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“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Acts 17:31

The Past Is Paid For

It seems like an all-too-common occurrence when someone in the public eye comes under fire for past indiscretions. Whether it is athletes, politicians, or entertainers, we have seen examples of someone falling from grace. Once past sins are brought into the light, very few people in our society will have mercy. Social media will vilify the person. Public opinion will turn against them quickly. They might be blackballed by Hollywood or shunned by their political party. It is likely they will never recover or return to their previous position.

Deep down, we are all afraid that our past sins will come back to bite us in the end. Maybe it was something done in secret that nobody knows about. Perhaps it was a sin committed in the heat of the moment, you know that at some point it is going to come to light, and you are going to have to answer for it. It is likely that whatever happened will eventually be known by others; it is just a matter of time. The fear of waiting for that other shoe to drop is real. We fear losing our jobs, reputation, or relationships. Perhaps more than that, we fear being punished by God for all eternity.

That would be our fate, except that someone already answered to God on our behalf. In giving himself to die on the cross, Jesus already took both the blame and the punishment for our sins. He has paid for our sins and removed them from us.

Yes, the day is coming when many will have to answer for what they have done. But through faith in Jesus, we don’t have to fear that day. The Judge on that day will be the same one who died and rose from the dead to save us. Thanks be to God that through faith in Jesus, we will not be made to answer for our sins!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for answering for my sins and removing them from me. Lead me to not fear the day of your return. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:18

You Can’t Keep Him Down

“I can do this all day.” Marvel fans will recognize that as one of Captain America’s common statements. It was something he usually said when he was involved in a difficult fight against an enemy. Cap is known for his determination and perseverance. He might have gotten knocked down, but you could expect him to get back up. Hits that would have knocked us down for good, usually couldn’t keep him down. He would get back up, slowly, but might say to his opponent, “I can do this all day.”

As much as we may look up to Captain America, none of us is that resilient in real life. Sure, we fight our battles, and we can give it our all, but so often we too get knocked down. And maybe we’ll rally and get back up for a time, but there are a few enemies that we cannot stand up to. Death is one of those enemies. It is staring all of us down, and we may fight it off for a while, but eventually it will knock us down, and we do not have the power or strength to get back up again. Not even Captain America has that kind of power.

But there is one who does. Jesus faced death, too. A terrible death that he didn’t deserve. Dying on a cross was not a nice way to go. And while he was innocent, he gave himself over to death so that you and I might be forgiven and saved. But that could only happen if Jesus didn’t stay down. Thankfully, on Easter Sunday, Jesus got back up. “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” Jesus is alive again, nevermore to die. He has knocked out and defeated the one enemy that you and I could never hope to defeat. In Jesus, we have victory over death and the gift of eternal life in heaven!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, death could not keep you down. I rejoice to know that you are alive and that you give me the gift of life as well. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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[Jesus said] “Because I live, you also will live.”
John 14:19

The Gift of Life

The human body fights to survive. It has been given the precious gift of life, and it does not easily let go of that gift. And so, it fights infection. It develops immunities. It heals when bruised, cut, or broken. In dire situations, it will divert energy and nutrients to the more integral parts of the body. The human body is a remarkable creation of God. Add in medical advancements in technology and the knowledge that the Lord has blessed us with, and the human body can live longer than in generations past.

While all of that is true, the body eventually reaches the point where life is almost over. There will come a point for all of us when the body cannot heal itself, and no medical technology or skill will be able to prolong our lives. What then? Is that it?

Not at all! No matter how long or short our lives on earth are, no matter how full or empty we make them, there is more to come after life here on earth. And because of Jesus, we can have a much longer and fuller life in heaven. Because of sin, Jesus knew that we all were doomed to a short life on earth followed by an eternity of torment. He didn’t want that for us, and so he came here to be our substitute and Savior. Jesus lived a perfect life for us and died an innocent death on the cross so that our sins could be paid for and forgiven. He then rose from the dead to conquer death and open the gates to eternal life in heaven for us.

