In our lesson from John’s Gospel we are told that Thomas was not with the disciples on that first Easter night when Jesus appeared. When the other disciples told Thomas, "We have seen the Lord", Thomas said, "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."

Thus we get the phrase, "doubting Thomas". But before we are too hard on Thomas we need to look at the other disciples. In our lesson from Matthew’s Gospel in verse 1 we read that "When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted." And in our text from Luke’s Gospel Jesus admonished the other disciples for doubting. "Why do doubts rise in your minds?" The difference was Thomas was honest enough to admit his doubt.

I think the neat thing is that Jesus honored Thomas’ honesty. Because the following Sunday night when Jesus appeared again, Jesus confronted Thomas’ doubt head-on and said, "Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe." Jesus knew what Thomas had said the week before and Jesus helped Thomas overcome his doubt. The Scriptures don’t say that Thomas put his fingers in Jesus’ hand, the scriptures just record Thomas’ confession and Thomas’ confession is a much stronger response than that of any of the other disciples. Thomas said, "My Lord and my God."

Notice the progression. In verses 37 and 38 we are told the disciples’ feelings. They were frightened, troubled, and filled with doubt. All of these inhibit believing. Jesus addressed their feelings and Jesus admonished their lack of belief. Next Jesus taught the disciples and then Jesus commissioned the disciples. Belief and faith always lead to discipleship. Intellectual knowledge is of no value unless it leads us to discipleship.

Thomas’ response of faith is much stronger than his question of doubt. When doubting Thomas saw Jesus, Thomas became believing Thomas. When Thomas had an encounter with the risen Jesus, he did not need any further proof.

Before we are too hard on Thomas we need to honestly look at ourselves. Does doubt stand in the way of our discipleship?

Can you really have faith in what you cannot see? Jesus said it is better to believe without seeing than see without believing.

In Hebrews 11:1 we read, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." We do not have to see the physical Jesus today to believe that Jesus is alive. All we need to do is to honestly examine the evidence and when we do believe.

Christ is not standing before us so we can visibly see Him. But Jesus showed Himself to the disciples so they could tell us. Not only do we have the disciples testimony recorded in God’s word, but also the Holy Spirit testifying to us. Jesus says we don’t need special signs or wonders, because we have the promises in His word recorded in the Bible ... and … we have the testimony of changed lives all around us. Lives like Charles Ecker’s. … If we are honestly searching for the truth, Jesus will reveal Himself to us. These are enough to let us exclaim as the disciples did, "We have seen the Lord."

These are enough for us fall on our knees as Thomas did and cry out, "My Lord and My God."

In the 29^th verse of our text we see that Jesus is the main character in the Law of Moses, the prophetic writings, and in the Psalms. In other words Jesus is the main character in the Old Testament. Jesus is also the main character in the New Testament.

In the 30^th verse of John’s Gospel we read that the miracles Jesus did while He was on earth are recorded in the Scriptures so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we may have life in His name. Jesus invites us to examine the evidence.

I do not want us to miss the significance of Thomas’ confession. "My Lord and my God." If we truly believe that Jesus is God in the flesh then the only logical response is to worship Him and submit to His Lordship. If Jesus is our Lord that means that we will gladly do what He wants us to do.

Our lesson from Matthew makes it crystal clear what Jesus wants all of His disciples to do: Tell other people about Him. Jesus came to earth to give us life, to save sinful people from our sinful nature and our sinful acts. In His death Jesus paid the price of our sins and in His resurrection Jesus defeated sin and death. Because Jesus lives we can be assured of eternal life if we accept His free gift of life. Jesus came to save all people – not just me OR you. Jesus expects us to share this good news, this assurance of life. Telling other people about Jesus is not an option; it is a command from our Lord.

If you really love Jesus you will want to tell other people about Him.

If Jesus has made a difference in your life you will be excited about telling other people what Jesus has done for you.

Everyone’s spiritual journey begins with doubting and leads us to discipleship. The question is, "Where are you in your spiritual journey? Have you moved to the believing phase? If you believe, have you publicly confessed your faith in Jesus Christ like Thomas did? If you have publicly declared Jesus as your Lord and your Savior, are you sharing your faith with others?"

Today, Jesus is alive and Jesus comes to you in an invisible way, through his Word. … Every time you hear the Word of God, Jesus steps into your life and says, "Peace be with you." Every time you receive the Lord’s Supper, Jesus is right there, through his body and blood, and he chases away your doubts, and fills you with faith and hope and trust in him. Jesus appears to us and speaks to us today through The Word which is recorded in the Bible and Jesus speaks to us through the Sacraments. But we must come in faith and we must come with expectation

After the Lord breaks into our hearts and we have declared "my Lord and my God," we will begin to experience a new life. God calls us out of our locked rooms into the world. When we publicly declare our faith we can no longer sequester ourselves in the safety of silence and detachment. We are called to demonstrate our faith by ministering to others. Then when other people hear our testimony, they not simply hear words, but they will see Jesus Christ alive in our hearts and lives.

The ways we love each other; the ways we respond to those in need; the ways we are responsible with all the physical possessions God has entrusted to us will be visible evidence of Jesus’ presence in our lives.

Others will come to faith, not by what we say, but by the way we live, the way we respond in forgiveness, the way we share the love, joy, peace, and hope of Jesus Christ.

Will you be a vision of Christ for someone today? Will you help someone have a first-hand encounter with the living Christ? Will you fulfill Christ Command to you by the way you live by opening your heart and your hands to others? Amen.

Let us stand and state what we believe using The Statement of faith printed in our bulletins!