would save “His anointed”, which is what the word Messiah in Hebrew means (vs. 6).  David had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel, however Jesus Christ is the greater Anointed One.  God’s salvation is certain because it rests upon His covenant.

Where or in whom are we placing our trust when we encounter the battles that we face each day? (vs. 7).   What “chariots” do we trust in?  Our abilities, strength, human wisdom, friends or relatives?  Worldly goods are sometimes useful in daily life, but they don’t give us security in times of trouble.  If we place our trust in things, possessions, or wealth, we find that they eventually give way, and then we wonder why we fail, and why certain problems continue to affect us.  In a world of change, we can trust our unchanging God.

While God may use the resources of this world to help us, ultimately victory over our problems comes from Him.  Whether He gives us a resolution or the grace to endure, we can trust that He’ll be for us all that He says He is.  We don’t have to be overwhelmed by our troubles, but we can face them with His hope and peace.

Those who trust in theirs or others human strength will eventually collapse.  But those who trust in God will stand firm (vs. 8).  God promises to exalt the humble, and brings down the proud.  This victory is not always physical, but is spiritual.  Standing firm in trials is evidence of trust in God.  The psalm ends with a final prayer for God’s salvation and for the king’s success.

As we look back over our psalm of today, we realize that God is the source of both salvation and victory.  It is not in our human strength, planning, or resources. Prayer is always essential before any type of battle we face.  We also learn to pray before the crisis hits, not just during it.  Finally, we should examine where our trust lies - is it in God or in human strength?  As believers and followers of Jesus, our trust should be in Him rather than in any worldly security.

The Martyrdom of Stephen

Acts 7:51-60

We often remember the first person to do something, like Neil Armstrong being the first man on the moon, Edmund Hillary and Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay being the first to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, or Roald Amundsen being the first to reach the South Pole.  Countless other “firsts” were never recorded so we have no idea who would get the honor.  However, we do have a “first” recorded in our Scripture for today, that being the first martyr of the Christian Church.

Today we look at a pivotal event that happened in the very early Church, that of the martyrdom of St. Stephen.  Though the exact date is not given in the Book of Acts, most Biblical scholars place his death between two to four years after the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the believers, and the Christian Church began.  Stephen was one of seven men who were chosen by the Apostles to be deacons in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1-6).  In addition to assisting in the day-to-day ministries for the needs of the poor, Stephen was also a very gifted preacher.  His teachings were very powerful and convicting, so much so that he quickly came to the attention of the Jewish religious leaders and the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court and legal council).  Stephen was promptly arrested and brought before these religious and legal leaders where he was questioned.

Our Scripture passage picks up just as Stephen ended a rather lengthy testimony, tracing Israel’s history of resisting God’s messengers.  He brought his message to a conclusion by stating that the leaders of the people now have repeated the sins of their fathers by rejecting the Messiah (vs. 51-53).  This would be the final rejection of the Gospel by the Sanhedrin.  Stephen called these religious leaders “stiffnecked”, as they stubbornly refused to bow to God, just as their fathers also refused. And they were “uncircumcised in heart and ears”.  They were outwardly religious, but inwardly they were disobedient.  They willfully rejected God’s revealed truth.  Israel had a history of rejecting God’s messengers.  Stephen pointed out that they prided themselves on possessing God’s Law, however, possession is not obedience.

The religious leaders were “cut to the heart” (vs. 54).  They knew that what Stephen said was true.  There was no denying it.  However, they did not repent.  Instead of yielding to the Holy Spirit, they responded with rage.  Stephen remained controlled, calm, and focused on Christ in contrast to the mob’s fury (vs. 55-56).  As he looked up he saw the Lord Jesus standing at God’s right hand.  This is the only time in Scripture that Jesus is described as standing at God’s right hand.  Jesus was standing as Stephen’s advocate (I John 2:1).  He was standing to receive His servant, the first of countless martyrs, into glory.

When these religious leaders and members of the Sanhedrin heard Stephen speak of seeing Jesus at God’s right hand, they flew into a murderous fury (vs. 57-58).  They stopped their ears and rushed upon him, casting him out of the city.  There they began to stone Stephen.  This was not a legal execution, but instead a lynching driven by their religious fury.

