Kerwin Baptist Church Daily Broadcast

Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the word of God spread throughout all me know join is now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church located in Kernersville, North Carolina John chapter 20 and I want to read just a few verses and working. Talk about the subject of scars a little bit this morning and this Easter weekend as we think about the resurrection of Jesus. Interesting story that's familiar about one of Jesus's disciples named Thomas and a regular read this passage just give you a couple of principles from God's word just to give some perspective of what Easter means to us as believers. John chapter 20 and beginning in verse 24. The Bible says this, but Thomas, one of the 12 called didymus was not with them when Jesus came. What happened here is that Jesus had been crucified. He had been buried in the course three days three nights. He was in the tomb and the Bible says he rose again from the grave, but there were many that didn't believe that even when they had found that as Jesus appeared to different people. The Bible says that he appeared to his disciples, but Thomas wasn't there. And of course when they told Thomas this E was unbelieving and and that's why he was literally been called Thomas and in unbelieving person or doubting Thomas and of this passage by the way, says that Thomas, his surname was didymus.

This word didymus and even the name Thomas literally means twin.

Now we do not know Thomas was a twin. There are so many speculations out there and we just don't the Bible just hasn't made it totally clear that Thomas was a twin and if so who his twin was there are some that believe that Thomas had a twin in his twin was Judas.

I have no idea about any of that.

I don't know that thou don't think that's biblical. I don't know and that if God wanted us to know specifically.

Maybe he would've told us that anything that somebody will claim will simply be because they've taken some scripture assume some things and try to put it all together but however it could have been that he was given the nickname didymus because he looked like an individual and so they said that he was a twin of some, but we just don't know.

But the Bible says here that Thomas was not with them when Jesus came. Verse 25 says, is the other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord, what a wonderful statement and I would ask you today. Have you seen the Lord say will you know preacher I don't you know he's not sustaining here I don't see him in my living room in different you're not going to see him in your living room but have you seen him spiritually.

Have you put your faith and trust in him.

And may I say this that I don't necessarily see him physically, but I feel him spiritually. He's in my heart. He lives inside of me because I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ and as the disciples as Thomas came back. We don't know why he wasn't there, but as he came back and they said we have seen the Lord. This is what verse 25 says, but he said unto them, except I shall see in his hands, the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side. I will not believe. Now the title of our message today in a sense is if you look at this passage the first phrase that Thomas says in the last phrase that he says as we put those two things together.

He said this, except I shall see. I will not believe except I shall see. First thing he said I will not believe last thing he said. Verse 26 says, and after eight days again. His disciples were within an Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut and stood in the midst, and said, peace be unto you, then saith he to Thomas.

Now imagine as as Thomas had said these things, and now Jesus is in this room with them. The doors were shut, imagine what was going to Thomas's mind when he sees Jesus alive and in the flesh literally as the God man.

The Bible says that as soon as they were in that room that Jesus literally turned right to Thomas. Imagine that. And this is what he said. Then he said the Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless, but believing Thomas answered and said unto him, my Lord and my God. Interesting story here. I would say this must not be too hard on Thomas. Probably you and I in the same situation would have doubted in question also but this is an amazing story here want us to pray, and on the ribbon to dig into this thing except I shall see.

I will not believe on resurrection Sunday. Are you doubting. Let's pray Lord I love you. Thanks for all you've done. Pray the Lord you would bless your word as you always do. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Interesting thing here is that we believe in, and many believe in Zechariah chapter 13 Zechariah being a perfect book and of course even about the crucifixion and the resurrection thing. Zechariah had much prophecy to to read about in that but in Zechariah chapter 13 verse six. Many believe that right here were told about this instance that would happen with Thomas.

