It's Not Over pt. 3

Have you ever missed something? Have you ever missed an opportunity? Or, how about this, missed something because you were late? Or lets make it even more personal. Have you ever messed up an opportunity and missed a blessing? We all have. And if you’re like me I don’t like to miss anything. If my movie is on, and even if I've seen it 100 times I still will not leave to get snacks. My wife is my witness. If I can’t make it in time to see previews at the movie theater I won’t go. Now maybe that’s not your thing but we have all missed something. I know I’m talking to some athletes who missed a shot that could have won a game. Missed a tackle that cost the game. Missed a baton hand-off in relay. I know I’m talking to someone who was unemployed who was waiting for the job to call only to have left the room and missed the call. I know men who missed their child’s birth because being away on preaching engagements. People who have missed birthday’s because of being incarcerated. Everyone has missed something.

In 1963 Army vs. Navy football game after a touchdown play Rollie Stichweh the world witnessed the first instant replay in football.

Thomas’s Unbelief

He’s Absent in the first place. Why? We don’t know, but we do know that Thomas doesn’t believe.

His Unbelief is unwarranted. It seems rational to want empirical evidence, a sensory experience, but what about sacred memory?

This is like us.

Jesus’s Presence

Jesus shows up again. (preach) He gives Thomas the same blessing that the others got even though he wasn’t there.

He also gives Thomas what he needs to believe. He accepts the challenge. But pay attention to this saints. Jesus is not with the disciples when Thomas makes his claim. But when Jesus shows up, he answers Thomas’s doubt.

chp 2 water into wine

chp 3 born again

chp 4 Healed the officials son

chp 5 pool of Bethesda

chp 6 Feed 5000

chp 6 Walked on Water

chp 9 blind man

chp 11 Lazarus

Thomas’s Belief

I like Thomas. He’s real. He is like us. And like us, when he finds out he makes the right statement. He looks at Jesus with all sincerity and sorrow and says a confession of faith necessary for salvation, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus Blesses Believers

Blesses are they who did not see, and yet believed.