As Stephen fell down dying, he prayed to Jesus, repeating some of the same words that the Savior did as He died upon the Cross (vs. 59-60).  He asked Jesus to receive his spirit (Luke 23:46), and also asked Him to forgive those who had killed him (Luke 23:34).  As we can all imagine, stoning is a very brutal form of death, yet Stephen forgave them.  Would we be able to do the same?  This was evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in Stephen, even in his suffering.

In this Scripture passage we are first introduced to Paul, who at this time was known as Saul (vs. 58).  Saul was a devout Pharisee, and was possibly also connected to the Sanhedrin.  As one who at this time strongly opposed this new faith of those who followed Jesus, he approved of the death of Stephen.  The blood of the first martyr watered the tiny seeds of faith that would, in a couple of years, bring forth fruit in the heart of Saul with his conversion, which we read of in Acts 9.

As we close, we see that Stephen boldly spoke the truth, even when it was unpopular, and even when he knew the danger of doing so in front of the Jewish religious leaders and Sanhedrin.  We must do the same today.  There are many different groups which are hostile to true, genuine Christians today.  However, like Stephen, we need to stand for Biblical truth, and refuse to compromise anything under pressure. Stephen’s eyes were on Jesus, not on his circumstances.  Because of that, he was able to see the Savior clearly.  He valued eternity over comfort, and so must we, living with heaven in view.  This passage challenges us to forgive our enemies.  We need to release all bitterness, and instead pray for our persecutors.  Finally, as we look, we see Saul off in the corner.  His presence there shows God’s hidden purposes.  What looks like tragedy may be the seeds of future triumph, as we know how God used Saul/Paul in a mighty way to spread the Gospel he once fought against.

Marks of a Spirit-Filled Church

Acts 2:36-47

If someone from the very early Church were to time-travel to today and visit any number of churches, would they feel that they could recognize where they were?  Aside from the language difference, and modern technology, would there be any key marks or similarities that they would recognize, or would it feel like some public social gathering where some music was played and a speaker gave a message?  In our Scripture passage taken from the second chapter of Acts, we read about the very early beginnings of the Church, and what some of the birthmarks of that early New Testament Church were.

The setting for our Scripture is immediately following the first sermon that the Apostle Peter gave on the Day of Pentecost, the people’s reaction, and the establishment of the Church in the weeks that followed.  The immediate results of that first sermon was conviction brought on by the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith in the Lord Jesus, believer’s baptism, and the formation of a Spirit-filled, Scripture-centered Church.  The Holy Spirit had just descended upon the believers who had gathered together, and Peter had just given a message.  In his first sermon he proclaimed that Jesus is the promised Messiah, that the people of Israel had the Messiah crucified, that God had raised Him from the dead, and now Jesus is exalted at God’s right hand.  Now as we come to our opening verses, we see what the crowd’s response was.

In Peter’s closing statement to his sermon, he proclaimed the deity of the Lord Jesus, that He is both Lord and Christ (vs. 36).  “Lord” is a divine title, stating that He has power and authority over us, and “Christ” is the Greek word for Anointed One, which is what the word Messiah means.  He also stated their human responsibility for the crucifixion.  Peter did not soften the truth.  Instead, he preached sin, responsibility, and the exaltation of Christ.  Would our time-traveling 1st century visitor hear that in our churches today?  All too many churches today never mention sin, that we are all sinners who need salvation, or any mention of repentance.  However, a faithful Gospel presentation must include the identity of Jesus Christ, that we are guilty sinners, and the necessity of responding to this truth.

When Peter presented this message to the crowds, the Holy Spirit brought conviction (vs. 37).  When our preachers give this type of message today, He will also come in power as He did then.  True conviction will include an awareness of their sin before God, taking responsibility for that sin, and also recognizing who Jesus truly is.  No one is saved without conviction.

Once they had received and believed the truth, the crowds asked Peter what they needed to do.  Peter responded for them to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit (vs. 38).  Repentance is a change of mind about sin and who Jesus truly is.  It is a turning from unbelief to faith, and is a necessary part of salvation.  Being baptized does not save us.  It is not a part of salvation.  It is the public identification of ourselves with the Lord Jesus. Salvation is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Baptism is the first act of obedience, not a means of receiving forgiveness.   Then after one is saved, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer.  This is the permanent indwelling promised to all believers (Ephesians 1:13-14).

