Everybody likes Thomas. Doubting Thomas, we call him. Like Thomas, many of us take pride in holding on to our doubts about Christ. We say, "if only I could touch Him, listen to Him, and then I’d know for sure about Him being the Promised One." Talking with one person just a few days ago, came this observation: "I can identify with Thomas. No one ever came back to life before. Sometimes we believe, because we’ve heard the stories for so long."

To be like Thomas! That’s it. To be like Thomas. Careful, though. You can’t have one part of Thomas without the rest of him. You should know the rest of the story about this disciple. After Pentecost, after the believers were scattered from Jerusalem, tradition places him first in what is now modern day Iran. He was killed in India, preaching the gospel. To this day churches called Mar Thoma, can be found in India. They are named for the man who had to see for himself if his friend Jesus, was alive. He had his Easter. He began living differently. He changed his focus and his energy - all for Jesus. He had a new song to sing!

Doubts turned to delight - from challenging of Christ, to changing the world for Christ. How does this happen? Because of people LIKE THOMAS! Others SEE the good news in you. They HEAR the good news about Jesus. They are invited READ the good news in any number of Bibles available. Then, Jesus’ words are fulfilled: "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." "...these signs have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." (29-31) Others get a chance to sing a new song of joy through their lives. Still want to be like Thomas? If you believe God raised Jesus from the dead, like our friend Thomas, your family, your community, the world will know of Jesus.

Too many want to be like Thomas in DOUBTING BUT NOT DELIGHTING - in CHALLENGING HIM, BUT NOT CHANGING OURSELVES. Let’s connect with Thomas for a few moments. Let his life draw us to Jesus: Savior and Lord!

We meet Thomas for the first time in a list of the twelve disciples. He is not listed in the first four, or even in the top six. He is listed toward the end, closer to where Judas can be found. He joined Jesus. Did Thomas see Jesus as a Savior for his nation, himself?

We do not know. Some of those first disciples joined Jesus for the wrong reasons. But there they were. So, we connect with Christ like Thomas. We joined up.

When you joined the Church, why did you ever join? "My parents made me." "It’s a great place to meet someone." "I make contacts for business." The reasons we have for joining the typical church vary. And some join, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE JESUS TO BE THEIR SAVIOR. He changed their lives:

When Jesus comes, the tempter’s power is broken,

When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away.

He takes the gloom, and fills the life with gladness,

For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

One woman was asked about her life in Christ. She lived a rough life:. "Has Jesus Christ made any difference?" She declared: "The home is the same, but I have changed!"

Oh yes, we join Christ for different reasons. But one day we will have to decide: Savior of my life- yes, or no? Thomas wrestled with the question all the time he spent with Jesus. With our friend Thomas, we go over His miracles and His words. We join the Church for many reasons, but one day, the truth of Christ and His power must confront each of us. Is He your Savior?

The answer you give will determine your own attitude toward Him. You see, He is the Savior of the world. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..." But if you know He died for you, then the rest of the verse grips you. "That whosoever _____ (you?), believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3.16) If He died for you, there must be a reason beyond a safe passage to heaven.

"Of course. Jesus can be our servant, too!" That is too often the mental state of us who are American Christians. We are so consumer oriented, that even Jesus must meet our every desire...or we dispose of Him. But when Jesus died for you and me...when we welcomed Him in as our Savior...He also expects us to welcome Him as Lord! After all, it is the next step of love we can give to Him. Few of us do. Listen:

"No man is truly alive today who simply acts as spectator concerning issues of life and death. But he knows true life, giving himself to Christ and His call." (Chambers)

"Jesus hath many lovers of the heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of his cross.

"Jesus findeth many companions of his table, but few of his fasting.

"All desire to rejoice with him. Few are willing to undergo anything for his sake.

"Many are astonished at his miracles. Few follow after the shame of his cross."

(Thomas a Kempis)

Question: Will Christ be Lord of your life?

Thomas thought he could die with Christ. We hear the news that Lazarus was sick. Jesus had to tell Thomas and the rest, "He is dead...so that you may believe. Let us go to him." Death awaited Jesus, if He went. But Thomas shouts to the others, "Let’s also go, that we may die with Him!" (John 11.16) Thomas was taking steps to follow His Savior. Still want to be LIKE THOMAS?

Too often we are like the farmer who wrote to his girlfriend in town: "Dearest Jane, no mountain is too high, no sea is too wide to keep me from your side. I’d do anything just to catch even one glimpse of you. Love, John. P.S.: If it don’t rain Saturday night, I’ll try to come by." Too many of us want a crown without a cross. We want the benefits of Christ, but not His battles!

Recall some of your own early steps to follow Christ. "I’ll read my Bible every day." (Stalled out in Chronicles). "I’ll read a devotional every night." (Last month’s copy still awaits you). "I’ll shock the Education Director and volunteer to teach a class." (Never again)! "I’ll watch the pastor do it all." (We can criticize him easier).

But to follow Christ - hard, but worth it! To make Christ not only Savior, but Lord, causes pain. We suffer, because we have to change. But if we are serious, He will be truly our Lord one day. Like the man who was determined to read and write. He took pencil to paper and began to scribble. Suddenly he shouted to his wife: "Ann, come here, I can write!" "What does it say?" "One thing at a time. I’ll learn to read tomorrow." Step by step, if we will take them, He will be Lord.

Want to start? What catches your imagination, when you think about following Christ? What would you do for Him WITH A PASSION?! Where is your heart for the Lord? God wants His men and women to be like Thomas! "Let’s go die with Him!" Have you ever been gripped by God like that? He wants us to be passionate for Him!

The final scene we have of Thomas is the best place to begin or to recommit to Jesus not only as Savior, but as Lord, is here - now! Like Thomas, Easter comes to you today with the story of Thomas now in that room. Doors were shut. Windows were covered. Afraid to be seen. Afraid to live. Afraid to die. Sure, some had witnessed Jesus alive. Now it was his turn. Time to decide. His bluff was called.

"Jesus came...and stood in their midst: "Peace be with you." When Jesus comes to us, He brings His peace. Are you at peace with God when He comes to you? If you are not, ask why? Too much stress. That cannot stop the living God. Could it be that there is only enough room in your kingdom for yourself as king?

Now, Jesus faces Thomas. Be bold for a moment. Place your own name for that of our friend, Thomas. "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing." What to do? No where to turn. No escape. Yes or no? Savior? O.K.! Lord? Look again at the text as we have it given to us. No word describes what Thomas did with his hands that moment. But he said a mouthful: "My Lord, my God!" That was enough for Thomas. Here was the living God before him.

He dared to declare that Jesus was God. No faithful Jew dared say such a thing. To declare that any human was God was subject to death. He did. With those words he cut all his lifelines from his family, his community, his past. Here was the One promised. That was enough.

I believe he had a fresh song in his heart. A song of praise to the living God. He could bow his knees and worship. He could stand and go out and really live! Death was conquered. Life really began for Thomas - to worship and serve Him!

Still want to be like Thomas? Good! When you stand and say any of the creeds of our Christian Church, you stand with Thomas. Jesus is Lord! He is the Son of the living God. He is God in the flesh! He is worthy of our life of worship and our life of service...all the way to heaven!

Jesus, my Lord. Jesus, my God! Have you spoken to Him like that - recently? Ever? Try it: "Jesus, my Lord. Jesus, my God!" This second Easter Sunday, can give you a refreshed heart...or that new heart with a new song.

"He is Lord, He is Lord;

He is risen from the dead, and He is Lord.

Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess,

that Jesus Christ is Lord." (Smith)