The Print of the Nails in His Hands

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands…” (Isaiah 49:16)

I have a preacher friend whom I have seen several times take a ball point pen from his shirt pocket and write a phone number, or name, or address or some brief important note to himself in the palm of his hand. He will leave it there until he can find a note pad on which to write this important information.

God is saying through His prophet to the Jews, “You are very important to me. I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” It is much as a sculptor might take a hammer and chisel and permanently sculpt the names of God’s people in the hands of a granite or marble statue of the Lord.

We know our own hands, the wrinkles, the warts, the calluses, and the scars that are there. We will not forget what is written in the palms of our hands or how the calluses and scars got there.

If you are one of His you are permanently engraved in His hands by the print of the nails of the cross which were placed there by His love for us.

God Will Not Forget His Own

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” (Isaiah 49:15)

Occasionally we hear the sad story of an infant being found in a trash dumpster where a mother has abandoned her new-born. In wondering why this happens we come to all sorts of conclusions. Thankfully such cases are rare.

Apparently it must have happened sometimes in the prophet Isaiah’s day. Isaiah used the tragedy of such abandonment to say that God would never abandon His people.

Mothers may forsake their children, friends may turn their backs on folks in their greatest time of need, children may forget or neglect aged parents, but God will not turn His back on His children.

What Makes You Want to Go to Heaven?

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

In my file of sermons I have one entitled, “What on Earth Would Make Anyone Want to go to Heaven?” In answering that question in my sermon I conclude that just about everything on earth would make folks long for heaven. Our text lists five things on earth to make us desire heaven: tears, death, sorrow, crying and pain.

More things on earth to make us long for heaven are listed in Revelation 21 and 22. I long for heaven because of sin and temptation down here. Sin abounds on earth but there is no sin in heaven. Night time on earth and the fear it often brings is another reason we long for heaven. There is no night there. The curse placed on the earth (weeds, Johnson grass, thorns, sickness, disease, and hatred), as a result of Adam’s sin make one long for heaven.

Are you going to heaven? There is only one way to get there. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)

Perfect Peace

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)

In my lifetime there have been wars and rumors of war just as Jesus prophesied in His Olivet discourse about the last days. There have been “peace conferences” among warring nations with the promise of peace. Then war breaks out again.

We are reminded of the raging storm at sea with waves crashing against the rocks and cliffs along the shore. In the midst of all of it, nestled in a cleft in the rock a little bird is asleep, apparently oblivious to the storm, perfectly at peace and safe.

There will be war and unrest until the Prince of Peace returns. Peace is more than just the absence of war. Peace is the tranquility that comes from trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace

“And Jesse fathered David the king; and David the king fathered Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6)

Someone asked, “How do you explain God allowing David to be the king of Israel after committing adultery with the wife of a soldier in David’s army, who was fighting a battle? And the king in an attempt to cover his sin had her husband murdered in battle? (II Samuel 11) One word explains it: GRACE.

There have been no sinless people serving in any position in the Bible. In the listings of the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke we see adulterers, prostitutes, murderers, fornicators and idolaters, but no perfect people. Only one sinless Man is listed in the Bible and we crucified Him.

The Bible is not about perfect people. It is about the grace of our perfect God. It is about God’s offer of forgiveness to sinners. If God waited for sinless, perfect people to get His work on earth done it would never get done. God uses people who acknowledge their imperfections and sinfulness to tell a lost world where to find forgiveness.

Whosoever Believeth

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

We spent thirteen days looking at fifteen verses in II Kings 5 to get Naaman cleansed of his leprosy. If you are serious about being forgiven and cleansed of your sins, our text, just one verse, is all you need.

God in His great love for you has paid the price through the crucifixion of His Son to cover all your sin debt. The blood of bulls, goats, sheep and doves all together could not pay the price for our sins. Just that one verse, John 3:16, is sufficient to save the world if people would just believe.

I encourage you to stop putting it off. Receive Him by faith today. He is ready to forgive and cleanse you.

Apply Our Hearts Unto Wisdom

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

(Psalm 90:12)

This psalm is attributed to Moses who lived for one-hundred and twenty years. He lived his first forty years as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. The second forty years he lived as a fugitive and shepherd. The final third of his life was lived as the deliverer of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage to the edge of the Promised Land. During those last forty years he was their law giver, giving laws that are revered and respected to this day.

