Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 20:19-31.
Though Jesus’ disciples had locked themselves away for fear of the Jews, the risen Savior Jesus came and stood in their midst the evening of Easter. He delivered His peace to them by His Word, and He sent them with His peace and the Holy Spirit to forgive and retain sins with His authority. Thomas was not present with the other disciples that evening, and he refused to believe unless he could see and touch Jesus first. Jesus graciously came to the disciples again one week later, when Thomas was there. The risen Lord called Thomas to see for himself, and Thomas confessed the truth of the risen Lord. Those who believe even without seeing are declared blessed by Jesus. St. John the Evangelist tells us that such faith is delivered through the Word of God. The delivery of saving faith in Jesus is the purpose of John’s Gospel and all the Holy Scriptures.
“The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name.
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