"THE DISCIPLES AND THOMAS AFTER JESUS' RESURRECTION"

John 20:19–31; Revelation 1:4–8 04/27/2025

On that first Easter Sunday, after Jesus had risen, the very first person he appeared to was Mary Magdalene. She had been weeping outside the tomb, but her tears turned into joy when she saw the risen Lord. Filled with excitement, she ran to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” She shared everything Jesus had said to her.

But the disciples couldn’t believe it. Instead of rejoicing, they were afraid. That same evening, they locked themselves inside a house, hiding behind closed doors out of fear—fear of the Jewish authorities.

Why were they so afraid? Because they had just witnessed the brutal, unjust death of their beloved teacher, Jesus. If the authorities could do that to someone like him, what would stop them from coming after his followers too? The threat wasn’t only from the Jewish leaders—Roman soldiers were also known to arrest and kill anyone spreading Jesus’ message.

So even though the resurrection had already happened, the disciples were still trapped in fear. For them, death still seemed final. Despair still felt overwhelming. They hadn’t yet encountered the risen Christ themselves.

Then something amazing happened. That evening, in the midst of their fear and confusion, Jesus suddenly stood among them. Though the doors were locked, he came right into their presence. At first, they were terrified. They thought he was a ghost. But Jesus spoke words they desperately needed to hear: “Peace be with you.” And then he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side.

Can you imagine their joy in that moment? Jesus was alive! Not just spiritually present, but physically resurrected. Since then, the world had changed forever.

But one of the disciples—Thomas—wasn’t there that night. When the others told him, “We have seen the Lord!” he couldn’t believe it. He said, “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.” That sounds like a pretty normal reaction, doesn’t it? Thomas wanted proof—something he could touch, something he could see. He wasn’t content with just words. His heart was still full of doubt, and he had no peace.

A week later—just like today is a week after Easter—Jesus appeared again. The doors were still locked, but once more, Jesus stood among them. This time, Thomas was there. Jesus turned to him and said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas didn’t need any more convincing. He responded with a beautiful declaration of faith: “My Lord and my God!”

And Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That’s us. We’re the ones Jesus was talking about. We haven’t seen him with our eyes, but we believe. And Jesus calls us blessed. There’s a saying: Without faith, no evidence is ever enough. But with faith, no evidence is necessary.

The reading from Revelation today reminds us that Jesus is coming again: “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him—even those who pierced him... I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord Jesus, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7–8)

Once the disciples encountered the risen Jesus, everything changed. They were transformed from fearful, hiding followers into bold witnesses—courageous and full of peace. They went out into the world, proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection, healing the sick, and performing miracles.

How did that happen? Because they met the risen Christ. Because he gave them his peace—not the peace the world gives, but his peace. He gave it to them three times in that upper room.

That peace filled them so completely that they opened the doors and went out into the world. Nothing could stop them anymore, not fear, not threats, not persecution. They had experienced the peace that comes from knowing Jesus is alive.

And what about us? We all face pain, fear, and uncertainty. Jesus understands that—he suffered too. But he conquered death and rose again. He gives us his peace, and it’s not like anything this world can offer.

Have you met the risen Christ spiritually? Have you received his peace in your heart? Jesus says to each one of us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. My peace I give you.”
He also says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” That’s a promise for us today. If we believe in him, if we trust in his resurrection, he gives us peace, purpose, and power. The apostle Paul says that if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. And again, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed” (Romans 10:10-11).

Throughout history, millions have believed without seeing—because they’ve experienced Jesus’ presence, seen prayers answered, and found strength in hard times. Faith gave them hope, joy, and the courage to carry on. As Hebrews 11 reminds us, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

So, beloved friends—have courage. Believe in the risen Christ. Accept his peace. And like the disciples, let’s go into the world sharing the good news that Jesus is alive and is coming again.

May the peace of the risen Lord be with you and with me—and may we boldly live out and proclaim the resurrection in our daily lives. Amen.