In this psalm he speaks of the length of life as being perhaps seventy years or possibly eighty years. Of course, you and I know folks who have lived much longer than that and have known many others who have passed away much younger.

So we are taught that at its best, life is brief. James says that it is like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. There is a verse (not in the Bible) that says, “Only one life; twill soon be past: Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Let us number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom.

The Christ Who Can

“And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came and stood before him: and he said, ‘Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel…’” (II Kings 5:15)

Upon Naaman’s cleansing he returned to Elisha. I am reminded of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed. Only one of them returned to Jesus to thank Him. We should be thankful to God for His many blessings to us.

In addition to turning back to the man of God, Naaman also confessed that there was no true God in all the earth except in Israel.

I wonder what Naaman may have said to his wife’s little captive maid after he got back home. She was responsible for initiating the trip to Elisha’s house (verses 2-4).  When you and I share a few words about Jesus with someone we may start them on a path toward the Savior and heaven. We cannot cleanse someone from their sin any more than the little maid could cleanse Naaman from leprosy. But just as she knew the prophet who could cleanse from leprosy, we know the Christ who can and often does, cleanse from sin. 

And He Was Clean

“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”   (II Kings 5:14)

Dipping in the Jordan was not difficult. Humbling himself was the harder part. I wonder if he thought this is too simple, or too foolish, or it never has been done like this before. Did he examine himself after each dip to see if there had been any progress? The Bible doesn’t say. Was he about ready to give up after the fifth or sixth dip?  We don’t know. One thing we know, Naaman was cleansed of his leprosy.

The results were very similar to those of John Newton, an evil slave trader whose life the Lord changed, who in his song, “Amazing Grace,” wrote, “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

Many years ago I witnessed to a man who trusted Christ and was saved. He looked at me and said, “I don’t know why I waited so long to do this.” Why did Naaman not dip immediately in the Jordan? Why are you waiting?

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

“And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, ‘my father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, ‘‘ wash and be clean?’’” (II Kings 5:13)

It is always good to have some level-headed folks around us that when we act foolishly or speak unadvisedly they can get us back on the right track. Such were Naaman’s servants.

Perhaps his desire to be healed of leprosy had been the main topic of his conversations for months. Even though he was rich in earthly treasure and held a high position in the king of Syria’s cabinet, in this situation he is a beggar. An old saying is, “beggars can’t be choosers.” “Take the prescription given you for your cleansing,” they may have said.

In like fashion, those who are struggling with some sin or a sinful lifestyle must take what God offers in His word for cleansing. An old song asks, “What can wash away my sin?”  The answer is, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Too Proud to be Saved?

“Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”  (II Kings 5:12)

Commentators who have been in that area of the world and have seen the rivers spoken of here attest that the Jordan is, “as muddy as a clay hole,” and each of the other two rivers are clear and pristine.

Poor Naaman is letting his pride get in the way of his being cleansed of his leprosy. He turned and went away in a rage, but he still had leprosy.

Those who desire to receive salvation must abandon their pride and come to Christ as a lowly sinner, repent of their sins and receive Him by faith. Don’t stumble at the simplicity of salvation while looking for some elaborate scheme to cleanse you from sin. Remember, salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.

Behold, I Thought

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, ‘Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.’” (II Kings 5:11)

If you have ever seen someone so mad they were about to blow a gasket, you have probably seen how mad Naaman was when the messenger from Elisha told him to dip seven times in the Jordan River and he would be cured of his leprosy.

Dipping in the Jordan did not line up with his pre-conceived ideas of how he would be cleansed. Naaman was like many people who desire to be cleansed from sin, but they want it their way.

“Behold I thought,” will be the theme song of many people who die without Christ. “I thought I had plenty of time.” Or, “behold I thought” one religion was as good as another. Or, “Behold I thought,” I was good enough, or my good out-weighed my bad, or I was no worse than my neighbors, or I thought I could do it my way.  Don’t let, “Behold, I thought,” keep you out of heaven.  Be cleansed the Bible way, through the blood of Jesus.

A Simple Message

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, ‘Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.’” (II Kings 5:9-10)

Naaman went to the door of Elisha’s house with some degree of pomp and splendor. He must have thought that one doesn’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. Surely the prophet of Israel would be impressed with such a dignitary as he at Elisha’s door.

