Hope
Elaine Poproski Download: Audio
Sermon Notes:
At the 5 minute mark, we broke into small groups to share ways we are like our parents. There’s a brief break in the recording at that point.
Scripture Readings:
John 20:19–31 (NRSV)
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Read more…
1 Peter 1:3-9 (NRSV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Read more…
Looking to Sunday
by Elaine Poproski
On Sunday, the Easter story continues. This is how it continues: “…the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked…” (John 20:19). The disciples were inside. They’d locked themselves inside. They were afraid to go outside.
Sound familiar?
But then Jesus showed up, passing through the locked doors with no trouble whatsoever. He showed up, and in doing so, their fear disappeared. It evaporated. It turned into worship. Thomas wasn’t with them when this happened so Jesus came back when Thomas was there. And the exact same thing happened. Thomas’ fear and doubt transformed into worship.
This is what happens when Jesus shows up. Jesus isn’t limited by our locked doors or quarantine orders or social distancing. Jesus doesn’t require us to go somewhere to meet Him. He comes to us. He meets us wherever we are. I, for one, am so very thankful for that truth. Because these days I find the on-going isolation weighing on me. The old lies the devil used to whisper – you’re not good enough; you can’t do this; you’re failing those who count on you – reassert themselves when I’m alone in my apartment, learning new ways to do things. But the devil’s voice isn’t the only voice in my lonely apartment. Jesus is here too. And He speaks different words. He speaks words of truth. He speaks words of hope.
As you prepare for Sunday, perhaps spend some time imagining yourself in the locked room with the disciples. (You can read the whole story here.) How do you feel in that room? What thoughts are in your head? What words do you need to hear from Jesus in that room? When Thomas recognized Jesus, he declared these words: My Lord and my God! As you prepare for Sunday, perhaps spend some time asking Jesus to reveal Himself to you anew or for the first time as your Lord and Your God.