Watch the Sunday School video for April 17, 2022
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Listen to Him: Forty Steps on the Road to Resurrection
If you have been reading the Lenten devotional guide, Forty Steps on the Road to Resurrection, you will recognize that the entry for Easter Sunday contains only Scripture for your personal reflection. We have chosen to provide an additional passage for your class to consider as we celebrate our risen Lord.
Background passage: John 20:1-23 Focal passage: John 20:24-31
In our focal passage, we encounter Thomas, the most skeptical and honest of the disciples. Although he doubted the resurrection, Thomas wasn’t surprised at the crucifixion. A quick look at John 11:16 will remind you that Thomas was the one disciple who was ready to accompany Jesus to Jerusalem even though he believed it would mean death. This disciple clearly loved Jesus. After the crucifixion, Thomas withdrew from the other disciples. Perhaps it was overwhelming grief that made him want to be alone.
In verses 1-23, John tells us that Jesus made post-resurrection appearances to the women and to his disciples, but Thomas was not present for these encounters. When Thomas heard the news of the resurrection from the lips of his friends it all seemed so unbelievable — far too good to be true. Thomas makes a skeptical retort:
“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” (John 20:25).
One week later the disciples have gathered again. This time Thomas is present. Even though the doors to the house were closed, Jesus appears in their midst and repeats Thomas’ words back to him. In this dramatic moment Jesus offers his pierced side and his nail scarred hands as proof of his identity.
Why were the scars the proof that Thomas needed? How would you characterize his response to the scars?
Even in his glorified body, Jesus keeps his scars. The scars are the evidence of the shame and suffering Jesus endured on the cross. We usually think of scars as something to hide or to forget but these scars reveal the heart of the risen Lord. It is because of his great love for us that those scars exist.
The followers of Jesus know that our own scars are made beautiful by the hands of the One who suffered on our behalf. When we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God, our scars will become the places where God is most glorified.
How has God been glorified in your suffering? What do your scars reveal about your Savior?
Thomas exclaims, “My Master and my God!” This significant declaration is the first time anyone has addressed Jesus of Nazareth as God. The doubter has the insight to see who Jesus really is.
Thomas struggled to believe something he did not understand. He was honest about his feelings and did not put on a façade. Jesus met him in the midst of his doubts and gave him the assurance that he needed. Thomas’ experience with Jesus led to his wholehearted conviction that Jesus is God.
Jesus said to him: "Thomas, you needed the eyes of sight to make you believe; but the days will come when men will see with the eye of faith and believe."
Jesus’ response was gentle, blessing the future generations who would believe without the benefit of a physical encounter.
What do we typically do with our doubts? What can we learn from Thomas? How do we strengthen the “eye of faith” which leads to conviction?
John concludes this chapter with encouragement for those who would continue to trust Jesus in the decades to come.
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31-32
This is the reason the Gospels were written. The story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus will prompt faith in Christ and this faith will bring life in his name.
He is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
*Note: In his April 3, 2021 opinion piece written for The New York Times, Peter Wehner poses a question: Why is Jesus still wounded after his resurrection? Wehner quotes Phillip Yancey, Kate Bowler, Saint Augustine and many other Christian writers, philosophers, and pastors as a part of the article. The following insight from Andy Crouch is excerpted from Wehner’s article:
“If a scar is a healed wound, a wound that the body has marvelously managed to rescue and restore — then in some way, Christ’s entire bodily form having suffered the ultimate injury of death but having been rescued and restored is that of a scar. He will be worshipped, the book of Revelation (5:6) says, in the form of the Lamb looking as if it had been slain.” Perhaps our scars, which are so often a source of shame and regret are the truest clues to the full form of our resurrected bodies.” Andy Crouch
