Fake News?

By Reverend Michael Farias

On the first Easter Sunday, Jesus made five separate appearances. These are all recorded in the Bible.

Fresh from the tomb, he showed up to different people at different times in different places. In all, Jesus appeared to more than 500 people during a 40 day period before he left for heaven.  It’s true, many different people saw Jesus on Easter Sunday and after.

Even though Jesus had told his followers that he would rise after three days, it must have been astonishing to actually see him and visit with him.

One particular meeting Jesus happened in on was a gathering of his disciples. They were all in the room when Jesus walked in. They all saw him, heard his instructions, and fixed their eyes on the scars in his hands and side and received the Holy Spirit as He breathed on them. All of them that is, except Thomas. Thomas wasn’t there.  I don’t know where he was, or what he was doing, but he missed an awesome meeting.

When Thomas does show up, late, Jesus is long gone. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25 ESV

Wow! Thomas thinks it’s fake news, all made up and chooses to not believe.  He will have to see it to believe it.

Thomas is left with his doubt for more than a week, when Jesus appears again at a meeting of the disciples. This time Thomas is in the room. Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27 NIV

Thomas believed, he called Jesus, “my Lord and my God”.

There is no doubt that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. It’s not fake news, but it’s real and true. This Easter you can join Thomas and millions of others by simply choosing to believe.

Then Jesus told him (Thomas), “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV