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                                                         "But 
                                                          he (Thomas) said to 
                                                          them, 'Unless I see 
                                                          the nail marks in His 
                                                          hands and put my finger 
                                                          where the nails were, 
                                                          and put my hand in His 
                                                          side, I will not believe 
                                                          it." 
                                                          (John 20:25) 
                                                        ARE 
                                                          YOU A DOUBTING THOMAS, 
                                                          OR FRED, OR MIKE, OR 
                                                          JANE? 
                                                        Scripture 
                                                          does not say exactly 
                                                          how many were in the 
                                                          room when Jesus appeared 
                                                          to them; it just says 
                                                          the disciples were together 
                                                          in a locked room for 
                                                          fear of the Jews. We 
                                                          do know there had to 
                                                          be at least 10. 
                                                        10 
                                                          men, brothers in Christ, 
                                                          who walked, talked and 
                                                          lived with Jesus for 
                                                          three years. 10 men 
                                                          who knew Jesus intimately, 
                                                          witnessed all the miracles, 
                                                          and heard all the words. 
                                                          Not only did they know 
                                                          Jesus, they also knew 
                                                          each other. They all 
                                                          lived in awe of Jesus; 
                                                          they shared their fears, 
                                                          their trepidation's, 
                                                          and their doubts. The 
                                                          learned together, struggled 
                                                          together, suffered together 
                                                          and were comforted together. 
                                                        And 
                                                          here they were, Jesus 
                                                          had been crucified and 
                                                          placed in a borrowed 
                                                          tomb. The were terrified 
                                                          because they didn't 
                                                          understand the prophecies 
                                                          of Jesus rising from 
                                                          the dead, they only 
                                                          felt alone, without 
                                                          direction and hope. 
                                                        Then 
                                                          Jesus comes among them! 
                                                          A locked door couldn't 
                                                          keep Him out, He simply 
                                                          appears to them and 
                                                          says, "Peace be 
                                                          with you!" John 
                                                          20:19. 
                                                        He 
                                                          shows them His hands 
                                                          and His side and the 
                                                          disciples are overjoyed! 
                                                        All 
                                                          except one...Thomas 
                                                          was not there when Jesus 
                                                          appears. His friends; 
                                                          compatriots, buddies 
                                                          exclaim, "We have 
                                                          seen the Lord!" 
                                                          and Thomas answers, 
                                                          "I don't believe 
                                                          you, unless I see it 
                                                          for myself, I won't 
                                                          believe you!" 
                                                        Interesting, 
                                                          how much more evidence 
                                                          do we need to believe 
                                                          in God and in Jesus? 
                                                          So many have received 
                                                          Jesus as Lord and have 
                                                          dedicated their lives 
                                                          to proclaiming Jesus. 
                                                          Lives are transformed 
                                                          and love is poured out, 
                                                          yet many still will 
                                                          not believe. They need 
                                                          to see the nail holes 
                                                          and be able to put their 
                                                          finger there to finally 
                                                          come to the realization 
                                                          that Jesus is who He 
                                                          says He is. But your 
                                                          brothers and sisters 
                                                          are waving their arms, 
                                                          and jumping up and down 
                                                          and shouting, "Jesus 
                                                          is real, He changed 
                                                          me. Look at me and you 
                                                          will see the Lord!" 
                                                        I 
                                                          exhort you my friend, 
                                                          Jesus is the Risen Lord. 
                                                          He came to die for our 
                                                          sins, and for those 
                                                          who put their trust 
                                                          in Him, will be given 
                                                          eternal life in heaven. 
                                                        Believe 
                                                          in His witnesses, they 
                                                          are the sign you need 
                                                          to see. 
                                                        Rejoice 
                                                          in the Lord Always! 
                                                        Dario 
                                                          Ferko 
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