Easter 2 -- John 20:19-31

Sermon preached at Hope Lutheran.





John 20:19-31


19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,“Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”


24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”


26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”


30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

IN NOMINE JESU

Be Like Thomas

Poor Thomas. He will forever be called by that terrible nickname, Doubting Thomas. That moniker has remained with him for two thousand years since Christ rose again, and I imagine it will stay with him until Christ’s return. He has bourn the brunt of countless moralistic sermons about faith, where Thomas is held up as a great example... of what not to do. It even seems like Jesus piles on, saying in our Gospel reading for today, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Lent 3 -- Luke 11:14-23

Sermon preached at Hope Lutheran.


   




Luke 11:14-23
Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” ¹⁶ while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. ¹⁷  But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸ And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.¹⁹ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; ²²  but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. ²³  Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

IN NOMINE JESU

The Finger of God

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dear saints of God, have you ever heard of Benny Hinn? He’s a televangelist who holds huge healing campaigns. If you ever see one of his campaigns on TV, you’ll see people fainting when he touches them, screaming in the aisles, that sort of thing. It’s riveting and dramatic, but is it real? No. Benny Hinn is a false healer and a false prophet. How do I know?