Everyone wants to live longer, and many scientists are convinced that science holds secrets, we can unlock that will move our lifespan well beyond 120 years. In Genesis, God tells us human life can be expected to be 120 years (Gen. 11:10-24), which is a significant reduction from the oldest man, Methuselah- 969 years. Of course, most scientists don’t check with the Bible. Whatever the lifespan turns out to be, even with medical breakthroughs, we will still die- unless Rapture occurs. Jesus said something that is difficult for those driven solely by the natural world to accept; we can live forever. That possibility has nothing to do with science or healthy living. Eternal life is possible because Jesus died and rose again. This is why today is so important and why we celebrate Easter. The resurrection of Jesus makes our own resurrection possible.

                         Read John 11:25-27

Here is clear and concise language which simply states that Jesus Christ is the only, ‘I am the,’ way of salvation. What is salvation? It is deliverance from a certain eternal death and total separation from God for all of eternity. ‘I am the.’ This means that there is only one means of being saved. He did not say, ‘I am ‘one of’ the ways,’ which would open the door for alternative paths to heaven. He said, ‘I am ‘the’ way.’ Emphasis on ‘I.’ And ‘the’ which refer to Christ alone and to only one means of salvation.
‘I (Jesus Christ) am the resurrection (a total overhaul of the physical body into a resurrection body) and the life.’ Resurrection will come to all who have died prior to this event, and to all who remain alive when this event (resurrection) occurs.
          There will be a generation who will be alive when the Rapture occurs. That is the resurrection of the Church Age. There will not be a generation, which will be the recipients of a living resurrection, when the Old Testament believers are resurrected at the end of the Tribulation. Those who remain alive on earth at that time, will continue living into the Millennium. Then at the end of the Millennium the last of all those who remain alive (which should be almost everyone) will be resurrected into resurrection bodies for entrance into eternity. This resurrection is distinguished from the resurrection of unbelievers. This is the resurrection ‘and the life.’ Life belongs to God and all who choose for God through Christ. Those who choose against God and His plan with Jesus Christ as the principle instrument of salvation, will be resurrected unto death. They will be resurrected for the purpose of receiving their wish of total separation from God. Unbelievers reject God, so God will grant them their wish and give them their separation. That will not be what they want or expect, but then they all had their chance to believe God when He tells them that the Lake of Fire is not a good destination for any traveler. But then that is exactly what stubborn attitudes get. They reject the truth, and force something worse onto themselves.
        How Does anyone get this resurrection and life? By believing in Christ. Such a simple price. A mere thought. ‘Father (God) I believe in Jesus Christ.’ Now just how difficult can that thought be. Yet there will be millions who will refuse, all during their life, for years and years, to have that simple thought run through their heads. This promise is open to everyone. Anyone who has ever lived has an opportunity to believe in the Son of God. The only Son. There is only one Son. There are no other substitutes. No other prophets. No other persons, or things by which we can pray to, or believe in, and receive salvation from God. He set up a very simple plan for the salvation of mankind, and if you look all around us then you’ll see millions going through elaborate schemes of alternative methods of attempting to get into heaven. Why would anyone try to redefine such a simple entrance ticket? ‘Father, I believe in Christ.’
       Now of course we all live in this devil’s world. We have to go to school, learn to read and write. We have to get a job and earn some income, and so forth, but …. That is our second and temporary job for this world. Our primary obligation is spiritual growth. We do not have to study 24 hours a day. We don’t have to pray 24 hours a day. But we have an obligation to think 24 hours a day, at least when we are awake. Just as unbelievers make their fatal mistake and lose everything by rejecting God, and they make their decisions based on false information and beliefs, so too, believers make their fatal decisions in life by not sticking with a daily Bible study plan for their own life. Furthermore, believers who do some study, still have the hurdles of believing what they learn, and still more believers have difficulty in applying what they learn to their lives. This last part seems to be the most difficult step in the spiritual life. We all have our comfort zones, but they are generally based on a foundation laid out by our sin natures. We have our certain compromises we feel are right for our life.

