Ezekiel 37:1-14/1 John 5:4-10/St John 20:19-31
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
The hand of the Lord God His Father was upon Him, and because death could not hold Him, but had taken innocent blood, He brought His Son up by the Spirit of the Lord and restored Him to life. Indeed He is Life and the Light of men. He is the Word made flesh who has made His dwelling among us. The eye-witnesses have seen His glory, a glory shared co-equally with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
And so it is that the Son of Man comes on the first day of the week, which is Sunday, the Lord’s Day - and this is no coincidence - to the locked upper room. Inside - the fearful disciples, who represent the house of Israel - all hope, lost. They are not men. Not really. They are but piles of bones; bodies destined for the grave. No life in them. They are the walking dead.
But the crucified and living Lord Jesus comes among them and says to them, O dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord. Peace be with you. And He shows them His hands and His side, the visible signs that He is now, and forever shall be Christ, the Crucified One; the God-Man out of the grave, come to give life. Seeing Him brings joy and gladness to their once sorrowful hearts.
Sin brings only death and damnation. The crucified and risen Christ Jesus brings forth from the grave forgiveness of sins. And where there is the forgiveness of sins there is life and salvation. And as it was in the beginning with the lifeless dirt, as it was for the prophet Ezekiel and the valley of bones, so it is for these sons of Adam and house of Israel, He breathes the breath of life into them, giving them His Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. His peace is an absolution, it is the forgiveness of sins and it is life and salvation.
By this selfsame Spirit of Christ they are sent and shall speak in His stead and by His command; forgiving sins of the repentant, withholding forgiveness of the unrepentant. Raising dead bones to life. Unlocking graves and heaven with the Key of Christ’s own victory over death and hell. Those who hear them, hear Christ who sent them. And those who refuse them, refuse Christ, and the Father who sent Him.
This is why it is so tragic that Thomas does not believe their testimony. They have been sent by the crucified and risen Christ to give witness to the purpose and meaning of His death and resurrection. But unless he saw for himself, the Twin would not believe.
Now we cannot dismiss the unbelief of St Thomas. It is not doubt, but unbelief. Yet it ought to be noted that our Lord Jesus does not chastise him. Rather, He graciously bestows upon Thomas the privilege of seeing His risen body; that once lifeless corpse, the very body born of the Virgin Mary, nailed to the Cross and pierced with the spear, now renewed and reborn.
For Thomas desired what each of the apostles had been given. Indeed, he could not be an apostle, that is, a sent one of Christ, an eye-witness, unless he had actually seen the risen Christ. And for St John the Evangelist, sight, along with hearing, is the privilege of those who received Him and He has made children, born not of blood and flesh, but of water and Spirit. For the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and to all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God; and we have seen His glory, glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn 1:12, 14).
And the Baptizer stood on Jordan’s banks announcing the arrival of the Coming One saying, Behold, that is, Look, See, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He saw and has borne witness concerning the One on whom the Spirit descended and remained; the Son of God (Jn 1:36, 32-34). And concerning the Jesus of Nazareth, Him of whom the Law and Prophets bear witness, did not Philip respond to Nathanael, Come and see (Jn 1:46). And Jesus told him, You will see greater things than these (Jn 1:50).
Seeing the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ is the prerogative of those whom He sends as the Father sent Him. Apostles are eye-witnesses to His baptism, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Disappointing as it is concerning his unbelief, St Thomas wanted only what the other apostles had been given. Without such seeing he could not have been an apostle. After all, remember, he was the one who upon hearing of Jesus’ desire to return to Jerusalem in order to raise Lazarus from the dead said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with Him (Jn 11:16).
And they shall, but not yet. First He must die for them. Shedding His own precious blood, pouring forth the elements of the Sacraments, the life-blood of the Church, and yielding up His Spirit, only to be revived in the Spirit and bestow Him upon the apostles and the Church.
Recall the evening conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus told him, Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is begotten from above he cannot see the kingdom of God. The Spirit breathes where He wishes, and you hear His sound. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (Jn 3:8). And then, Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony (Jn 3:10). The Spirit testifies to what He has seen. All that the Father has belongs to Christ. The Spirit takes what is His and delivers it to you. That is, the Spirit gives you Christ in the very Word read and preached!