However, Elisha seemed to snub Naaman. First, he never came out of his house to meet Naaman. Second, he sent a messenger with a message. Third, the message was not the word he anticipated. The message was too simple: “Wash in Jordan River seven times.” So much for good impressions.  (Don’t confuse this message of dipping in the Jordan River with Christian baptism.) 

God’s message to us in His word is not hard to understand if we take it as it is. Even a six year old child can understand John 3:16. A fifty year old who has formed his/her personal ideas of eternal life and salvation is the one who misunderstands the plain, simple word of God.

A Holy Man of God

“And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, ‘Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.’” (II Kings 5:8)

A woman of Shunem expressed to her husband concerning Elisha, “…I perceive that this is a holy man of God…” (II Kings 4:9) When Elijah, Elisha’s predecessor, or mentor, was about to be translated into heaven he asked his young prophet friend what he could do for him. Elisha’s answer was, “I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” (II Kings2:9) Elijah is credited with seven miracles in his lifetime. Elisha has fourteen miracles to his credit.

In our text Elisha is not being a braggart. He is expressing confidence in God to bring healing to Naaman. Upon Naaman’s healing he would know there was a prophet of God in Israel.  The same God we trust to save us and give us eternal life, we can trust and have confidence in to use us and bless us in His service.

Make the Message Clear

“And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, ‘Am I God to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.’” (II Kings 5:7)

The only exercise some folks get is “jumping to conclusions.” That seems to be the case of the king of Israel upon the receipt of the letter from the king of Syria. He was so upset he even tore his clothes. “He must be trying to pick a fight with me,” he said

Have you been around people who thought they could find some hidden meaning in everything you said or did? The king of Israel had that problem, at least in this instance.

Neither the king of Syria, nor the king of Israel was clear in his communication to the other one. When we are communicating the Gospel message of the cleansing of sin by the blood of Jesus we must be clear and say what we mean and mean what we say.

Who is in Control?

“And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, ‘Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.’” (II Kings 5:6)

The king of Syria was accustomed to being in control, so it is not surprising that he assumed the “driver’s seat” in this situation. The only protocol he knew was that which lined up with his thinking. The king of Syria must have thought that the king of Israel had people under him lined up to heal or to do whatever he told them to do.

It never ceases to amaze me to see some “worldling” want the local church to be run like a business. If given the reins of leadership he will be as lost running the church as the king of Syria was in trying to dictate the process of healing for Naaman.

The Effect of One Little Girl’s Word

“And one went in, and told his lord, saying, ‘Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.’ And the king of Syria said, ‘Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel.’ And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.” (II Kings 5: 4-5)

The word “lord” in the first line is referring to the king of Syria. The Syrian king got the word the little girl shared with her mistress about available healing from God in Israel.

The king of Syria sent his letter of request to the wrong person, the king of Israel, instead of the prophet of God in Israel. Many people are mistakenly looking to Washington for help for this country when they should be looking to God.

The king was willing to pay a huge sum to have his noble officer cleansed of leprosy. Many people are attempting to barter with God to get their sins forgiven, their guilt removed, their conscience cleared and the guarantee of a home in heaven when they die. An old song says, “In my hand no price I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.” If you would be cleansed from sin you must come to Christ just as you are, a guilty sinner, asking Him for mercy. Christ has already paid the price.

A Little Girl With a Big Lesson

“And she said unto her mistress, ‘Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.’” (II Kings 5:3)

She is a little, Israelite slave girl, captive of the Syrians, apparently separated from her parents. She is serving the wife of one of the officers of the army that was responsible for her captivity. We do not know her name. She is one of the many unnamed people whose contribution to God and humanity are recorded in the Bible.

She could have said nothing and could have seen Naaman’s leprosy as a pay back for her being in captivity. She could have wished that he would die a slow, agonizing death from leprosy. She could have said, “His suffering is good enough for him!”

However, she wanted his suffering to end and his life to be spared. She told her mistress that if she could get Naaman to Elisha the prophet of God in Samaria he would recover Naaman of his sickness.  She had confidence in the prophet and in the prophet’s God. How wonderful when children are brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, to know God, to be acquainted with His servants and that as they grow they do not depart from it.

I encourage you to have your children in the presence of Christ, His word, His people and His teachings Sunday after Sunday. It is not too soon to start.

Naaman’s Wife’s Little Maid

“And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.” (II Kings 5:2)

As we have seen, Naaman had much going for him but he was a leper. He likely wanted to be healed of leprosy more than he wanted anything else. He did not know, nor did his master, the king of Syria know of a cure for leprosy.