This is what the verse says, and one shall say unto him, and his prophecy was given about Jesus in chapter 13 and one shall say unto him, what are these wounds in thine hands, then he shall answer those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends now say something about the scars that Thomas all and by the way, I've often heard the statement that the only man-made thing in heaven is the scars the nail prints on the hands of Jesus in this spear pierced side and the nail prints on his hands. The only man-made thing in heaven. I believe with all my heart that when you and I get to heaven we will still see the nail. Prints in Jesus's hands and feet, it will still be as fresh as if it just happened. Amazing. You know what I think is that even as a young person and I would have my thoughts of heaven. The things that were told me and how you just your imagination runs wild and all the things that you think of in heaven. One thing that I very rarely pictured or thought about was to think about being in heaven and getting to see those wounds in the hands of Jesus interesting. What do those scars tell us what do those scars.

What did they tell Thomas that day. He said unless I see except I'll see.

I will not believe.

So when seeing those nail pierced hands, and that spear pierced side. Jesus literally said touch field and believe. What did they tell Thomas number one I want you to see this morning that the scars tell us that Jesus suffered, the scars are proof that Jesus suffered, Jesus was the God man. Isaiah 9 verse six teaches us that that it was God in human flesh. The Bible says on to us a child is born. This speaks of Jesus humanity, then the Bible says unto us a son is given, this speaks of Jesus is deity. He was a child but he was the son of God unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Now this is Easter but it Christmas is a time that we celebrate Jesus's birth, but what we should always remember is the reason for the birth was his eventual death on the cross that brother Jimmy Miss Ashley saying so powerfully about today to pay the penalty for our sins. And yet, the victory would come in reconciliation when Jesus would rise from the dead. The scars tell us that Jesus suffered for us, God in human flesh suffered. You know the Bible says.

The Bible says he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquity. The chastisement of our peace was upon him by his stripes we are healed.

The scars tell us that Jesus suffered and by the way, may I say something.

Jesus still suffers is a preacher but crucifixion is done.

He's raised from the dead. He's victorious and absolutely yes he is but he still suffers is that what you mean well.

Ephesians teaches us that he suffers when we grieve the Holy Spirit that's suffering when you're grieved and that's what we do to God through our sin. The Bible even says this that Christ is the head of the church where the body when the body hurts the head hurts when we suffer. He suffers you see the fact that we are in Christ. When we heard he hurts it literally means that Jesus still suffers, even when we suffer because he feels our pain.

Can I give you a passage of Scripture this morning.

If you never thought about it in this way. In acts chapter 9 we have and find the story of the conversion of Saul into who we would obviously know is Paul and the Bible says that Saul was a person that persecuted Christians but look what God said to Paul, and asked chapter 9 verse four the Bible says and he fell or Paul fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying in him, Saul, Saul, why persecuted thou why did God say me. God did not say Saul, why persecuted thou them.

God was saying that as you persecute my children you persecute me when it hurts them.

It hurts me different.

I want you to know that when we hurt, Jesus hurts the Bible says we have a high priest, that is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

We are the bride. The Bible says Jesus is the bridegroom. If a bride is unfaithful to the groom. The groom agrees when the church is unfaithful to Jesus. He suffers he grieves the scars tell us that Jesus suffered, saying they'll want you to see this morning. According to this passage as Thomas looks and he sees the scars that Jesus had. Secondly this and what you know, the scars tell us that Jesus sympathizes that Jesus sympathizes the scars don't just tell us that he suffered, but it Telus tells us that he sympathizes Jesus has been there. He has felt.

He understands our pain more than we even do I want to read your couple of passages as we've alluded to them already this morning. Hebrews chapter 2 verse 17 listen to these listen to these words. Wherefore in all things. It both moved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, and as that verse is up there. Notice that that he may be made like unto his brother that he might be a merciful high priest.

