Worship Helps for Easter 2
Jesus appears to the disciples
Melanie Schuette
2014
Worship Theme: Our faith is based on firmest possible
ground: Jesus, our risen Lord. We cannot see him. We cannot touch him. We have
not yet experienced the joy that will be ours forever. We come to know and
trust in him as our Savior only through the precious Gospel that is revealed to
us in the words of Scripture.
First Lesson: Acts
26:19 "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from
heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus ,
then to those in Jerusalem and in
all Judea , and to the Gentiles also, I preached that
they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
21 That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill
me. 22 But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand
here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the
prophets and Moses said would happen-- 23 that the Christ would
suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own
people and to the Gentiles." 24 At this point Festus
interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he
shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." 25
"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I
am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these
things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has
escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King
Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28 Then
Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can
persuade me to be a Christian?" 29 Paul replied, "Short
time or long-- I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me
today may become what I am, except for these chains."
1. Before which two rulers was Paul testifying?
2. In what two ways did Paul describe his teaching about
the resurrection, after Festus told Paul
that he was insane?
3. Isn’t the resurrection of all believers unreasonable?
Explain.
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:12 But if
it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you
say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no
resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your
faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses
about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.
But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For
if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your
sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more
than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death
came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
4. What were some people in Corinth
falsely claiming?
5. Why was that claim disastrous?
Gospel: John 20:19 On the
evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with
the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and
said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he
showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the
Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father
has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on
them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive
anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not
forgiven." 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve,
was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other
disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them,
"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 it." 26
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.
Though 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; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.
Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My
Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you
have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed." 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the
presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
6. Why are Jesus’ words in verse 29 so important for us as
Christians today?
7. Why did John write the words of his Gospel?
Answers:
1. Paul was testifying before Agrippa and Festus.
2. Paul said his teaching was “true and reasonable.”
3. The resurrection of all believers on the last day might
seem unreasonable (how can a dead person come back alive, bodily?). Still, if
a) God is all-powerful, if b) Jesus rose from the dead, and if c) Jesus
promises to raise us, too, we would be “insane” not to believe in our bodily
resurrection.
4. Some in Corinth
were falsely claiming that there was no resurrection, and there will be none on
the last day, either.
5. That claim was disastrous because if there is no
resurrection, then Christ was not raised from the dead, either. And if Christ
has not been raised from the dead, a) the apostles' preaching about Christ was
useless, and b) so is our trust in Christ.
6. Jesus’ words are so important for us because, unlike
those first disciples, we did not have the opportunity to see Jesus in the
flesh and witness his saving work. Even though we have not seen him, we have
God’s promise that we will receive the same blessing of eternal life through
trusting in him.
7. John did not record every last detail of Jesus’ life in
his Gospel. He wrote what he wrote so that we might believe that Jesus is the
Son of God and Savior of the world. Through faith in Jesus we, as those first
disciples, will receive God’s eternal blessings in glory.
Can you feel the joy? The disciples and Thomas felt the
joy of the resurrection. They were overjoyed. With the eyes of faith, we too
see the Lord every time he comes to us through his Word and sacrament. May this
joy fill your hearts as you eagerly serve our risen Lord!
The Church Fathers have clearly handed down the doctrine
that we need mercy even in good works.
Scripture teaches the same. “Enter not into judgment with Your servant,
for no one living is righteous before You” (Psalm 143:2). This passage denies absolutely—even to all
saints and servants of God—the glory of righteousness, if God does not forgive,
but judges and convicts their hearts.
For when David boasts about his righteousness, he speaks about his own
cause against the persecutors of God’s Word.
He does not speak of his personal purity. He asks that God’s cause and glory be
defended, “Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the
integrity that is in me” (Psalm 7:8)
Likewise, in Psalm 130:3, he says that no one can endure God’s judgment:
“If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord,
who could stand?”
If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
yet You will plunge me into a pit. (Job 9:30–31)
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am
clean from my sin”? (Proverbs 20:9)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the
truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
In the
Lord’s Prayer the saints ask for the forgiveness of sins. Even the saints have sins. – Apology of
the Augsburg Confession, Article V, Love and Fulfilling the Law (paragraphs 204-208)
O sons and daughters of the King,
Whom heav'nly hosts in glory sing,
Today the grave has lost its sting!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
On that first morning of the week,
Before the day began to break,
The Marys went their Lord to seek.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
An angel bade their sorrow flee,
For thus he spoke unto the three,
"Your Lord will go to Galilee ."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
That night th' apostles met in fear;
Among them came their Lord most dear
And said: "Peace be unto you here."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
When Thomas afterwards had heard
That Jesus had fulfilled his word,
He doubted if it were the Lord.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
"Thomas, behold my side," said he,
"My hands, my feet, my body see;
And doubt not, but believe in me."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
"You are my Lord and God," he cried.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Blessed are they that have not seen
And yet whose faith has constant been;
In life eternal they shall reign.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
On this most holy day of days
To God your hearts and voices raise
In laud and jubilee and praise.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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