John 20:27 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.” --NKJV In the name of Him Who’s body was raised from the dead, amen.
Thomas did not believe that Jesus had actually, physically risen from the dead. This was simply too much for him to grasp. But then the Lord appeared to him and showed him the actual nail prints in His hands and the wound from the sword in His side. He forced Thomas to deal with the reality that He was risen indeed, not just as some eternal spirit, but as a real, living human being.
Dear friends, you and I were not there to actually see Jesus alive, in the flesh with our own two eyes. But with the eyes of faith we too are forced to deal with this most important reality, that Jesus’ resurrection was a bodily resurrection. Through the eyes of faith, given to us when we were baptized into Christ’s body, we know that Jesus lives for all eternity as the God-Man. He conquered death not just spiritually, but in His body. Death held no power even over his physical flesh and blood. Because of this death, hell and Satan hold no power over our bodies. To be sure, because the old flesh is ever present in this life our bodies will die--but only temporarily. On the last day the body will be raised out of the grave by the same Risen Lord and reunited with our souls. Then we will enjoy eternal life as body and soul singing praises around the throne of the Lamb Who was once slain. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You that Your Son conquered death for us in His body so that now our bodies have been cleansed from the rot of sin and death. Comfort us always with the assurance of the resurrection of our flesh unto life eternal, amen.
Copyright Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationLutheranChurch.org