That means that he would have her he he knows what were going through. He feels that he knows it. Notice verse 18 for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them or comfort or sympathize with them that are the scars in Jesus hand tells us and shows us that Jesus sympathizes. He comforts us because he knows what it feels like Hebrews chapter 4 as we mentioned here just read recently. I wanted read these verses to you so you can see them. Verse 15 says for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but listen to this, but was an all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of what grace the scar show that Jesus sympathizes with us, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The scars tell us that Jesus not only suffered but that he sympathizes with us. It's amazing when you been through something that somebody else goes through.

You can sympathize with them when Jesus bore our sin on the cross. He literally felt everything that we would ever feel in life you know that pain has a protecting purpose pain let you know that something is not good for you.

Pain has a unifying purpose. It means we share something. Pain has a correcting when I have a pain. I go to the doctor in the pocket. The doctor needs to know what my pain is so he can know what needs to be done to eliminate it. Pain helps me correct things that are wrong that I didn't know were wrong until I felt the pain the scars tell us that Jesus sympathizes us. Number three. The scars Telus number three that Jesus saves not just that Jesus suffered not just the Jesus sympathizes but the scars tell us and remind us that Jesus saves. Can I read you a versus morning it will be there on your screen.

Hebrews chapter 9 verse 22 and almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. The scars are proof of the blood that Jesus shed and without that blood, there would be no remission of sins. Those scars remind us that Jesus say that tell you this morning. Jesus did not have to suffer. He could've refused the cross, but he chose to suffer and Are Pl., John chapter 10 verse 18 tells us those nails did not hold Jesus to the cross, dear friend, his love for us, held him there on the cross for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe them should not perish but have everlasting life. For by grace are ye saved through faith.

Isaiah 53 verse five want you to see this verse.

The Bible says as I alluded to before the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes with his suffering. We are healed with his suffering.

He saved us the scars not only tell us that Jesus suffered that he sympathizes, but that he see's last this morning, may I remind you that the scars tell us that Jesus survived when Thomas all those scars. That wasn't just a sign that Jesus suffered. It wasn't just a sign in the future that Jesus would sympathize. It was a just a reminder to Thomas that our Savior had saved he had risen from the grave so that he could save us. But those scars were proved to Thomas that he did resurrected from the grave that he had survived the good verse 28 there in your Bibles and even on the screen notice for the Bible says and Thomas answered and said to him, my Lord and my God you are my Lord you are my God, which means you Jesus who I saw before the crucifixion are the same Jesus, I'm seeing after the crucifixion, it was proof that Jesus was alive. He survived on a region other verse first with his 15 verse 20 but now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

Listen to this for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. The scars proved that Jesus is alive that he survived and dear friend. May I remind you, the fact that Jesus survived means that you will survive. It means that I will survive the fact that Jesus resurrected is a reminder that we will be resurrected.

Scars tell us that he survived wow I'm from Florida. Originally I was born in Baltimore Maryland but I spent a lot of years my school years in my mom and dad had residence in Florida for a number of years and years ago I remember hearing a story there in Florida I would not know how to trace it.

I don't know if it's true that's not true I would have absolutely no idea, but I will tell you this from being in Florida. It sounds as if this is something that absolutely could've happened, but I would want to say deftly that this did happen, but I did hear stories of this when I was in high school. There is a senior in high school down Florida and I have to understand if you're from Florida.

Those many many parts of Florida that alligators are everywhere I couldn't tell you how many times I used to do a lot of bass fishing in Florida and things in.

I can't tell you how many times I would come across alligators. Why was fishing you would always have to be careful that a lot of my family lived on Miami near the Everglades and that my grandmother one time years ago was in the Everglades part that my dad often shared with me one time and she sat right there by an alligator that alligator moved here after death there everywhere down there and you fish in a lake mean, you know, you've heard the stories of of even this tragedy near Disney and just one of the lakes.

One of the man-made lakes there at Disney alligators end up there and killed a two-year-old child will the store was told there near the Tampa area and I don't know if it's true, but this is the area where I Kino we we lived in, and I remember this very very well and I don't member if I heard it on the news, but the story was told this. This young boy there that oftentimes people will live in houses right there by a canal or river or lake and he was playing there in the backyard.