And now he says to you, “Because I live, you also shall live.” Through faith in Jesus, when we leave this world, we will go to a place that is far better. We will live forever in heaven—a place where there will be no more death or pain or suffering. A place where we will never grow old or have our lives come to an end.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, because you live, I also will live! Help me look forward to the day when I will be with you forever. Amen.

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[Jesus said to his disciples] “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
John 14:16-19

The Promise

Do you like being alone? Sure, it can be nice to take a walk by yourself to clear your head or escape to the garage for some quiet tinkering. But when the bad news comes, or the holidays arrive, or the loneliness settles in, do you like being alone?

As Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure—both his departure to death on the cross and his departure to heaven at his ascension—he comforted his disciples. He didn’t want them to feel abandoned by him and left on their own. So, he made a promise to them. God was going to give his Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to be with them forever. They were not going to be alone, in good times or in bad times.

The promise Jesus made to his disciples is also for you. He knows there are times when you are going to feel alone. There will be times when temptation will seem ready to overwhelm you. There will be times that sorrow or trouble or the death of a loved one will leave you standing, not knowing what direction to turn. Yet God has not left you alone. When he made you his child, he sent the Holy Spirit to be with you. By your side, he reminds you of the comfort and promise of the Resurrection. Because Jesus lives, you too will live. No matter what the trial or the sorrow, nothing can take away the sure fulfillment of this promise. You will live because Jesus has rescued you from death. He has rescued you from sin. He has replaced it with eternal life.

Prayer:

Dearest Jesus, I give thanks that you have not abandoned me but have sent your Holy Spirit to keep your promise of eternal life before me. Amen.

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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

You Belong

Everyone wants to belong. We want to know that we matter, that we are wanted, and that we have a purpose.

It does not take much to make us feel like we don’t. You walk into a room and scan the space, wondering if anyone sees you. You scroll through your phone and compare, and everyone else seems to have a place, a purpose, a people—but not you.

So, we keep asking the question: Where do I fit? We ask it because something in us broke. God created us to belong to him. But sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, severing that relationship and cutting off the connection.

The apostle Peter states it plainly: “Once you were not a people.” But that is no longer true. Through Jesus Christ, you have received mercy. Jesus lived the life you could not live. He died the death you deserved. He rose from the grave and brought you back to God. You are no longer an outsider. You belong.

God has already given you your identity: You are chosen. You are royal. You are holy. You are God’s own possession.

What others say does not change that. How you feel does not change that. What you have done or failed to do does not change that. This is who you are in Christ. And with that identity, God gives you a purpose.

He has called you out of darkness into his light so that you may declare his praises. Your new life in Christ now flows from his mercy. Not to earn a place, but because you already have one.

So, live as someone who belongs, because you do.

Prayer:

Gracious Father, thank you for bringing me into your family through Jesus. Help me live as your child and share the light of your mercy with others. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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“Know this: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:10-12

One Name That Saves

Some people say that all spiritual paths lead to the same place. The idea sounds appealing, kind, and welcoming. It sounds peaceful. But is it true?

When Simon Peter spoke to the religious council in Jerusalem, he refused to soften his message. He did not hold back. He declared that salvation—rescue from sin, death, and judgment—comes through one name: Jesus Christ.

Peter did not offer Jesus as one option among many teachers. He did not portray Jesus as a guide who points the way toward truth or salvation. He proclaimed that no other name saves. Jesus is not an option. He is the only Savior.

People sometimes resist hearing that only one name saves. It challenges our pride. We want to be able to prove ourselves, to showcase our effort, and proclaim, “See! I did it myself.”

But if rescue rested on us, one question would always haunt us: Have I done enough?

As our substitute, Jesus did enough. He lived the life we fail to live. He suffered our curse. He died our death. And he rose from the grave to prove that he has finished the work to save us.

In Jesus, your doubt, fear, and worry—are silenced! And not just for you. Jesus solves the problem of sin for the whole world. Which means salvation does not depend on our performance. It rests in Christ. So, forgiveness is not something we earn. Life is not something we must win. Salvation is not something we secure for ourselves. It is a gift God gives to all who trust in Jesus Christ.

