Easter Sunday | Better Late than Never | Pastor Steve Andres

<p>Have you ever felt stuck in a moment? This Easter weekend Pastor Steve Andres shared a message about Thomas, one of Jesus’ followers. We have called him doubting Thomas for centuries, but is that really fair? </p><p><br></p><p>John 20:24-28</p><p>One of the twelve disciples, Thomas, was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”</p><p><br></p><p>It isn’t until Thomas meets the risen Jesus that he can move on from the trauma and disillusionment of Friday’s crucifixion. Meeting the risen Christ means three important things to us:</p><p><br></p><p>1) Suffering can’t keep me stuck.</p><p><br></p><p>Jesus’ resurrected body still has scars. God doesn’t take away our suffering, he transforms it to work for his purposes and for our good.</p><p><br></p><p>2) Labels don’t have the last word. </p><p><br></p><p>For Thomas and all of us, Jesus’ resurrection means that we are no longer defined by OUR worst moments, but by HIS best moment.</p><p><br></p><p>3) Facts are facts, but they aren’t final.</p><p><br></p><p>The facts about me or my circumstances are true but aren’t the whole truth. When Thomas saw Jesus risen, he declared the truth about Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”</p><p><br></p><p>Happy Easter! We have life because Jesus is alive!</p>