His mom was watching and war before she even knew it that quickly and alligator had planted himself at the right there at the base of that body of water that riverine and that war was planned that gator came right out and grabbed an in and literally. Oftentimes gators will don't just attack, but they there.

They're scared by something and they'll attack literally out of self-defense often in this alligator came and grabbed that young boy by the leg and begin as alligators will do begin to pull him back to that water and that mom saw that alligator attack as he screamed and that mom took off off that back porch and ran down that gator that war was fight with everything that gator had him by the Lake course. He was bleeding already that the gators teeth was kind of tearing up his leg and that mom ran down and grabbed that boy, and she was pulling that boy right there at the waterfront. She was trying to hold the boy and trying to beat on the gator everything she could do and she was holding that boy that gator grabbed Don she just kept pulling and kicking and fighting and finally that those powerful jaws of a gator that you couldn't open. If you wanted to. It let loose of that boy that gator went into the water and that mother grabbed that young man in ran to a car and rushed her son to the hospital and he had some surgeries on the leg and different things, but was able to keep use of that leg and they were kind of interviewing the mom and the son and there from the hospital after they knew he was okay about the scary incident. Darren as reporter was talking to them they kinda show the reporter corseted show on TV, but Connor showed that scars are all over that young man's leg were that gator had ripped flesh apart different things in reporter was talk about will help how painful that must've been up share this with folks here occur when some years ago and she just talked to you know the reporter so it must've been painful must been horrible that that young boy was just talk about how scared he wasn't and shed as she looked she saw that on his arms and on his chest on his upper body.

There was just scars or rigid lines like literally where the flesh had just come off a little tiny strips and things and she said oh my goodness, look at those slick those horrible scars. There must've really been bad and that young boy just like that reported to know these are my good scars. The reporter looks at what you mean. He said will the scars of my legs were that gator had decent scars appear as were my mom grabbed me she just wouldn't let go and he said there reminder that my mom saved me because she would let me go in different I want you to know those scars in the hands of Jesus are a reminder that he wouldn't let us go. While there painful and horrible in our eyes. What they did to Jesus there good scars to us in this Easter Sunday we celebrate the fact that because Thomas Saul those scars.

That's a reminder that he raised from the grave that he defeated death hell and the grave.

Because of that we have hope today. Thomas said, except I shall see.

I will not believe Thomas Saul, how did it all in. Thomas said, my Lord and my God different.

I would ask you today. Is he your Lord is he your God.

As I close in prayer.

I want to challenge you of your watching today and you do not know Jesus as your Savior.

He died for you.

He suffered for you, the sympathizes with you. He died to save you and he survived it, so can you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as we bow in prayer today for never been saved. I'd encourage you right now you can bow your head and you say Lord I know I'm a sinner but I believe that you came that you love me enough to come and die for me.

I believe that you rose from the grave and Lord I'm asking you to save me to come into my heart, save me today dear friend you could have an Easter like no other. Scars are reminder of a lot of things, dear friend.

One of the greatest reminders is that because he survived so can we. Lord I love you today I thank you that you never let go.

Those scars are precious to us, God, thank you for a wonderful day for every person watching and Lord I pray that you would somehow hug our hearts and let us know today how much you love us.

This is a reminder of what you've done for us got. I pray that you would bless and that you would work God, he would forgive us that you would heal us as a nation you would revive us again. God, I pray that you would bless tonight Lord as we have a funeral right here in this building for a precious precious family.

What a comfort it is as a pastor to be able to say because Jesus resurrected your love one was resurrected to Lord I love you in Jesus name we pray. Amen. God bless you have a good day send them the Lord will be more you and you close you will and you kill them, but are fair not the disease, neither have you neither have you found neither have you rolling in. Learn more here.

The word Lord the whole, is the amount of all let's see I will rain and a will will he and and and he