This message that Peter preached, and the promises therein was for everyone (vs. 39-40).  The Gospel is for everyone - for the Jewish people “you”, for the Gentiles “all who are afar off”, and to each’s descendants “your children”.  Are our churches today welcoming to everyone, regardless of race or national origin, educational level, or income?  This message was urgent.  It was urgent back then, and it is even more so today.  Do our preachers have that same earnestness and sense of urgency to see people in their neighborhood saved?  Do they warn of judgment to come and to turn to Jesus for salvation, or are their messages only feel-good, motivational talks?  The response to Peter’s sermon was the salvation of at least 3,000 people! (vs. 41).

Next we read a brief description of what the early church was like - the teaching was grounded in Scripture, the “apostle’s doctrine”, in fellowship with mutual care for each other, the breaking of bread - both Communion and likely shared meals, and in prayer (vs. 42).  Are our churches like that?  Do we have frequent Holy Communion, frequently praying together, have doctrinally sound preaching, and genuinely caring about each other and their needs.

The early believers had a fear of the Lord, a holy reverence for Him, not a casualness too often seen today (vs. 43).  They voluntarily shared their possessions to meet the needs of everyone (vs. 44-47).  This wasn’t socialism or communal ownership, nor was it forced.  It was voluntary and motivated by love.  Some species of trees, when planted near each other, allow their roots to intertwine and sometimes even fuse together.  They share water, nutrients, and support in storms.  God designed Christians to support one another through all of life’s storms.

So how would our Early Church visitor feel in the churches of today?  Is your church like that of the Church in the immediate years following Pentecost?  Is it marked by unity, generosity, reverent worship, prayer, and Biblical preaching and teaching?  Those were the birthmarks of the New Testament Church.

The Precious Blood of Jesus

I Peter 1:17-23

If you had to make a list for your homeowners or apartment insurance of what you considered valuable or precious, what would you put on that list?  Probably any expensive jewelry you might have.  If you had some special collection of items or antiques, they might go on the list. Perhaps important documents.  The reason we insure these items is because they can be destroyed or stolen.  If a fire, flood, tornado, or hurricane happens, they are likely gone or ruined.  Or if a thief breaks into your house, they will be stolen.  If there is an economic collapse, your possessions might end up losing value, and the insurance is useless.  Their worth is gone or lost.  What about something which is worth far more than anything we insure, something that can never lose its value or be lost or destroyed?  Our Scripture today speaks of something that is the most precious thing in all of the universe for believers, something that will never lose its value, that we can never lose, nor can it be taken from us, and because of that, how we should respond.  Let’s look into God’s Word.

The Apostle Peter wrote his two epistles to believers who had been scattered from their homes and neighborhoods, and were suffering persecution for their faith.  He wanted to strengthen their identity in Christ, and to call them to holy living while they remain in a hostile world.  As our Scripture begins, Peter was reminding these believers to continue to live in reverent fear of the Lord.  He is not only their Father, but He is also the impartial Judge (vs. 17).  When we are saved, we do obtain an intimacy with God that the unsaved do not have, but that should not mean that we treat Him with casualness.  He will judge each believer’s works with fairness.  This isn’t works that one might do to be saved, as works don’t and can’t save us, but speaks of works for the Lord that we do out of love for Him after salvation.  This fear Peter speaks of is not terror of losing our salvation, but is a sober awareness that God sees, knows, and evaluates our conduct.

Peter then reminded his readers, and us as well, of the cost of our redemption (vs. 18-19).  Because of our sins, we were all destined to an eternity in hell, and there was no amount of earthly wealth that could purchase our salvation.  However, the Precious Blood of Jesus did just that.  It was the highest possible price, as Jesus is the perfect, sinless sacrifice.  Our redemption is substitutionary, blood-based, and rooted in Jesus’ sinlessness.  It didn’t cost us anything, but it cost Jesus the shedding of His life-blood.

Again, we consider what we think of as precious.  When it comes to our Christian faith, often people think of grace, forgiveness, and God’s love.  However, with our sanitized Christian culture today, we don’t speak much of the Blood of Jesus.  Yet His Blood is the only basis for our salvation.  What do you have if you remove the blood from a body?  You just have a lifeless corpse.  The same is true of the Bible.  Scripture would be no more than historical literature if we edited all of the "unpleasant" parts regarding the blood sacrifice, Jesus dying on the cross, or the power of His Blood.

As we continue to read, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was foreordained before creation  (vs. 20).  The cross was not an accident.  It wasn’t that the religious leaders in Jerusalem somehow got the upper hand and crucified Jesus, taking God by surprise, and then He had to resort to Plan B, by raising Him from the dead.  No, this was God’s eternal plan from the start.  Jesus came to earth for the sole purpose of dying for our sins.

