Sermon Notes: 4.24.22 “We Are Witnesses”

Christ is Risen
The Lord is Risen Indeed

Mary is the first to encounter the risen Christ. She is the first witness to the good news that Jesus is alive and Jesus sends her to tell the Good News to the other disciples. Mary’s Good News is truly sensational, isn’t it? It is like a headline we might read in the news today and say, “Really? You expect me to believe that?”

All four Gospels record that the first witnesses to the Resurrection were women. However, in that time, women were not considered credible witnesses. Luke acknowledges this in his Gospel. The women share with Peter and the other disciples what they had witnessed at the empty tomb, "but their story seemed like NONSENSE, and they did not believe them" (Luke 24:11).

Even after receiving the good news from the women, the disciples are frozen with fear and grieving the loss of their master, teacher, and friend. They are hiding and locked in a room.

This Sunday, we will talk more about the first witnesses to the Resurrection. What is required of a witness and what are the different types of witnesses? Why are witnesses important? What does it mean for YOU and ME to be “witnesses” for Jesus Christ?

John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked 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.
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.”
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.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, [c] the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Acts 5: 27-32

Further Reading: Acts 5: 27-32.

This is the second Sunday of Easter and it is also UMW Sunday! We look forward to seeing each one of you there!

Sheila Freeman
Connectional Ministries