Guaranteed. Certain. Secure.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for being the Savior the world needs. Strengthen my faith in you and help me share your saving name with others. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.”
Acts 17:22-23

The True God Is Not Unknown

During the time of the apostle Paul, the people of Athens worshipped many gods. They were concerned, however, that they might not know about all the gods, and a slighted god may bring some disastrous consequences on them. So, in all their idol worship, they set up another altar to a god they didn’t know.

We may look down our noses in our scientific enlightenment at these ignorant heathens. But are we really that much different? What would Paul see if we invited him to walk in our lives? He might not encounter small statues made of silver or gold that we pray to. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t tempted to worship idols. Consider that an idol for us is really anything, anyplace, or anyone that we hold more important than God or what he commands. We need to honestly ask: have we ever set our hearts on money or things that money can buy more than on God and his promises? Or has one click on the computer screen ever led us to seek happiness and pleasure in the wrong places?

Satan would have us despair of ever knowing God and the salvation he accomplished for us. He would say, “With all your sin, why would God want to know you?” The truth is that God sought you and me out and revealed himself to us through his Son. The true God is not unknown to us. By the power of the Holy Spirit through the gospel, you and I know God. We know that he has forgiven our sins through Jesus. And for that reason, we will know God forever.

Prayer:

God, you have opened my eyes to see you as my Savior and know you as my Lord. Continue to reveal yourself to me through your Word that I may grow in my knowledge of your love and grow closer in my relationship with you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:6

With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Home

By the time David was finally crowned king of Israel at the age of 30, he had spent nearly half of his life on the run from the jealous King Saul, who saw him as a rival to be eliminated. At one point, David pleaded with the king to give up this pointless manhunt, saying, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?” (1 Samuel 26:18). Although the king relented that day, it would still be some time before David could settle down in one place.

How exhausting it must have been to be constantly hounded that way for so many years! You likely do not have a mortal enemy like young David did. But maybe you have felt chased in a more metaphorical way—constantly pursued by memories of past mistakes, of words or actions that make you blush or inwardly moan just to think of them years later. Hounded by a guilty conscience, we may even begin to doubt whether God will forgive us. David had that experience too, after making some terribly sinful choices later in life. He wrote in Psalm 51: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”

In the closing verse of what is probably David’s most famous psalm, he writes of a very different kind of chase: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me [literally, pursue me] all the days of my life.” David had learned that no matter how great our sin, the Lord’s love for us is even greater. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, pursues his wandering sheep and gently restores us to himself. During our life on earth, the Lord invites us to find shelter in his house of worship; and when we depart from this earth one day, he will welcome us into his heavenly home, where “the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd…. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17).

Prayer: (CW, 552:6)

And so through all the length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house forever! Amen.

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Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Safety

A young couple, seemingly blessed in so many ways, learns that their daughter has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer, and the prognosis is not promising. How did this happen, they wonder. What is God’s plan in this?

In verse 3 of Psalm 23, King David confidently states that the Lord guides him “along the right paths.” One verse later, however, he finds himself walking through the darkest valley—in some translations, “the valley of the shadow of death.” How did he end up here when just a moment ago he was resting in green pastures?

The truth is that the Lord often leads his people into dark and dangerous times in life. These can take many different forms of suffering, loss, hardship, and trials, which may affect both body and soul. And yes, one day death too will cast its shadow over our lives. Although some of these may correlate to bad choices we make along the way, it is never a matter of the Lord leading us wrong or leaving us alone along the path. The darkness of the valley may prevent us from seeing clearly, but it doesn’t keep our Lord from remaining in control. Even in those dark days, we can join with David in saying, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Jesus, our Good Shepherd, watches over us and powerfully protects us from our greatest enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Not even death can separate us from the love of God, which is ours in Christ Jesus. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom 8:28).

Prayer: (CW, 552:4)

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
with you, dear Lord, beside me,
your rod and staff my comfort still,
your cross before to guide me. Amen.