Peter continued by explaining that our faith and hope in God comes through the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 21).  He is the Mediator through whom we come to God.  The resurrection of Jesus validates that His death was adequate and sufficient for our salvation.  We can have confidence in God’s completed work.  Knowing the price that was paid for our salvation, Peter closes this segment of Scripture by admonishing us to obey the Gospel, applying God’s Word to our heart (vs. 22-23).

As we look back over this Scripture passage, let us remember the cost of our redemption, and let it shape our choices in life.  The Blood of the Lord Jesus is too precious for us to live carelessly.  God sees every motive and action, so let us pursue holiness with reverent fear.  And let us stay rooted in the Bible, God’s Word.  Our new life came through the Word, and our growth depends on it.

A Cry of Desperation

Psalm 116

A frequent theme in movies or TV shows is someone in a life or death situation who, even if they aren’t religious, will make a desperate prayer to God.  They pray that if He will rescue them, they will start going to church, or read their Bible, or otherwise amend their life, a sort of frantic bargain.  Even genuine Christians, when in a desperate life or death situation make similar promises to God.  However, if they come out of these situations alright, these promises to God are often forgotten about.  The psalmist of today’s psalm was in a critical situation, enough that he despaired of his life.  However, as we will read, he had all full intention of keeping the vows he made to God.  Let’s take a look and see what God’s Word can teach us.

Psalm 116 is a personal testimony of our psalmist’s deliverance by the Lord from a near-death crisis.  This is a testimony of a believer who has been brought back from the brink.  He praised God for His rescue, and then vowed to commit himself to giving thanksgiving, obedience, and public worship throughout the rest of his life.  This psalm is also one of the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113-118), which were traditionally sung at Passover.  Thus, it is likely that Jesus and His disciples sang this psalm after the Last Supper, right before His sacrificial death (Matthew 26:30).

Once rescued, the psalmist openly proclaimed his love for Yahweh because He heard his cry for help, and responded (vs. 1-2).  He called upon Him, and the Lord proved to be faithful.  God’s hearing of our prayers is not passive.  He bends down and inclines His ear to hear His children’s cries.  Unlike the pagan’s futile prayers to their false gods, our prayers to Yahweh are effective because He is personal, attentive, and near.  Our love for Him should grow as we remember His past mercies and answers to prayer.

The next several verses describe our psalmist’s brush with death (vs. 3-4).  We don’t know the details of this crisis in his life, perhaps a critical illness, or some bad accident.  He described the “pains of death”, the “pangs of Sheol” or the realm of the dead, along with “trouble and sorrow”.  Death is our enemy (I Corinthians 15:26), and it is a believer’s instinct to call upon the Lord when we are in a deadly crisis.  The psalmist didn’t give a long, deeply theological prayer, as that is not necessary.  He called out in desperation, and God responded to his sincere, humble cry.

In the psalmist’s tribute to the Lord following his rescue, he mentions three of His attributes - gracious, righteous, and merciful (vs. 5-7).  God is gracious in that He gives us what we do not deserve.  He is righteous in that His actions are always just.  And the Lord is merciful in that He withholds from us what we do deserve.  He also praises the Lord because his soul can now rest since Yahweh has brought him peace.

The psalmist returns again to speaking of the crisis that he was in, describing his deliverance (vs. 8-11).  The author speaks of being delivered from death.  Whatever his situation was, there was physical danger and a near-death experience.  He was in emotional anguish with tears.  He also spoke of falling, which could either speak of actually physically falling, or refer to a moral or spiritual collapse.  He spoke out to others about his deliverance because his renewed faith in the Lord produced such a testimony.  Because of the fallenness of humanity, such as mankind being liars, we know that trust must be placed in God alone.

What can he give or do for the Lord in payment for his deliverance?  (vs. 12-14).  He will take the cup of salvation from the Lord.  He does that by receiving God’s salvation with gratitude, and not trying to repay it.  He will also call upon the Name of the Lord, not worshiping or praying to any of the false gods around.  He will fulfill the vows and promises he made, in obedience and with integrity in front of people in public worship.

Verse 15 is a beloved verse of many, as it affirms how God values the death of His children, those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus.  He is not indifferent to their suffering.  Their passing is not a tragic loss, but a precious transition from their life here on earth into the realm of His presence and kingdom.  We can have confidence in eternal security and God’s tender care at our life’s end.

