Dear Christian friends:

Another Easter Day: Lilies, hymns, Gospel Lesson and sermon text. Events of the first Easter are so wonderful and important that we want to attend to them more today. In our text Jesus, our risen Savior says precious words to us:


So what is the reason for our peace? Our faith in Jesus who died on the cross and rose again. Jesus Himself, the crucified and risen Lord. "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." (1 Corinthians 15:14) So the question is: Did Christ rise?

The ten disciples had a hard time believing it. (Explain, now Easter evening. They had heard reports of the empty tomb and the angel's words to the women! Peter and John went to see. But they did not yet believe it.) So Jesus kindly comes and appears to them. He shows the nail pierced hands and spear gashed side. In Luke 24:41-43 it says, "And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence."

Thomas was not with the ten Easter evening. He did not believe it when the ten disciples told him. So Jesus one week later comes back and kindly shows him, too, although his doubt and unbelief is a terrible insult to Jesus.

Jesus was thinking of you and me when He here says to Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29) You may think it is easier for the disciples to believe than for us. But this isn't true! Seeing is not believing, nor is touching. Faith is a gift of God through His Word and promise.

So, our reason for peace is Jesus who died and rose again. You ask, "How can His death and resurrection give me peace?" I still must die. My sins trouble me and my conscience blames me." Yes, we must die, but now the sting of death is gone. (1 Corinthians 15:50-58) Jesus died to pay for our sins, and His rising proves that God is satisfied!

We must die, yes, but we will, like Jesus, rise again with new and glorious bodies that cannot die or get sick or get old. Lazarus and the young man of Nain died and Jesus made them alive again, but He did not give them new and glorious bodies. Later on they died a second time. Jesus' body is new and cannot die again. So, ours also will be when Jesus comes on the Last Day. (1 Corinthians 15) That will be much comfort for us. We see our bodies old and weak. Only the young can wear mini-skirts and bikinis. So Jesus says, "Peace to You!

But with this wonderful peace Jesus gives us a heavy responsibility: He sends us to speak peace to others! "Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." (John 20:21)

Say peace to one another here at church!
Say it at home with your family!
Say it at the deaf club!
Say it to the whole world! How? Through missions and charity.

We should be happy to say it and mean it because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Amen.