Second Sunday of Easter
Our Hope Is Certain in the Risen Christ
These are the readings for the Second Sunday of Easter.
(This Worship Help aligns with the lectionary readings from Christian Worship 1993 and Christian Worship: Supplement.)
God’s Word for This Week
Today we have the sure testimony of the resurrection before us. Our Savior’s resurrection is validated through the Holy Scriptures and by the eyewitness accounts of those who personally saw him. Our faith holds unto these clear testimonies and places confidence in the sure hope of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior. In faith, we look beyond the troubles of this world to the glories of the next. It is in that blessed hope that we now live each day.
Traditional First Lesson – Acts 2:14a,22-32
What was the purpose of the miracles that Jesus performed?
Peter said that those works were God’s certification that Jesus came from God and did God’s work. Those works bore witness that Jesus’ message was God’s message. They attested to the fact that he was the promised Messiah.
What do the words quoted from Psalm 16 teach us about death?
As David, we too can be filled with joy and hope, confident that God will not simply leave our bodies to decay in the grave. We are one of God’s “holy ones” certain of the joys of eternal life.
Supplemental First Lesson – Acts 10:34a,36,39-43
How did new Christians receive the blessing of proof from Christ’s Easter resurrection appearances?
The Gentile believers to whom Peter spoke had never seen the risen Lord. But Peter had; Peter had watched Jesus eat and drink; Peter had touched and felt his risen body. God had made his disciples both apostles and witnesses of the resurrection so that they could provide proof for the Gentiles. They were sent to give this proof and proclaim Christ’s peace to these new Christians who fulfilled Jesus’ promise to Thomas: they had not seen, but yet they believed.
Second Lesson – 1 Peter 1:3-9
What does Peter mean when he says we have a “living hope”? (See 1:3.)
A Christian’s hope is a “living hope” because it is founded on Christ, our Savior, who has conquered sin and death and has given us the sure promise of eternal life.
Gospel – John 20:19-31
What greater meaning did the common greeting, “Peace be with you!” take on when spoken by Jesus that first Easter evening?
With the word peace, Jesus is proclaiming what he was giving to the world through his crucifixion and resurrection. It wasn’t the shallow peace that the world frantically seeks, but rather peace with God, which comes to us through the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation won for us through Christ, our Savior.
What comfort was gained when Jesus showed the nail marks?
It absolutely proves that he wasn’t a ghost. The nail marks also were a visible reminder of the forgiveness that was theirs through Christ.
What did Thomas confess?
After having struggled with doubt earlier, he now boldly confessed that Jesus is the one true and eternal God. Thomas confessed that Jesus was indeed his gracious Savior. Jesus had overcome the doubt and unbelief of Thomas.