As the psalm comes to a close, the writer declares that since the Lord “loosened his bonds” bringing him freedom from the crisis, he will give Him service, not just living his life like he might want.  He gives the Lord a sacrifice of thanksgiving in public worship.

If we truly have gratitude for what God has done for us we will express it in obedience to His Word, in public testimony by telling others what He has done, in giving joyful worship, and living a life filled with service to Him.  When we cry out to God in desperate times, He will hear, answer, and act on our behalf.  His deliverance is complete, in both body and soul. 

Fear Not, You Are Mine

Isaiah 43:1-13

Imagine going through a very devastating disaster.  Perhaps your home was completely flooded, with everything you own being washed away.  Or maybe a fire burned everything to the ground, or a tornado flattened everything.  There are other tragedies we could face, such as the sudden, unexpected death of one or more members of our family.  During such times, it can be comforting, and emotionally strengthening to have a dear friend come alongside us, and walk with us through these tragedies.  Some friends, though, disappear when the difficult times come.  Others are there temporarily, but as they have their own needs and families, they leave and you are left alone again.  Is there anyone who will always be there to comfort us, and take our hand and walk with us, or will we always be alone?  We find an answer in our Scripture today from the prophet Isaiah.

Being all alone in a tragedy and having no one to be there with us is discouraging.  However Christians never have to be in that position, as our Scripture tells us.  We don’t need to be afraid of facing a time like that, as the Lord tells us that, not only did He create us and redeem us, but He personally knows us by our name, and we belong to Him (vs. 1).  Jesus redeemed us, bought us back from our sinful inheritance, and saved us from the consequences of sin (I Peter 1:18-19).  God tells us not to be afraid, no matter what comes against us.  If God cares when a sparrow falls, He will care for us (Matthew 10:31).  God is not going to fail us, disappoint us, or allow us to be put to shame.  We belong to Him.

God has promised His children that He will be with us through the deep waters and the fire and flames, whether literal floods and fires or figurative ones (vs. 2).  This echoes His carrying His people through the Red Sea and later the Jordan River on dry ground, along with the fiery furnace in the Book of Daniel.  It is assumed that these trials will happen.  God said “when”, not “if”.  However we do not need to fear, as His presence is guaranteed.  He promises to be with us.  God has also set the limits of our suffering, as “they shall not overflow you.”

No matter how deep the water we wade in, or how raging the river that comes against us in life, we will not be overwhelmed, for God is with us.  His love for us is stronger than anything that would try to come against us and overtake us.  No matter the size of the opposition coming against our lives or those we love, God is bigger.  God does not promise the absence of trials, but He has promised His presence in them.

Reading on, we see that God moved nations and empires to preserve Israel (vs. 3-4).  His love is not sentimental, but covenantal, sacrificial, sovereign, and purposeful.  He sent His only Son to die, not only for Israel, but also for all mankind.  If we have ever doubted our own worth, remember, that God believed us important enough to Him to justify the death of His Son.

Next we read of God’s prophetic promise that He will gather again the people of Israel, which have been scattered around the world since the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (vs. 5-7).  They have been in worldwide dispersion since then, but God has now begun regathering them, and this will ultimately be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom.  He lets us know that their existence is tied to His glory not their merit.  Currently, as a whole, they are spiritually blind, yet chosen to testify of God's works (vs. 8-9).  Nations and idols cannot predict or explain history.  God alone foretells and fulfills prophecy.

As the prophet Isaiah proclaims, God is an exclusive God (vs. 10-11).  Only one true God exists, that being Yahweh.  There has been none before nor will there be any after Him, and only the Lord Jesus Christ can save us.  The Apostle Peter also echoed this truth in Acts 4:12.  He is self-existent, all-powerful and supreme (vs. 12-13).  No one can reverse the intentions and objectives He has for His people.

As we close, we learn that though trials in our life are real, God’s presence is more real.  Despite our failures, God will always remain faithful to the promises He has made to His people, those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus.  Remember, we are not abandoned, and are not alone in the universe.  The God who made everything has chosen us to be His very own.  He has called us by our own names, so there is no danger that He might have mistaken us for someone else.  We are safe forever, no matter what may happen to us.

