NL 440: Verifying Thomas

Intro (00:00:00)

Context is Key (00:01:05)

Overall Context

‘Ad’ Break (00:02:36)

Text Me (00:04:13)

Section 1: John 20:19-23 “Peace B*****s”

Section 2: John 20:24-25 “I’m Gonna Need Some Proof” (00:27:10)

Section 3: John 20:26-29 “Stick Your Finger” (00:41:02)

Section 4: John 20:30 “The Reason for All of This” (00:55:00)

Foreshadowing: Next Week on Tales of Faith (Acts 9, Paul’s Conversion) (01:03:00)

That’ll Preach (01:05:27)

Sermon Thoughts

Teaching Children

Intro (00:00:00)

A: Greetings, and welcome back to Tales of Faith, a podcast on the Narrative Lectionary. I am n.

L: And I am n. This is episode 440 for the Second Sunday of Easter Sunday on April 12, 2026, though we are recording on ___________, so if something major has happened between when we record and when you listen, then we won’t be able to comment on it.

A: Today we are talking about the John 20:19-31, the Resurrection, and will be using the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. So let’s get started with the Context:

Context is Key (00:01:05)

Overall Context

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb earlier today, found it empty, and told Peter and the Disciple Jesus loved

They came to check it out and believed that his body was not there

Mary Magdalene then saw 2 angels and Jesus who told her that he had been raised, and to go and tell the disciples.

Our text for this week starts out later that day, and then concludes one week later.

‘Ad’ Break (00:02:36)

L: Today’s episode is brought to you by Tombwatch™. Have you just entombed the person you thought was the Messiah, but are not quite sure what is going to happen with the body?

A: You don’t want to show up on Sunday morning and find the body missing with no answers: was it stolen by the Religious authorities, was it taken by the Romans, was it absconded by other disciples, or was he raised from the dead just as he said he was going to be?

L: Listen, we all face uncertainty in this life, and in the next, so why not have complete certainty and objective factual evidence forever and ever.

A: But what would that kind of evidence do for your faith?

L: What?

A: If we had firm proof of a physical resurrection, how would we be welcomed into a story that invites us into a newness of life?

L: Oh, yeah, I guess even the gospels don’t depict what the resurrection actually looked like.

A: And with today’s ubiquity of AI generated videos on the one hand, and government officials telling us to doubt what actual video evidence shows, what would be the point?

L: Your right, never mind, Tombwatch, you can keep your imaginary money that you didn’t pay us. Today’s episode is actually sponsored by the Resurrection account from John’s Gospel, with all its beautiful uncertainty.

Text Me (00:04:13)

Section 1: John 20:19-23 “Peace B*****s”

L

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Section 2: John 20:24-25 “I’m Gonna Need Some Proof” (00:27:10)

A

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

20.24 Gk Didymus

Section 3: John 20:26-29 “Stick Your Finger” (00:41:02)

L

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Section 4: John 20:30 “The Reason for All of This” (00:55:00)

A

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue[b] to believe that Jesus is the Messiah,[c] the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

b. 20.31 Or may come

c. 20.31 Or the Christ

Foreshadowing: Next Week on Tales of Faith (Acts 9, Paul’s Conversion) (01:03:00)

That’ll Preach (01:05:27)

Sermon Thoughts

Teaching Children