04/28 – John 20:19-31 – The Doubt Prison

First Reading: Acts 5:12-32

The people saw the apostles perform many miracles and do amazing things. The believers had a common faith in Jesus as they met in Solomon’s Porch at the Temple. None of the other people dared to join them, although everyone spoke highly of them. More men and women than ever began to believe in the Lord. As a result, people carried their sick into the streets. They placed them on stretchers and cots so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some sick people as he went by. Crowds from the cities around Jerusalem would gather. They would bring their sick and those who were troubled by evil spirits, and each person was cured.

The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action by arresting the apostles and putting them in the city jail, but at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison. The angel told them, “Stand in the Temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life in Christ.”

After the angel spoke, early in the morning the apostles went into the Temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priest and those who were with him called together the Jewish council, that is all the leaders of Israel. They also sent men to the prison to get the apostles. When the Temple guards arrived at the prison they didn’t find the apostles.

The guards came back and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened the doors we found no one inside.” When the officer of the Temple guards and the chief priests heard this they were puzzled about what could have happened.

Then someone told them, “The men you put in prison are standing in the Temple courtyard. They are teaching the people.”

Then the officer of the Temple guards went with some of his men to bring back the apostles without using force, because they were afraid that the people would stone them to death for using force. When they brought the apostles they made them stand in front of the council. The chief priest questioned them.

He said, “We gave you strict orders not to mention Jesus’ name when you teach. Yet you’ve filled Jerusalem with your teachings, and you want to take revenge on us for putting that man to death.”

Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. You murdered Jesus by hanging him on a cross, but the God of our ancestors brought him back to life. God used his power to give Jesus the honored position. The one next to him on the heavenly throne as leader and savior. He did this to lead the people of Israel to him, to change the way they think and act, and to forgive their sins. We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4-18

From John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Good will and peace to you from the one who is, the one who was, and the one who is coming, from the seven spirits who are in front of his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the witness, the trustworthy one, the first to come back to life, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Glory and power forever and ever belong to the one who loves us, and has freed us from our sins by his blood and has made us a kingdom, priests for God his Father. Amen.

Look! He is coming in the clouds. Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. Every tribe on earth will mourn because of him. This is true. Amen. “I am the A and the Z,” says the Lord God, the one who is, the one who was, and the one who is coming, the Almighty.

I John, your brother, share in the suffering, kingdom, and endurance because of Jesus. I was exiled on the island of Patmos {PAT-moss} because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus. I came under the Spirit’s power on the Lord’s day. I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus {EFF-e-sus}, Smyrna {SMER-na}, Pergamum {PERG-ah-mum}, Thyatira {th–eye–TIE-ra}, Sardis {SAR-dis}, Philadelphia, and Laodicea {lay–oh-dis-EE-ah}.”

I turned toward the voice which was talking to me, and when I turned I saw seven gold lamp stands. There was someone like the Son of Man among the lamp stands. He was wearing a robe that reached his feet. He wore a gold belt around his waist. His head and his hair were white like wool, like snow. His eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like glowing bronze refined in a furnace. His voice was like the sound of raging waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines in all its brightness.

When I saw him I fell down at his feet like a dead man. Then he laid his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, the living one. I was dead, but now I am alive forever. I have the keys of death and hell.

Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31

On Sunday evening [the same day He rose from the dead], the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you!” When he said this he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad to see the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me so I am sending you.” After he had said this he breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whenever you forgive sins they are forgiven. Whenever you don’t forgive them they are not forgiven.”

Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, who was called Didymus {DID-ee-mus} [meaning the twin], was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”

Thomas told them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers into them, and put my hand into his side I will never believe.”

The next Sunday Jesus’ disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked Jesus stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Take your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to Thomas, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen me and believe.”

Jesus performed many other miracles that his disciples saw. Those miracles are not written in this book, but these miracles have been written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that you will have life by believing in him.