       But despite all of this, the spiritual life remains very simple, and is elusive only to those who maintain a defiant attitude toward their daily study. The question which Jesus asked applies, ‘ Do you believe this?’ And our answer to it is ‘Yes,’ then we ask why do you not get with a solid daily Bible study? And if your answer is ‘No,’ then we ask, what do you have that is better?

                         Read John 20:24-25

We move to one of the times Jesus appeared after His resurrection. John writes about those telling Thomas that they have seen Him and He has risen. The person here spoken of, is described by his Hebrew name Thomas, and his Greek one Didymus, which both signify a twin; and perhaps he was one. It was common with the Jews to have two names, a Jewish and a Gentile one; by the one they went in the land of Israel, and by the other when without the land; nay, they often went by one name in Judea, and by another in Galilee; where Thomas might go by the name of Didymus with the Greeks, that might live with the Jews in some of those parts: he is also said to be “one of the twelve” apostles, which was their number at first, though Judas now was gone off from them, and therefore are sometimes only called the “eleven”; but this having been their complement, it is still retained; but what is observed of him to his disadvantage and discredit is, that he was not with them when Jesus came. He either had not returned to the rest after their scattering one from another upon the apprehending of Christ; or did not choose to assemble with the rest, for fear of the Jews; or was taken up with some business and affair of life; however, he was not with the rest of the disciples, when they were assembled together, and Jesus appeared among them: as it is of good consequence to attend the assemblies of Christ’s disciples and followers, so it is of bad consequence to neglect or forsake them: it is frequently to good purpose that persons attend them; here God comes and blesses his people, Jesus grants his presence, the graces of the Spirit are increased, and drawn forth into exercise; souls that have lost sight of Christ find him, disconsolate ones are comforted, weak ones strengthened, and hungry ones fed: on the other hand, not to attend is of bad consequence; neglect of assembling together exposes to many snares and temptations; brings on a spiritual leanness; leads to an indifference and lukewarm: issues in a low degree of grace, and a non-exercise of it, and in a loss of Christ’s presence.

       The other disciples therefore said to Thomas that they had seen the Lord.
Some time in the same week, as they had opportunity of seeing him, with great joy, and full assurance of faith in Christ’s resurrection. They had not only the testimony of the women, and the declaration of the angels, but they saw him with their own eyes, and beheld even the very prints of the nails in his hands and feet, and of the spear in his side. Therefore, they could not be mistaken that a spiritual sight of Christ is a blessing often enjoyed by attending the assembly of the saints to see Christ, is the desire of every gracious soul.  This is the end of their meeting as it now as became a social worship. The word and ordinances have a tendency to lead souls to a sight of him; and it may be expected, because it is promised; and whenever it is enjoyed, it is very delightful. A soul that meets with Christ in an ordinance, cannot but speak of it to others; and which he does with joy and pleasure, in an exulting, and even in a kind of a boasting manner; and that for the encouragement of others to attend likewise.

      Thomas said that expect I shall see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe. Aren’t we glad that we will not believe unless we can touch these wounds? That nails were used in the crucifixion of Christ, is certain, though nowhere else mentioned; whereby the prophecy of him in ( Psalms 22:16 ) was fulfilled. For nails were not always used in this kind of death. The bodies of men were sometimes fastened to the cross with cords, and not nails. How many were used, whether three or four, or more, as were sometimes used, is not certain, nor material to know. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions read, “the place of the nails”; that is, the place where the nails were drove. Thomas knew that Christ was fastened to the cross with nails, and that his side was pierced with a spear. Though not present, John, who was an eyewitness as the only disciple at the cross. Though they had all seen him alive, Thomas would not trust to their testimony; nay, he was determined not to believe his own eyes; unless he put his finger into, as well as saw, the print of the nails, and thrust his hand into his side, as well as beheld the wound made by the spear, he is resolved not to believe. And his sin of unbelief is the more aggravated, inasmuch as this disciple was present at the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Christ, and had heard Christ himself say, that he should rise from the dead the third day. We may learn from hence how great is the sin of unbelief that the best of men is subject to it; and that though this was over ruled by divine providence to bring out another proof Christ’s resurrection. Yet this did not excuse the sin of Thomas: and it may be observed, that as Thomas would not believe without seeing the marks of the nails and spear in Christ’s flesh; so many will not believe, unless they find such and such marks in themselves, which often prove very ensnaring and distressing.

