As we continue to celebrate our Savior’s Easter victory over sin and death, we note how, for the remaining “Sundays after Easter,” our first Bible reading switches from the Old Testament to the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles. In that reading from Acts, God’s word pictures the believers filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaiming the risen Savior of the world. The passion, death and resurrection are not chance history but occurred “by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge” fulfilling HIStory in Scripture.
In our second Scripture lesson, Peter writes how Christ’s resurrection from death gives us new birth into a living hope. Although Jesus is not visible to our physical eyes, faith gives us spiritual sight and fills us with daily, applicable confidence and joy.
Finally in our gospel lesson, John chronicles the Easter evening appearance of our risen Savior to His disciples in Jerusalem. He bids them peace and confers on them the power of the keys. Absent Thomas only expressed skepticism about Jesus’ rising from the dead. Graciously, Jesus appeared to them a week later with Thomas present. Our Lord pointed “doubting Thomas” to God’s word for certainty on our Savior fulfilled prophecy pertaining to His death and rising.