A little girl had been taken captive from Israel by the Syrians. She had been made a servant to Naaman’s wife. In the next verses we will see how God uses weak instruments to do great things as He uses this little captive slave girl to bring healing to Naaman.

God can use you and me, even when the task before us seems to be overwhelming. The secret is to be totally surrendered to Him.

But He Was a Leper

“Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper.” (II Kings 5:1)

Naaman had many good things going for him. He had a high position in the Syrian army. He was great, honorable, and mighty.

But, negating all that was the last phrase in our text: “but he was a leper.” The word, “but,” erased all the good. Leprosy was a terrible disease. It carried a slow, painful death sentence with it, often following years of living in a leper colony, separated from friends and family.

One may have many good things going for him: a good education, a high position, money in the bank, a good job, a fine family, fine house and two good cars. But, there is the word, “but” again.  But man is a sinner by nature.

Sin is very similar to leprosy. Just as leprosy grew, sin grows. It carries a death sentence of being separated from God and all that is holy and good. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)  Just as Naaman needed cleansing from his leprosy, so also do all sinners need cleansing from sin. The blood of Jesus can wash a person as white as snow.

The Library Runneth Over

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)

It would be sheer speculation to attempt to list the many things Jesus did. One wonders about His appearance to the five-hundred brethren at one time following our Lord’s resurrection. Did He preach, teach, heal and comfort? God gave us all we need to know of the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. All of it is found in the pages of the Bible.

If we could turn the world into a giant library and record in books all the things our Savior did while on earth, the library would be running over.

What a Savior! He is coming back, very soon, I believe, I don’t know when. Only God knows when. It’s time to be serious with Him.

On the Sea of Tiberias

“After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed He Himself. There were gathered together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples.” (John 21:1-2)

For the past few days we have been following the life of Thomas after the resurrection of Jesus.

There are seven of the Lord’s disciples gathered together at the Sea of Tiberias. One of the seven is Thomas. I seriously doubt that Thomas missed an opportunity to be with the other followers of Jesus after he heard the excitement of the others following their seeing Jesus on that first Sunday evening after His resurrection. He was with them that second Sunday evening and saw Jesus. True followers of Jesus enjoy the company of fellow believers. It is a Christian trait.

Thomas being with them paid off because Jesus appeared to them early the next morning at the Sea of Tiberias and instructed them as to where they should cast their net for a large catch of fish. The Bible says this was the third time our Savior showed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection. (Verse 14) Look what he would have missed had he not been with the other disciples on the Sea of Tiberias.

Only Trust Him

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.”  (John 20:30-31)

Jesus worked thirty-seven miracles but only eight are recorded in the Gospel of John.  If someone needs a miracle to help him focus saving faith on Jesus, these eight are enough. They are called, “sign miracles.”

Jesus told the story of a man who had shunned the Word of God. We call him “Dives.” He died and went to the torments of Hades. When he insisted that Father Abraham send Lazarus, a poor beggar, to warn his five surviving brothers of that horrible place, Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” The man in torments said, “But if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.” Abraham said, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets (Just the Word of God) neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:28-31)

Don’t wait for some sign or miracle to place your faith in Jesus Christ. Take Him at His Word.

Believing is Seeing

“Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:29)

There are those today who insist on some sign, some miracle, or phenomenon to help them believe. But the age of apostolic sign miracles is over. The proof we need is in the pages of God’s Word.

You and I have not seen the Lord with our physical eyes. We have not seen the nail prints, nor where the thorns pierced His brow. We have not heard His precious voice. But we believe, nevertheless.

Peter knew when The Holy Spirit inspired him to write his first epistle that there were many who had not physically seen Jesus. He knew there would be others after them, folks like you and me, who concerning, “Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory…” (I Peter 1:8)  The Bible tells us that we will see Him after this life, with all its strife.

My Lord and My God

“And Thomas answered and said unto Him, ‘My Lord and my God.’” (John 20:28)

When Thomas saw the resurrected Christ he made a confession similar to the confessions others have made. Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi was, “thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Ethiopian said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”(Acts 8:37) Nathaniel confessed, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49) Martha, sister of Lazarus, made a bold confession in John 8:27 as did the woman at Jacob’s well in John chapter 4.

