Seeing and Believing, Part 2 (John 20:19-29)
Rev. William L. Barron, April 28, 2019Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Jesus declared His peace toward His disciples after His resurrected appearances. He gave us His peace to justify our relationship with God, to give us the peace of God, and to charge us to be peace with others. The Church was being established, which meant many changes were about to happen to include differing peoples from diverse backgrounds; therefore, peace would be needed to evangelize and grow the Church. Our purpose should be the same as the purpose of Christ, “to seek and save those who are lost.” Evangelism is combining the proclamation of the gospel with identifying the needs of others. We must remember that it is God who does the work in people’s hearts, according to His plan and timing. We are called to proclaim, even when we cannot measure results. Ask God to allow us to “see” spiritually and to believe.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
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| « Seeing and Believing, Part 1 | None | By The Sea » |
John 20:19–29 (Listen)
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
(ESV)