Christ Jesus, in His person, is the testimony of God; the witness of the Father; to see Him is to see the kingdom of God. Especially after His resurrection, for now He bestows the Holy Spirit who testifies to the Truth, which is Christ the crucified, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Now He who was revealed in the water of His Baptism, whence St John saw the Spirit descend as a dove, also came by His baptism of blood in His crucifixion. And he who saw it has borne witness - his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth - that you may believe (Jn 19:35). The evangelist speaks of himself! He saw and he has borne witness.
And Thomas, upon seeing and hearing, confesses, My Lord and my God! That One, the crucified One, forever true Man, is my God and Redeemer! See the marks of His sacrifice!
Do you see? Christ Jesus the crucified and risen One bestows upon His apostles and therefore upon you, His Church, the living voice of His Word. The forgiveness that your pastor speaks is as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord spoke to you Himself! And He does!
Each and every Lord’s Day - its not a coincidence - the risen and ascended Lord Jesus is in the midst of you. He enters into this very room, among you, His new Israel, and He breathes the breath of life of His Holy Absolution into your dry, dusty bones. You are given the Spirit and you are given life. You are men once more. You are given ears to hear the eye-witness testimony of the apostles, who bear witness to what they have seen and heard.
And because He knows our weakness, the frailty of our flesh, for He has Himself shared it, He puts His verbal testimony in visible form. He connects His Word to the sign, to the external, that you may hear with your ears and see with your eyes. Behold, the Lamb of God.
And it is not that you run to Bethlehem or make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, rather look, see the font before your eyes, where water is joined by His Word to breathe life into dry, dead bones.
See and hear the pastor forgive your sins in the stead and by the command of Christ.
And behold, see the bread and wine, the Body and Blood of Christ. And what do you sing? Christ, the Lamb of God, who takest away the sin of the world, have mercy! As He did for Thomas, He does for you. Put your finger into the font, see His baptism. Put out your hand, for He puts His body into it. Do not be unbelieving, but believe! And upon receiving you sing with Simeon, Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation!
Beloved, do not be afraid, the Blessed Sacraments are for you the holy wounds of the crucified and risen Christ in whom you find peace! These three testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree; in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
The hand of the Lord God His Father was upon Him, and because death could not hold Him, but had taken innocent blood, He brought His Son up by the Spirit of the Lord and restored Him to life. Indeed He is Life and the Light of men. He is the Word made flesh who has made His dwelling among us. The eye-witnesses have seen His glory, a glory shared co-equally with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
And so it is that the Son of Man comes on the first day of the week, which is Sunday, the Lord’s Day - and this is no coincidence - to the locked upper room. Inside - the fearful disciples, who represent the house of Israel - all hope, lost. They are not men. Not really. They are but piles of bones; bodies destined for the grave. No life in them. They are the walking dead.
But the crucified and living Lord Jesus comes among them and says to them, O dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord. Peace be with you. And He shows them His hands and His side, the visible signs that He is now, and forever shall be Christ, the Crucified One; the God-Man out of the grave, come to give life. Seeing Him brings joy and gladness to their once sorrowful hearts.
Sin brings only death and damnation. The crucified and risen Christ Jesus brings forth from the grave forgiveness of sins. And where there is the forgiveness of sins there is life and salvation. And as it was in the beginning with the lifeless dirt, as it was for the prophet Ezekiel and the valley of bones, so it is for these sons of Adam and house of Israel, He breathes the breath of life into them, giving them His Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. His peace is an absolution, it is the forgiveness of sins and it is life and salvation.
By this selfsame Spirit of Christ they are sent and shall speak in His stead and by His command; forgiving sins of the repentant, withholding forgiveness of the unrepentant. Raising dead bones to life. Unlocking graves and heaven with the Key of Christ’s own victory over death and hell. Those who hear them, hear Christ who sent them. And those who refuse them, refuse Christ, and the Father who sent Him.
This is why it is so tragic that Thomas does not believe their testimony. They have been sent by the crucified and risen Christ to give witness to the purpose and meaning of His death and resurrection. But unless he saw for himself, the Twin would not believe.
