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Jesus replaces Thomas’ doubt with faith. We are able to see Jesus’ remarkable work in people’s lives through Thomas’ doubt, Jesus’ compassion, and our belief. It is good to understand Thomas’ doubt. His doubt was sin, since he Jesus was under no obligation to prove himself to Thomas. However, When Thomas realized that Jesus had fulfilled his promises, Thomas |
十二弟子のひとりで、デドモと呼ばれているトマスは、イエスがこられたとき、彼らと一緒にいなかった。25 ほかの弟子たちが、彼に「わたしたちは主にお目にかかった」と言うと、トマスは彼らに言った、「わたしは、その手に釘あとを見、わたしの指をその釘あとにさし入れ、また、わたしの手をそのわきにさし入れてみなければ、決して信じない」。26 八日ののち、イエスの弟子たちはまた家の内におり、トマスも一緒にいた。戸はみな閉ざされていたが、イエスがはいってこられ、中に立って「安かれ」と言われた。27 それからトマスに言われた、「あなたの指をここにつけて、わたしの手を見なさい。手をのばしてわたしのわきにさし入れてみなさい。信じない者にならないで、信じる者になりなさい」。28 トマスはイエスに答えて言った、「わが主よ、わが神よ」。29 イエスは彼に言われた、「あなたはわたしを見たので信じたのか。見ないで信ずる者は、さいわいである」。 |
John 20:19-23
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being
locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had
said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples
were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace
be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples. In every New
Testament account of his appearance, he commissions his disciples to
carry on the ministry that he began during his time here on earth.
Throughout this age, he continues his work in the world through his
people.
The disciples, and all other Christians, are given a message of peace.
As they have found peace with God, so they must take this message of
peace to other people in the world.
Jesus sends out all of his followers as he had been sent. Just as
Jesus obeyed the Father, so Jesus’ followers are to obey all of his
commands. Jesus was sent from heaven to earth to bring the message of
salvation to men. His followers, though they are no longer a part of
the world in an important sense, are sent back into the world to bring
it the message of salvation. Jesus, the Son of God, had the fullness
of the Holy Spirit resting upon him throughout his ministry.
Likewise, the followers of Jesus are called the children of God, and
they have the Holy Spirit living within them. The picture is one in
which Jesus sends his followers as his representatives to a lost
world.
“Fasting: Dangers and Benefits”
Fasting (danjiki) is often misunderstood by many Christians. This
sermon is intended to provide a basic overview of the biblical
teachings on fasting.
Should a Christian fast? Yes. Jesus said, “When you fast” (Matthew
6:17), not “if you fast.”
Are there physical dangers associated with fasting? Yes. You should
consult your doctor, particularly with a long-term fast.
Are there spiritual dangers associated with fasting? Yes! Some of these are:
1. Pride
Jesus said, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the
hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be
seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that
your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in
secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matt
6:16-17)
2. Grumpiness
“Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a
wicked fist.” (Isaiah 58:4)
3. Trying to manipulate God
Some people think that they can fast to make God do what they want him
to do. God cannot be manipulated.
4. Temptation
Speaking about Jesus: “after fasting forty days and forty nights, he
was hungry.3 And the tempter came and said to him” (Matt 4:2-3)
Satan is not a dummy. He attacked Jesus when Jesus was weakest.
What are some of the benefits of fasting?
1. We are better able to stand up to temptation.
– Speaking about Jesus: “we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been
tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15)
– Jesus never sinned, but fasting was one of the ways in which he
stood up to the Devil.
2. Fasting is used by God to change history
– Moses fasted: “So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty
nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the
tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” (Exodus
34:28)
– Esther fasted: “If you keep silent at this time, relief and
deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and
your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not
come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them
to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa,
and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days,
night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I
will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I
perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had
ordered him.” (Esther 4:14-17)
– The early church fasted: “While they were worshiping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for
the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and
praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts
13:2-3)
– And of course, the Son of God fasted
3. the ability to put lesser pleasures in their place
God is better than any of his gifts. Fasting helps us to appreciate
God more than stuff.
How do I fast?
– What to expect physically
– What to seek
– What to pray for
– What to expect spiritually
John 20:11-18
Those who love Jesus the most diligently are often the ones that
receive the greatest rewards from him. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus
with all of her heart, mind, soul, and strength; and she was given the
great blessing of being the first to see him risen from the grave.
The story of Mary’s love for Jesus began long before the crucifixion.
Jesus had worked a remarkable act of grace in her life, saving her
from seven demons that controlled her. It is true that those who have
been saved from something terrible will often have a great love for
the person that saved them. Mary had this sort of a love. She helped
to support Jesus’ ministry financially, she was there at the cross
when he died, and she put spices on the grave later on. She loved her
savior more than life itself.
Jesus rewarded Mary’s love for him in several ways. All of Jesus’
followers were upset because of his death, but Mary was the first to
be reassured that her fears were needless. From this, we learn that
our fears are often needless as well.
Jesus rewarded Mary by reminding her that he was God as well as man,
and that he would soon ascend to be with God the Father. There, he
would make sure that she would have a home in heaven (John 14:2), send
the Holy Spirit (John 16:7), and ultimately return to earth again to
raise the dead (John 14:3). He will do the same for all of us who
love him as well.
Jesus rewarded Mary by his kind and gracious words. Though she had
doubted him, he lifted her up again and did not judge her for her
sins. He sent her to go and tell the disciples (who had doubted him
as well) about his resurrection, so that they would be encouraged. By
his death, he is able to forgive the sins of all who love him.
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