Theme: Hearing is believing

Exegetical note
John's inclusion of the "doubting Thomas" episode appears to be addressed to the Church of his own day, which did not have direct evidence of the resurrection. The "punch line" on the lips of Jesus in verse 20, therefore, is directed, not so much at Thomas as to those second and third generation Christians who had access to the resurrected Christ only through the proclaimed kerygma. For them, hearing (or, according to v. 31, reading!) had to be believing.

Call to Worship
Leader: Sisters and brothers, we gather t…