Now we cannot dismiss the unbelief of St Thomas. It is not doubt, but unbelief. Yet it ought to be noted that our Lord Jesus does not chastise him. Rather, He graciously bestows upon Thomas the privilege of seeing His risen body; that once lifeless corpse, the very body born of the Virgin Mary, nailed to the Cross and pierced with the spear, now renewed and reborn.
For Thomas desired what each of the apostles had been given. Indeed, he could not be an apostle, that is, a sent one of Christ, an eye-witness, unless he had actually seen the risen Christ. And for St John the Evangelist, sight, along with hearing, is the privilege of those who received Him and He has made children, born not of blood and flesh, but of water and Spirit. For the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and to all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God; and we have seen His glory, glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn 1:12, 14).
And the Baptizer stood on Jordan’s banks announcing the arrival of the Coming One saying, Behold, that is, Look, See, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He saw and has borne witness concerning the One on whom the Spirit descended and remained; the Son of God (Jn 1:36, 32-34). And concerning the Jesus of Nazareth, Him of whom the Law and Prophets bear witness, did not Philip respond to Nathanael, Come and see (Jn 1:46). And Jesus told him, You will see greater things than these (Jn 1:50).
Seeing the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ is the prerogative of those whom He sends as the Father sent Him. Apostles are eye-witnesses to His baptism, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Disappointing as it is concerning his unbelief, St Thomas wanted only what the other apostles had been given. Without such seeing he could not have been an apostle. After all, remember, he was the one who upon hearing of Jesus’ desire to return to Jerusalem in order to raise Lazarus from the dead said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with Him (Jn 11:16).
And they shall, but not yet. First He must die for them. Shedding His own precious blood, pouring forth the elements of the Sacraments, the life-blood of the Church, and yielding up His Spirit, only to be revived in the Spirit and bestow Him upon the apostles and the Church.
Recall the evening conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus told him, Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is begotten from above he cannot see the kingdom of God. The Spirit breathes where He wishes, and you hear His sound. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (Jn 3:8). And then, Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony (Jn 3:10). The Spirit testifies to what He has seen. All that the Father has belongs to Christ. The Spirit takes what is His and delivers it to you. That is, the Spirit gives you Christ in the very Word read and preached!
Christ Jesus, in His person, is the testimony of God; the witness of the Father; to see Him is to see the kingdom of God. Especially after His resurrection, for now He bestows the Holy Spirit who testifies to the Truth, which is Christ the crucified, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Now He who was revealed in the water of His Baptism, whence St John saw the Spirit descend as a dove, also came by His baptism of blood in His crucifixion. And he who saw it has borne witness - his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth - that you may believe (Jn 19:35). The evangelist speaks of himself! He saw and he has borne witness.
And Thomas, upon seeing and hearing, confesses, My Lord and my God! That One, the crucified One, forever true Man, is my God and Redeemer! See the marks of His sacrifice!
Do you see? Christ Jesus the crucified and risen One bestows upon His apostles and therefore upon you, His Church, the living voice of His Word. The forgiveness that your pastor speaks is as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord spoke to you Himself! And He does!
Each and every Lord’s Day - its not a coincidence - the risen and ascended Lord Jesus is in the midst of you. He enters into this very room, among you, His new Israel, and He breathes the breath of life of His Holy Absolution into your dry, dusty bones. You are given the Spirit and you are given life. You are men once more. You are given ears to hear the eye-witness testimony of the apostles, who bear witness to what they have seen and heard.
And because He knows our weakness, the frailty of our flesh, for He has Himself shared it, He puts His verbal testimony in visible form. He connects His Word to the sign, to the external, that you may hear with your ears and see with your eyes. Behold, the Lamb of God.
And it is not that you run to Bethlehem or make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, rather look, see the font before your eyes, where water is joined by His Word to breathe life into dry, dead bones.
See and hear the pastor forgive your sins in the stead and by the command of Christ.
And behold, see the bread and wine, the Body and Blood of Christ. And what do you sing? Christ, the Lamb of God, who takest away the sin of the world, have mercy! As He did for Thomas, He does for you. Put your finger into the font, see His baptism. Put out your hand, for He puts His body into it. Do not be unbelieving, but believe! And upon receiving you sing with Simeon, Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation!
Beloved, do not be afraid, the Blessed Sacraments are for you the holy wounds of the crucified and risen Christ in whom you find peace! These three testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree; in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen.
RSS Feed