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The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Psalm 23:1

With Jesus My Shepherd, I Lack Nothing

What is missing in your life? In the context of reading this devotion and having just been reminded of the opening verse of Psalm 23, you might quickly confess with David, “Since the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.” But as the day goes on, the week progresses, and you look at your bills, deadlines, relationships, health, and responsibilities, you might feel there is something missing. There may be something lacking in your marriage, job satisfaction, daily routines, or life in general. Maybe you could name that missing thing right away. Maybe even talk for an hour over coffee with a friend about what your life is lacking.

So why have countless generations of God’s people had these words of David on their lips, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want”? Is it a calm expression of trust in God’s providence? Is it to remind themselves to be content, despite their feelings of loss, frustration, or fear? Or is it a prayer, asking the Lord to keep their minds focused on his love for them? You likely would not be surprised if I suggested it was all of the above.

It’s true that some things people long for flow from misplaced priorities. The human heart, darkened by original sin, may have you desiring things that are not yours or that are not for your good. The Lord calls you to repent and to return to him, finding in his forgiving grace the one thing you truly need in this life.

In other cases, what seems missing may be a truly God-pleasing thing, a blessing only he can give, but for some reason seems elusive to you right now: like peace, safety, contentment, or hope. The Lord invites you to trust his love for you and his promises, which are all fulfilled in Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He bound himself to you and laid down his life for you. You can confidently say with David, “He is my shepherd. With him, I have everything I will ever need.”

Prayer: (CW, 552:1)

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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[Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
Luke 24:25-26

It Has to Happen

Jesus spoke these words to two of his followers walking to Emmaus the day he rose from the dead. But these two didn’t understand that Jesus HAD TO be alive. Why did he have to be alive? Because that’s what God through the prophets said would happen. These two must have heard the prophecies before that Jesus would die and rise again. They must have heard Jesus say that he would die and rise again. But what they didn’t understand was that what God says has to happen.

This is such a huge concept for us to understand as well. There are times in our lives when it seems the wheels are coming off. It’s one problem after the next. Yet God says to those who believe in him, “I have plans to prosper you” (Jeremiah 29:11). God says he will prosper us. And what God says has to happen.

We ask God to help us, but feel he isn’t. Yet he says in Psalm 50:15, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.” God says he will deliver us. And what God says has to happen.

We confess our sins to God and ask him to forgive us. But we don’t feel forgiven. We still stew on and feel that guilt. Yet God says in 1 John 1:7, “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” God says he has washed away every sin with Jesus’ blood. And what God says has to happen.

Our own words and the words of others aren’t always reliable. But what God says is fail-proof. It is reliable. We can completely trust that whatever he says and promises WILL HAPPEN.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith so that I trust that what you promise will happen. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:37-39

Cut and Comforted

When the apostle Peter preached to the crowd in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, he did not soften his message. “You crucified him,” Peter said. The very Savior that God had promised, the one sent to rescue them, they had rejected. And the people felt it. Luke says they were “cut to the heart.”

That’s what God’s Word does. It doesn’t flatter us. It doesn’t tell us we’re basically fine. It tells us the truth. Our sin isn’t small. It isn’t someone else’s problem. Left alone, it separates us from God. When that truth sinks in, the question arises: “What shall we do?”

It’s the most natural question in the world. When you realize something is broken, you want to fix it. When you realize you’re guilty, you want to make it right. But Peter’s answer is not, “Try harder.” It’s not, “Do better next time.”

He says, “Repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Notice how active God is in that sentence. Forgiveness is given. The Spirit is given. The promise is given.

We bring the sin. God brings the rescue. That is how faith begins. God’s law cuts so that his gospel can heal. He shows us our desperate condition so that we will see how desperately we need Jesus.

And then he gives him to us. Through his Word, through baptism, through the message of the cross, God applies what Jesus has done. Not partly. Completely. Not because we earned it. Because Christ did. The same God who exposes our guilt also washes it away. The promise is for you.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, cut away my pride and self-reliance. Then comfort me with the full forgiveness won by Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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[Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Luke 24:25-27

All Scripture Points Us to Jesus

When Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he kept them from recognizing him. That seems strange. If the goal was to convince them he was alive, why not simply say, “It’s me”? Instead, Jesus did something just as powerful. He opened the Scriptures.

