Sunday’s Blessing – 04/19/2026 – 3rd Sunday of Easter - Continued celebration of the Resurrection and Its Impact on the Early Church
Every Sunday in the liturgical calendar is Resurrection Sunday. On this particular day, the 3rd Sunday of Easter, the focus is on the Continued celebration of the Resurrection and Its Impact on the Early Church. After Jesus came out of the tomb, He was seen by many people. Some say as many as 515 people saw Jesus in the flesh, alive, after He was crucified, buried, and then was raised from the dead. That’s a lot of people! It’s not easy to get even a few people to concoct a false narrative about most anything. But 515 people? That would be nearly impossible.
There had already been a president for someone coming back from the dead. Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, brother of Martha and Mary, came out of the tomb at Jesus’ command. He had been dead for several days to the point that the sisters discouraged the men from rolling away the cover of the entrance to the tomb, saying, “He’s already stinking.” Jesus gave the command, “Lazarus, come forth.” When Lazarus stepped out of the tomb it caused quite a stir.
But now Jesus, who had prophesied His own resurrection, comparing it to rebuilding the temple after it was demolished, stood in their presence alive, bearing in His body the scars of the nails and the spear, the crown of thorns and the scourging, speaking words which now carried a new weight saying, “Come, place your finger in the holes. They are real.”
When word began to spread that Jesus was, indeed, alive it ignited faith in what had been spoken by this one called Jesus, and they believed He was the Messiah sent by God to redeem mankind back to their Creator. Like the two who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, just His words caused their hearts to “burn within us”.
In just a few more weeks after the resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven right before the eyes of many of these people. They heard His final words of hope when the Promised One, the Holy Spirit, would be sent to abide IN them, not just ON them as He had up until this time. That would be the confidence they would have of a new heart and a new life.
Today’s Blessing:
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:26-30 (ESV)
