Keep Easter alive- every Sunday is Easter Sunday
Primary scripture –  John 20:19-31
Secondary Scripture –Revelation 1:4-8

PLEASE CHECK OUT CHRISTOPHER GRUNDY'S SONG, "Healing River" (there is a brief excerpt of this song after the podcast). You can download the mp3 or get the sheet music here!

More Notes after the break!

Primary scripture – John 20:19-31

                      Switch to Gospel of John for a while

                      Doubting Thomas

                                Begins with Fear – Peace – Forgiveness

• How terrifying to be confronted by the one who you have abandoned and betrayed- will Jesus come back with vengeance? 
• This sermon/article points to the idea that the disciples were afraid of running into Jesus.  When he came, he broke into their fear and offered peace.   http://cep.calvinseminary.edu/thisWeek/viewArticle.php?aID=794
• Jesus didn’t knock this time.  He was there among them without them doing anything.  – this is an illustration of Prevenient Grace – the grace that is offered to us before we even know it.
• Jesus Breathed on them- passing the Holy Spirit – Genesis 2
• Jesus is wounded- the triumph of Easter does not erase the pain of Friday.
• "Jesus said…Thomas answered." The word did it; touching had become irrelevant, perhaps even rude and offensive.
• Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year C, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide.
• Thomas didn’t want anything that the disciples hadn’t gotten themselves.  He was no less a believer than any of them.  He didn’t doubt Jesus – he doubted their testimony.  Maybe because he was living in the same fear that they had.  Once he encountered the risen Christ, that was enough. 

Secondary Scripture –Revelation 1:4-8

                      Revelation – read is as a book of hope instead of fear

• Not as prophecy or history but the now and not yet- what is happening
• Now and not yet- Chris IS risen, Christ WILL come again- the Kingdom of Heaven is culminating, but not here yet.
• “Christ has done this, and Christ is doing this, and Christ will do this.”
• Lauren Winner - Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year C, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide.
• Easter does not eliminate suffering- Easter is not the end, but a continuation of God’s work in Christ.
• “we cannot permit our proclamation to proclaim through difficulty; rather, our proclamation must address difficulty. In fact, perhaps we need even to proclaim difficulty. Easter needs Good Friday, because we cannot appreciate the fullness of Christ unless we appreciate what he assumed—unless we appreciate the real, authentic pain he experienced.”
• Lauren Winner - Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year C, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide.
• How would this have been heard not by empire Christian (who we are) but by persecuted Christians- struggling with resurrection and the realities of living under occupation and persecution
• God is the Alpha and Omega- we know the end  of the movie, we know Glory is coming and we get to participate in it. Goodness will win, reconciliation will occur, it WILL be  on earth as it is in heaven. A statement of fact.

Acts 5:27-32 – also the beginning of a series – good to see where is God calling us as the church/body of Christ

• Peter “must obey God.”  Resurrection has transformed him in such a way that silence is now impossible.  A Pharisee in the council saved them from being stoned.  Peter was flogged, but allowed to live because “if this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.” (v 38-39).
• Acts leading up to Pentecost is a good series:

1. Week 1 (this Sunday) – The apostles must obey God, and continue to preach
2. Week 2 – Conversion of Saul
3. Week 3 – Raising of Tabitha
4. Week 4 – Peter’s vision opens gospel to the Gentiles
5. Week 5 – Conversion of Lydia (a Gentile that “loved God”)
6. Week 6 – Conversion of the Jailer
7. Week 7 – Pentecost.