Thomas boldly declared that Jesus was his Lord, the number one person in his life and his God. He stated that Jesus was deity, God in human form.

Someone has stated that Jesus is the Lord of all or He will not be Lord at all. Is Jesus your Lord? What does your life say? My counsel is to surrender everything to Him and let Him be the ruler of your heart and life.

Adequate Proof for Adequate Faith

“Then saith He to Thomas, ‘Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.’”  (John 20:27)

One can only speculate what may have gone through Thomas’ mind during the week following our Savior’s first appearance to the ten and His appearance on this evening when Thomas was present. What might have been going through the minds of the ten during that time?

Thomas had insisted on solid evidence: the print of the nails and the spear print in the Savior’s side. That is what Jesus gave him. Did some of the ten others tell Jesus or did He who knows all things know that Thomas needed proof? In any case Thomas was given the evidence needed for his faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him.  (Hebrews 11:6)  

He has given you and me adequate proof to believe Christ is alive and gives life to all who trust Him.

Jesus Again in the Midst

“And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace be unto you.’”  (John 20:26)

Just as He had done a week earlier, Jesus came where the disciples were, behind closed doors and stood in the midst. The only difference in these two appearances is that Thomas was absent the first time and was present the second time. Jesus even spoke the same words, “Peace be unto you.”

This could have been an opportunity for Jesus to have scolded Thomas for his absence last Sunday, but He did not scold him. The pulpit must have a larger message than, “Where were you?” “Why weren’t you here?” Today’s pastor must feed the sheep, not scold the sheep, beat the sheep or fleece the sheep.

Again, just as He had done last Sunday, Jesus came and stood in the midst. It was a visit from the Chief Shepherd, a visit which Thomas would never forget.

Thomas, the Skeptic

“The other disciples therefore said unto him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said unto them, ‘Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.’” (John 20:25)

Thomas was called Didymus. He was Thomas the twin. He earned another title that has stuck with him to this day. He is called, “Doubting Thomas.” From this text for today he could easily be called, “Thomas, the skeptic.”

He insisted on concrete evidence. He had to have proof positive that Jesus was alive. It wasn’t enough for him to hear the others say, “We have seen the Lord.” Although he is a saved man, his speech sounds like the voice of a lost man. How often in our mouthings do many of us who name the name of Christ sound very much like we have never been saved?

Jesus came back the next Sunday night. We will explore that tomorrow. But, could Jesus not have come back into their midst when Thomas was telling them what he would need to see to be convinced?  Thomas would have to think this through for another 168 hours. It’s much like the person who attends church, hears the message, becomes convicted by the Holy Spirit, and the service is dismissed before he can go to the altar. Many a saved person can tell of such an experience from the past.

What Thomas Missed

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.” (John 20:24)

Thomas was conspicuous by his absence at the meeting of the ten with Jesus that evening. Peter was there, even though just three days earlier, he had denied that he knew Jesus. Of course, Judas was not there. He had betrayed Jesus, selling him to the Jewish authorities for thirty pieces of silver. His deed brought him deep remorse and he committed suicide by hanging himself.

But, I have often wondered why Thomas was not present. Thomas missed the assurance the others received from the resurrection appearance of Jesus. He missed the fellowship with and strength from the other disciples. He missed the gladness that the others had from seeing Jesus.

When we miss church we miss blessings. Jesus said that where two or three are gathered together in His name that He is in the midst. We are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. But we are to exhort one another. We encourage or discourage others by our church attendance or lack of it. When we miss we do not receive the message God has for us from His messenger.

We Have A Message to Deliver

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23)

Jesus did not give these ten or those who would follow them the power to forgive sins.  In Mark 2 the scribes correctly stated that only God has power to forgive sins. The failure of the scribes was that they did not accept that Christ was God.

What Jesus gave these ten disciples is what He has given Christians today. In our obedience to go as He has sent us, we are to declare the simple way of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. When a person accepts the message, believes in his heart and makes a confession with his mouth (Romans 10:8-10, 13), we can point him to the Bible showing him his sins are forgiven, just as the Bible states.

If he refuses the message and refuses to confess his sins, refuses to accept Christ as his Savior, he is still a lost sinner and we are to declare that fact to him.  God alone forgives. You and I are to carry the message of forgiveness. What a shame that we have been disobedient and neglectful in that assignment and folks die in their sins not hearing or knowing the message of forgiveness.