The first reading for this morning comes from the book of Job, the nineteenth chapter. Job declares his ultimate hope in the resurrection from the dead.
Our New Testament reading is taken from the first chapter of Peter’s first letter to the churches. He reminds the churches that our faith and confidence in Jesus can bring joy no matter what our circumstances.
The Gospel Lesson comes from John’s account of the life and resurrection of Jesus, the twentieth chapter. John tells us about Jesus’ first and second appearances to the disciples after his resurrection and Thomas’s doubt.
25 But I know that my defender lives,
and afterwards, he will rise on the earth.
26 Even after my skin has been stripped off my body,
I will see God in my own flesh.
27 I will see him with my own eyes,
not with someone else’s.
My heart fails inside me!
Our New Testament reading is taken from the first chapter of Peter’s first letter to the churches. He reminds the churches that our faith and confidence in Jesus can bring joy no matter what our circumstances.
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. 4 We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can’t be destroyed or corrupted and can’t fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 since you are guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
6 You are extremely happy about these things, even though you have to suffer different kinds of trouble for a little while now. 7 The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again.
8 Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words 9 as you obtain the salvation that is the goal of your faith.
The Gospel Lesson comes from John’s account of the life and resurrection of Jesus, the twentieth chapter. John tells us about Jesus’ first and second appearances to the disciples after his resurrection and Thomas’s doubt.
19 That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you!” 20 When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad to see the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 After he had said this, he breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 Whenever you forgive sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you don’t forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, who was called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord.”
Thomas told them, “I refuse to believe this unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers into them, and put my hand into his side.”
26 A week later Jesus’ disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, and believe.”
28 Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to Thomas, “You believe because you’ve seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me but believe.”
30 Jesus performed many other miracles that his disciples saw. Those miracles are not written in this book. 31 But these miracles have been written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that you will have life by believing in him.
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