The Nailprints in His Hands

John 20:19-31

It had been a very difficult past three days for Thomas.  It started late Thursday night with the arrest of Jesus by the religious authorities.  Then a mockery of a trial overnight, followed by His crucifixion on Friday.  Thomas chose to spend the next couple of days by himself.  His grief was such that he preferred to be by himself, rather than with the other disciples.  Then later in the day on Sunday, the other ten disciples were telling him some unbelievable news, that Jesus was risen from the dead, and that they all had seen Him!  This is the setting for our Scripture from the Gospel of John today.

As mentioned above, ten of the disciples were gathered together.  The betrayer Judas was dead, and Thomas was not among them.  Some people like to be with friends and loved ones when they are grieving and troubled.  Others prefer to be alone, and Thomas was probably one of the latter.  Some of the women who also followed Jesus had told them earlier that day that they had gone to the tomb and that Jesus was not there.  They told of angels and of His resurrection.  Mary Magdalene had even seen and spoken to Jesus.  However, they were still quite afraid of the authorities and continued to keep the doors locked and bolted.  That evening as they were gathered together, puzzled and afraid, Jesus appeared standing among them (vs. 19-20).

Jesus now had a glorified body, and He was able to come into a locked room.  Though His body was glorified, it was still a physical body, as He showed them the wounds in His hands and side.  This was not a spirit or ghost of Jesus.  The wounds were proof of His bodily resurrection and proof that the atonement was complete. Jesus’ first words to them were a blessing of peace.  It is the peace purchased by His death (John 14:27; Romans 5:1).  The disciples were now glad, as fear turns to joy when Jesus is present.

Jesus proceeded to give them a commission (vs. 21).  This was not the same event as the Great Commission of Matthew 28, but is consistent with it.  They have a mission to reveal God and proclaim the truth to the world.  Jesus also breathed on the disciples, bestowing the Holy Spirit (vs. 22).  This was not Pentecost, which would happen in a little over a month, but was a symbolic, anticipatory act.  This was a pledge of the Holy Spirit, a preparation for the coming empowerment.  Then the disciples were authorized to declare God’s terms of forgiveness (vs 23).  When they preach the gospel, they can confidently say that those who believe in Jesus will be forgiven their sins, but those who reject the Gospel will remain in their sins.  We are admonished to be forgiving of others who sin against us.  If we withhold forgiveness, we will be denied forgiveness, as well.  Don’t stand in the way of your own relationship with God by denying forgiveness to someone else.

These ten disciples then told their missing brother Thomas that Jesus had come and appeared to them (vs. 24-25).  However, Thomas did not believe, and even said that he would only believe if he put his fingers into the nail prints, and his hand into the wound on Jesus’ side.  We shouldn’t be too hard on Thomas, as he honestly struggled with believing.  He wanted to know with certainty, and was slow to accept the testimony of the others.  Jesus didn’t condemn him, He met him where he was in faith.

A week later, on the following Sunday evening, Jesus appeared again, repeating the blessing of peace (vs. 26-27).  Then He turned to Thomas and invited him to touch the wounds, telling him to not be faithless, but to believe.  Jesus’ encounter with Thomas shows that the Lord has patience with those who struggle with faith.  He is willing to give evidence, and desires to bring people to faith in Him, not to shame them for their doubts.

Thomas then responded with one of the clearest declarations of Christ’s deity (vs. 28).  By calling Jesus “Lord” he was declaring that Jesus was His Master, and Thomas also proclaimed Jesus’ deity, that He was God.  Jesus accepted this worship, giving proof that He is truly God.  He responded with a blessing to Thomas who saw and believed, and also with a blessing to those who believe without even seeing (vs. 29).  This blessing is for all future believers, to you and me, and everyone who trusts the Gospel.

John concluded with the statement that Jesus did many signs, which were never recorded (vs. 30-31).  John recorded what he did so that we all would believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  By believing the testimony of John we can have life in Jesus’ Name.

One final look at the wounds which the Risen Savior has in His hands, feet, and side.  When you and I get to heaven, God will take away all of the scars that we have, both physical scars and emotional ones.  However, Jesus will eternally bear the scars of our sins, the scars that purchased our salvation.  We are engraved onto God’s hands (Isaiah 49:15-16).  We are like an open wound on the hand of God, unforgettable, always before His eyes.  We are engraved as scars on Jesus’ hands.  They are a reminder of God’s incredible love for us, more tender than even a mother’s love for her baby.