He walked them through the first part of the Bible, what we call the Old Testament, and showed them how it had always been pointing to him. He may have taken them back to the Garden of Eden, where God promised that one of Eve’s descendants would crush the serpent. He may have reminded them of the Passover Lamb in Exodus, whose blood saved God’s people from death. He certainly could have pointed to the prophet Isaiah, who wrote about a suffering servant who would be “pierced for our transgressions.”

We might think it would be more powerful if Jesus were to appear today. Wouldn’t that make for an undeniable and visible testimony? If Jesus were standing right in front of us. Wouldn’t that settle everything?

But Jesus chooses something else. He chooses his Word. God’s Word doesn’t just give information. It creates faith. It reveals who Jesus is and what he has done. His Word shows us that his suffering wasn’t an accident. Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection was a rescue plan written across centuries.

The Bible is not a random collection of spiritual thoughts. It is one unfolding story with one hero: Jesus. And through that Word, the Holy Spirit opens eyes just like he did for those disciples on the road to Emmaus.

If you want to know who Jesus is, start where he told us to look. Open the Bible. That will lead you straight to your Savior, Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, open my eyes through your Word. Strengthen my faith in your promises and help me see you on every page of Scripture. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9

Living Hope

A person struggles with a dangerous sin. He has given in before. It’s such a struggle that some days he is ready to give in for good. But he hangs on, remembering the battle Jesus fought to set him free. He continues to fight, relying on God’s power that raised Jesus to life. And where there is life, there is hope.

This new life is ours through the good news of the crucified and risen Jesus. Through this message, the Holy Spirit connects us to the accomplished work of our Savior. Jesus’ death becomes our death. Jesus’ life becomes our life—a living hope.

Living hope is not skeptical. It does not get discouraged when life’s circumstances change. Living hope holds onto God’s indestructible inheritance. If you die or the world ends, it’s still yours. It can’t be spoiled by sin or sinful people. It won’t lose value over time. God is keeping it safe for you in heaven. By faith in Jesus, that inheritance is your salvation—eternal freedom from sin, death, and the devil’s power.

So, rejoice! Jesus lives! And where there is life, there is hope.

Prayer:

Dearest Jesus, I praise you for the life, hope, and inheritance I have in you. And so, I consider it a joy if I must suffer for your name. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:26-29

The Wounded Lord Draws Near

A week after Jesus appeared to his disciples on Easter evening, he appears again. The doors are locked. This time, Thomas is present. Jesus speaks directly to him. “Put your finger here; see my hands… Stop doubting and believe.”

What mercy! Jesus repeats Thomas’s own words back to him—not to mock, but to invite. The Lord had heard his doubt. And now he answers it with the proof of his wounds from the cross. Even in resurrection glory, Jesus keeps the marks of crucifixion as proof of his undeserved love.

Thomas responds with the clearest confession in John’s Gospel: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas declares who Jesus is—God himself—and who Jesus is to him—his Lord. His doubt is transformed into worship.

Jesus then speaks to us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This is not second-class faith. It is faith grounded in the testimony of the apostles. The eyewitnesses saw so that we may trust their proclamation.

We do not touch his wounds physically. However, we encounter the same crucified and risen Jesus in his Word and in the Lord’s Supper. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus provides individual sinners with the ongoing assurance that his body and blood have been given and shed for them.

He lives. And his living presence continues to comfort wounded consciences.

Your wounds, too, are known to him. By his death and resurrection, he transformed your guilt into peace, your temporary pain into enduring hope, and your momentary sorrows into joy that will last forever.

Thomas received what he asked for and more. He received a living Savior. So do you.

Prayer:

My Lord and my God, thank you for meeting my doubts with mercy. Keep my faith anchored in your wounded yet victorious body. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.