Sermon Tone Analysis

Bow with me in prayer.

Father, we look to your Holy Word this morning as our source of You.

Our source of life, our source of strength and our source of hope.

Father help us to understand your word, and guide us in all truth, Amen.

We started John chapter 20, on Easter Sunday.

We discussed defining our lives by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the following weeks, we looked at the first few people who encountered the risen Lord Jesus, and we looked at their encounters with the Lord Jesus.

On Easter Sunday we asked ourselves if we defined our lives by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Then in the subsequent weeks, we looked at the first few people who encountered the risen Lord Jesus, and we looked at how meeting Jesus changed their lives forever.

The first person we looked at was Mary Magdelene.

Jesus came to Mary in the middle of her grief.

She was in tears looking into the grave when Jesus Christ called her by name.

Sometimes, Jesus comes to us in the midst of our pain and our disappointments and our broken hearts.

And when Mary met Jesus, she went back to her friends to tell all of them that she had met Jesus.

The first person we looked at was Mary Magdelene.

Jesus came to Mary in the middle of her grief.

She was in tears, looking into the grave when Jesus Christ called her by name.

Sometimes, we find Jesus in the midst of our pain and our broken hearts.

When Mary met Jesus, she went back to her friends to tell them the exciting news that she met Jesus.

Last week, we saw how Jesus came and stood among the apostles while they were fearful.

Jesus showed them his wounds, and they were overjoyed.

Jesus breathed new life into with the Holy Spirit and sent them to tell others about Him.

Just as Jesus sent the disciples, he also sends us.

We are Christ's Church.

Jesus gave us the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel, and just as the Father sent Jesus, so also Jesus sends us.

Last week, we saw how Jesus came and stood among the apostles while they were fearful.

Jesus showed them his wounds, and they were overjoyed.

Then Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit and sent them to proclaim the gospel.

Just as Jesus sent the disciples, the first church, he also sends us.

We as part of Christ's Church today take on that responsibility of proclaiming the gospel, and just as the Father sent Jesus, and Jesus sent the disciples, so also Jesus sends us to proclaim the gospel, to proclaim that Jesus died on the cross, and rose from dead.

But what if you missed it?

What if you weren't here to hear those messages?

What if you weren't here to hear how Jesus changed people's grief and fear, and sin into joy?

Did you miss out?

If you weren't here, that's ok, because you picked the right week to come back.

I understand, sometimes we can't be here every week, and it wasn't that different with Jesus's disciples either.

If you weren't here last week, you are much like our main character in this week's scripture passage Thomas.

But what if you weren't here?

What if you weren't here to hear those messages?

What if you weren't here to hear how Jesus changed people's grief and fear, and sin into joy?

If you weren't here, that is ok, because you picked the right week to come back.

If you weren't here, you are much like our main character in this week's scripture passage Thomas.

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When we pick up John chapter at the twenty-fourth verse the apostle, John is recording that Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared to the disciples.

He is referring to Easter Sunday night.

On Easter Sunday night, Jesus came and stood among the disciples, but Thomas wasn't there.

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We don't know why Thomas wasn't there.

John doesn't tell us.

He might have had a good reason for not being there.

Maybe, Thomas was feeling too downhearted from the crucifixion to even get out of bed.

Perhaps, he stayed home to clean up from the Good Friday earthquake, or the Easter Sunday aftershock.

All we know for sure is that Thomas wasn't there Jesus came and stood among the disciples.

Jesus then showed everyone in the room His hands and His side, and they were overjoyed!

Jesus then said, "As my Father has sent me, I am sending you."

SO, naturally, the disciples went to tell the guy who wasn't there, Thomas.

We don't know why Thomas wasn't there.

John doesn't tell us.

He might have a perfectly good reason for not being there.

Maybe, he was feeling too downhearted from the crucifixion to even get out of bed.

Maybe his home was damaged in the Good Friday earthquake, or the Easter Sunday aftershock.

Either way, whatever the reason Thomas wasn't there on Easter Sunday night when Jesus stood among them.

Jesus came and stood among the disciples and showed them His hands and His side and the disciples were overjoyed!

Can you imagine that for one minute?

We all hate missing out on something.

It is like that moment when mom is at home with the baby all day, and she leaves for one minute to go to the store.

She comes back, and Dad says, "you won't believe it!

She finally rolled over!"

Thomas also reminds me of a typical Minnesota fisherman.

You know how it goes.

You spend a whole day of fishing without so much as a bite, and when you return the resort owner looks at you and says, "you should have been here last week.

Boy, they were really biting then."

If it were me, I probably would have been quite irritated.

I mean here I am trying to be miserable, trying to focus on the negative, and everyone around me is in a good mood.

That is tough to swallow right?

Can you imagine that for one minute?

We hate missing out on something, don't we?

It is like that moment when mom is at home with the baby all day; then she leaves for one minute to go to the store.

She comes back to Dad's eyes wide open, and he says, "you won't believe it!

She finally rolled over!"

They are coming up to Thomas, and saying, "We have seen the Lord!"

See that would be me, right there.

Not only would I have missed out, but then while I am trying to spend another a week in misery, people would keep telling me it is going to be alright.

Thomas also reminds me of a dejected Minnesota fisherman.

You know how it goes.

You spend a whole day of fishing without so much as a bite, and when you return the resort owner looks at you and says, "you should have been here last week.

Boy, they were really biting then."

"No, Thomas, I'm telling you we have seen him!

It is going to be alright."

If it were me, I probably would have been quite irritated.

I mean there I am trying to be miserable, trying to focus on the negative, and all my friends are coming up to me, and saying, "We have seen the Lord!"

And how do you deal with God on that one?

I know exactly how I would deal with it!

I would say, "God, 51 weeks a year I am in church, and the one time, the one time I miss?

This happens?

Are you kidding me?

Are you serious?

Now watch this!

This would be me.

Not only would I have missed out, but then when I am trying to spend another a week in misery people would keep telling me it is going to be alright.

God unless you show up for ME.

Unless you show ME!