November 19, 2023 - Good News for Doubters & the Faithless (John 20-21)

After Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to many people. Four in these chapters responded differently to Jesus’ resurrection: Mary, Peter, John, and Thomas were among the many whose hope was lost at Jesus’ crucifixion — despite hearing multiple times that Jesus would return! Resurrection is, by nature, supernatural: so doubt and disbelief are a common response today. But God gives faith when faith is hard; God meets people in our doubts. So when we, like these followers, approach Jesus with our doubt, hopelessness, and lack of faith, we can expect him to accept us, not to reject us. He will build our faith and help us thrive in specific kingdom assignments, just like he did with all four of these disciples. Jesus' resurrection promises eternal life, but invites us into new, fuller “life after death” during this life on earth as well.