Believers are Blessed
April 27, 2025
the Second Sunday of the Easter Season
John 20:28-31 Thomas answered him, gMy Lord and my God!h Jesus said to him, gHave you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.h Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 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.
Not just Thomas, it was hard for all of the Disciples to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. Most of them did not believe the word of the eye witnesses. Jesus had to come and show himself to Mary Magdalene, the Emaus disciples and the other ten disciples. He showed them his hands and his side. Only then they were convinced that he had risen. They were over-joyed. Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Later they went out into all the world to spread he Gospel Good News of the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
They believed because they saw the actual, physical body of Jesus Christ. We have not seen Jesus with our eyes, we have not touched his pierced hands and side. How can we believe? Why have we here today believed that Jesus has risen? How have we come to faith and say with Thomas, gMy Lord and my Godh?
We can believe because we have heard the testimony of eye witnesses. Their testimony is written down in the Bible. St. John wrote, 20:30-31 gNow Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 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 nameh
Some things are hard to believe. Thomas said, gUnless 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.h Some people want to see a miracle, perhaps a healing or an answer to prayer. Some people want to see a sign. Some want the good feeling of the Holy Spirit or the speaking in tongues. Those things are nice and can be helpful. But I do not trust them, because I do not trust my own heart.
Some people will believe anything you tell them without proof. We might say they gullible fools. On the other hand, other people refuse to believe anything, in spite of ample proofs. We might call them obstinate fools. Is the earth flat? Does the sun go around the earth? Do you believe everything a politician says or whatever you see posted on the internet? Some believe it all, some doubt it all.
Some people have heard the Gospel and know that Jesus really did rise from the dead, but refuse to say with Thomas, gMy Lord and my God.h Knowledge and faith are two different things. We need a leap of faith. A jump from just knowledge to saving faith. We make the leap of faith from reading the written Gospel in the Bible and from hearing the spoken Gospel from Christians, to confessing with Thomas, gMy Lord and my God.h
Some people say they need to see a miracle before coming to faith. I think that coming to faith itself is a miracle. A miracle of the Holy Spirit. For me personally, knowing that I have faith strengthens my faith. It is the blessing spoken by Jesus to Thomas. Jesus said, gBlessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.h They are blessed, they are happy, they have joy in their heart.
Jesus said, gBlessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.h I wonder, which comes first, believing or being blessed? Do you believe because you have first been blessed? Or does the blessing come after you believe? And what is the blessing? Is the blessing a result of belief? Is the blessing a reward from God if we believe that Jesus rose from the dead? Or, are we blessed by God first and then believe? Can we believe if we have not already been blessed by God with the gift of faith? The Bible translation Good News for Modern Man, and other translations, read, gHappy are those who have not seen and yet believed.h That surely is true. I am happy that I believe.
There is what is called gmaking a decision to accept Jesus as your Savior.h Lutherans do not talk that way. We might say that God has made the decision to call us. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. Rather than making a decision, we come to realize that Jesus is our Savior.
In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther explained he Third Article of the Apostles Creed like this.
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
My old seminary professor, Edward H. Schroeder, called it an gAhah moment. eOh, I really do believe! I have been blessed! I am happy indeed!f
And then with Thomas we say, gMy Lord and my God! Amen. Christ is risen. Hallelujah! Amen.h
And may the peace of the Risen Lord spoken to the disciples be in your hearts and minds. Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church
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