            After Thomas had seen the resurrected Jesus for himself, he would continue to follow Jesus. When Jesus ascended back to heaven, Thomas was there (Acts 1:2, 9-13). When the disciples obeyed Jesus by waiting and praying for the Holy Spirit to come, Thomas was there (vv. 12-14). When the Spirit came in power, Thomas was there with the other disciples (2:1). Thomas was not afraid to follow Jesus. He simply wanted to be certain that it was truly Jesus who was leading the way (Luke 24;11, John 20:20). How can we be certain?

                          Read John 20:26-29

Interestingly, Jesus shows Thomas what he wanted all along. No questions, just an action. Although, given Thomas’ earlier demands, perhaps with a bit of an edge. But Thomas doesn’t need proof anymore. His old reality of death and defeat and limitations has been swept away in light of his encounter with the Risen Lord. And from this new and transformative vantage point, he makes the great confession of John’s Gospel – indeed, the New Testament! – confessing Jesus not only as his Lord, but also his God. And then comes Jesus’ reply- I wonder if at this point Jesus’ words are actually less directed to Thomas and more directed to us. That’s right, us. Because here’s the thing: all those people John was writing for none of them got to see Jesus, and yet they believed. So, I don’t think Jesus was scolding Thomas so much as he is blessing all those since – including us! – who have heard the story of Jesus and have believed.

            I love Jesus’ statement in verse 29: “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” The people of the time of John’s Gospel, if they decide to join the Church and believe in Christ as Lord and God, have to rely on and fully accept the apostolic eyewitness and tradition about him. They have to follow a way very different from the way of Thomas as presented in John 20:24-29. Thomas, because he saw the risen Jesus, believed. The Christians of the time of John’s Gospel, and of the years and centuries to follow, are those who have not seen and (yet) believed (Jn. 20:29). The Evangelist has included the Thomas incident, with its concluding beatitude, in his Gospel, obviously in order to encourage all those people of the present and of the future who had to believe in the Lord without seeing him. And what would be more encouraging than a beatitude coming from the mouth of the risen Lord? The beatitude encountered in John 20:29, however, is not there just for reasons of encouragement. It certainly has a much deeper meaning. What is this meaning? Why are the believers involved in this case called blessed. The answer seems to be twofold.

          First, moving from the state of unbelieving to the state of believing, not through seeing but through relying on the apostolic eyewitness, seems to imply an increased amount of faith.[30] Seeing produces a degree of compulsion,[31] somehow diminishes the risk and makes believing easier. Not seeing yet believing, on the other hand, involves more willingness, more decisiveness, more readiness for exposure to all kinds of probable dangers.

Secondly, the beatitude in this case might be understood with the assistance of another passage from the Gospel of John, namely, John 1:50.[33] This passage reads: “Jesus answered and said to him (i.e. to Nathanael), ‘Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.'” This text, in terms of formation and syntax, presents strong similarities to the passage John 20:29: (Thomas) “because you have seen me, you believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and (yet) believe.” Both passages have a first part dealing with believing after sense related evidence. The second part of John 20:29 is a beatitude, and the second part of John 1:50 is a promise of astonishing things to come.[34] An aspect then, of the blessedness of the believers in John 20:29 could be the experience of the greater things promised in 1:50. These greater things were fully manifested in the post-resurrection time, more specifically in the time after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to the Church and endowed her and the believers with extraordinary gifts and amazing experiences.[35] The Christians who at the time of John’s Gospel have believed without, of course, having seen the risen Christ, were truly blessed, because through their faith, they enjoyed in full all the promised experiences of greater things.