The Defeat of Death
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24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Picture of a cemetery here.
Not a place you think about
or visit
Death is the only event that is certainly coming but we don’t want to plan for.
Many are afraid to die.
If I ask how many here are afraid to die, a lot of honest people will raise their hands.
story here…Marie Anne - one of the most difficult things a pastor can do is to officiate a funeral service for a member.
One central message of the resurrection is that we do not have to fear death.
In His resurrection, Christ conquered death!
Christ did the impossible!
Studying our text today… We cannot blame Thomas — he thought that death was the end of all things!
“Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe”. - Thomas the Apostle
The Lord Jesus changed the concept of death forever!
The Death-defeating effects of the Resurrection:
Christ’s Resurrection disarmed death.
Christ’s Resurrection guaranteed our own resurrection.
Christ’s Resurrection made us alive.
1. Christ’s resurrection disarmed death.
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”
Where was Jesus for the eight days, he waited
So remember, in Thomas’ mind, Jesus was still dead.
Can you imagine his face, when Jesus showed up - Like He has seen a ghost!
Jesus’ glorified body — dead people don’t do this!
“Peace to you!” - in our doubts and in our turmoil, the Lord offers His peace.
Then Jesus made Thomas do something wonderful..
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
What was Jesus doing here? He was showing the uniqueness of His glorified body.
He still carried the marks of His death on the cross - as a reminder of the death that He died and death that He conquered!
I believe He still carries the marks on His body.
Those marks represent the powerlessness of death.
The Apostle Paul put this clearly:
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sin is like the virus and we will still die… but the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus is like a booster shot that rendered sin and death powerless over us.
The marks on Jesus’ glorified body also reminds us of what He had done for us..
2. Christ’s resurrection guaranteed our own resurrection.
“… Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27b-28)
Thomas worshipped the Lord, He believed… what did He believe?
Everything that Jesus said before.. he will die and after three days, He will rise again..
31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
The Lord’s resurrection guaranteed our own resurrection.
Though we may die,, we shall live...
3. Christ’s resurrection made us alive.
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Lord Jesus first addressed Thomas and then He addressed the rest of us.. blessed are those...
There is a blessedness in us today, Who have not seen and yet have believed..
we have received new life..
26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
What does this mean? It means that we do not need to wait for the resurrection of our bodies to be alive in the Lord!
We are made alive now!
The resurrection gave us newness of life!
The Resurrected life has given us:
Purpose
Promise
Power
Purpose:
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Promise:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Power:
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
He made all things new
“Jesus offers anybody and everybody the free disposal of their old life and the free delivery of His new life: the exchange of our guilt and shame for His righteousness and life.” Paul Blackham
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