Brothers and sisters, greetings in the name of our risen and living Savior, Jesus. I hope you will join in studying His word and receiving His gifts in worship this coming Sunday the 16th.
We will be using the liturgy of Setting One in the LSB hymnal beginning on page 151. Hymns chosen for the day are #487 Come You Faithful, Raise the Strain; 658 Preserve Your Word O Savior; #472 These Things Did Thomas Count as Real; and those present for communion will sing #473 Our Paschal Lamb That Sets Us Free.
Scripture readings for the 16th include Psalm 148; Acts 5:29-42; 1 Peter 1:3-9; and John 20:19-31. We continue to live with the benefits of Easter. By the life, sacrificial death, and resurrection of Jesus, God redeems you, forgives your sin, and promises you eternal life. The lessons for Sunday tell us what we have all observed—not everyone believes the Easter message. Many reject what Easter reveals about Jesus’ divine identity and the truthfulness of His promises. Some people are openly hostile, threatening and striving to silence Christians who try to share the gospel with them. But God remains our helper. His Spirit directs, encourages, and motivates us to be Jesus’ witnesses.
In Psalm 148, the psalmist urges all creation to join in praising God. He has created all things. And through Jesus He is saving all things from the effects of sin. We are encouraged to raise high the name of the Lord. What does this mean? Certainly it would include speaking words of thanks and praise. But honor to God is also demonstrated in our actions—we pray to Him because we believe He is alive and listening; that He is graciously providing us all the good things of life, and that He is willing and able to help us in our time of need. Thanks and praise toward God are also demonstrated when we set aside time to read His word and share it with others. We should not ignore or reject God. He is our only salvation.
Acts 5:29-42 recounts events affecting the disciples of Jesus in the days following His resurrection and ascension. The disciples continued Jesus’ ministry, boldly preaching forgiveness in Jesus’ name and performing some healing miracles. Leaders of the Jewish Council opposed them and tried to silence them by having them arrested. But an angel came in the night and set the disciples free from jail. They returned to preaching. Once again the disciples were arrested. When Peter announced that they would not be silenced, but would obey God, members of the Council were enraged and wanted them killed. But one wise Council member, the Pharisee and teacher Gamaliel, told the leadership to slow down. If the disciples were merely troublemakers, their efforts would soon enough fade away. But if the disciples’ preaching was the work of God, it would be foolish to stand in the way. The disciples returned again to preaching, rejoicing that God had set them free. Sadly, this was not the end of opposition to the gospel of Jesus. To this day, the Church still faces opposition from the worldly minded. In some places there is increasing hostility, even violence against Jesus’ followers. Jesus has warned that such days will come. Do not fear. Continue to serve Jesus and speak of His forgiveness. Consider it an honor that the world would recognize you are a Christian.
Peter begins his first epistle with what some scholars classify as a baptismal sermon. Peter writes about being born again, being given a living hope and an eternal inheritance from God. We Christians rejoice over God’s gracious gifts. But in Chapter 1, verses 3 to 9, Peter also alerts Christians that for a little while we may suffer trials—more than sickness or hardship as a result of sin, the trials will include opposition from the world. Unbelievers hostile to Jesus are not going to welcome you. They may mock you, ridiculing the way you act and the things you say. Peter sees such trials as a test of faith. He urges Christians to continue to confess Jesus and to do godly things as expressions of faith. Those who remain faithful to the day of Jesus’ return will receive the salvation of their souls. And the Spirit will use your proclamation of the gospel to work faith in others.
The Gospel lesson, John 20:19-31, includes an example of unbelief demonstrated by a disciple named Thomas. Sometime during the evening of the first Easter, Jesus appeared to His disciples. They were hiding from the Jewish leaders. They were afraid that they might be arrested and put to death like Jesus. And they were still confused and uncertain how to respond to reports that people had seen Jesus alive again. Jesus’ sudden appearance among them startles them. But He speaks peace to them and bestows His Holy Spirit on them. (He also authorizes them to forgive or to retain the sins of others, granting what we refer to as the Office of the Keys.) Thomas was not present at that first appearance of Jesus. When the other disciples report that they had seen Jesus, he refused to believe them—he wanted physical evidence; he would not accept words. He thought real meant what he could see or touch. He was not seeing the reality of the invisible spiritual events going on. A week later Jesus appears to the disciples again. This time Thomas is with them. Jesus told Thomas to quit his unbelief; he was urged to come, see, and touch the wounds that proved it really was His Lord and Savior back from the dead. Then Thomas believed, but it was because he first saw. Jesus comments, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John adds a bit of a footnote to his report of this incident. He reminds readers that Jesus did many more things in the presence of witnesses. What is written in Scripture is only a portion of what Jesus has done. But John wrote these things down (as did several other eye-witness disciples) so that you, a reader living generations later, would believe Jesus is the Son of God chosen to save you from sin. By believing in Him, you will receive eternal life.
COLLECT: O almighty and most-merciful God, grant that we who have celebrated the mystery of our Savior’s resurrection, may by the help of Your grace display the fruits of faith in our words, thoughts, and conduct, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Please contact me if you have any prayer requests or questions about these Scripture texts. Christ is risen, Alleluia! God bless you. Pastor Boster
