Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Take your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue to doubt, but believe.” John 20:27

Dear sisters and brothers in the resurrected Lord: We are often unduly harsh in our attitude toward the disciple Thomas. Our sinful hearts want to level the charge against him, “How dare he ask Jesus to prove himself? How dare Thomas ask to see his hands and side?” But we forget that this was the very proof that Jesus gave the others when they were gathered together eight days earlier. Jesus had shown them his hands and side. And on seeing and touching, they believed.

In another sense, though, Jesus himself scolded Thomas for his lack of faith. It is kind to have Jesus say, “Do not continue in doubt.” Jesus actually told Thomas to stop his unbelief. He must trust the message of his resurrection and in doing so, find the peace that Jesus had brought to the other disciples. Does this make your indignant attitude toward Thomas flare up again?

 It should not. If we point an accusing finger toward Thomas, then we must point the same accusatory finger back at ourselves. How many times have we heard a promise of God and have refused to believe it? How many times have we thought the promise of heavenly mansions seems too remote as we struggle through the valley of the shadow of death? How many times have we doubted our own salvation as we listen to evil one’s lie that we cannot be forgiven? Through the pages of Scripture, Christ calls to us as well, “Stop your unbelief.”

 Where do we turn? We turn to the testimony about Christ found in the Word of God. Later in this Gospel John would proclaim, “...these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31) We have been given the message of the resurrection that we may believe, that we may have life, that we may know peace. Take courage. Through these promises, we can chase away all doubt, fear, and unbelief.

Blessings, Frank Van Brocklin Principal/Staff Minister

The following events are upcoming at Immanuel Lutheran School:

❖ Tuesday, April 26 Faculty Meeting - 3:30 PM

❖ Tuesday, April 26 NLHS Delegate Meeting - 7:00 PM

❖ Friday, April 29 Spring Musical - 6:00 PM

❖ Saturday, April 30 Telling the Next Generation - Introductions start at 8:50 AM

❖ Monday, May 2 Children Sing for Area Pastors’ Conference

❖ Thursday, May 5 School Board Meeting - 6:00 PM

❖ Friday, May 6 NLHS Track Meet