I think it is uncanny how I can spend 5 minutes looking for the chip dip in the refrigerator, but Sue walks in and finds it in 10 seconds. It was right there in front of me. I just couldn’t see it. Now chip dip isn’t all that important if we can’t find it. But if it is something important and we can’t see it, we lose hope. Hope is most often what we lose sight of because it is a confident expectation of future, unseen realities rather than a present, visible possession. It is frequently hidden by overwhelming despair, fear, and personal struggles.

Here a just a few key reasons why hope is not seen:

• Definition of Hope: Often people think hope should be the open door or window they see to escape a current situation. But we often don’t see what’s right in front of us because of the situation.

• Overwhelming Circumstances: Personal hardships, such as grief or economic difficulty, can make it seem impossible to see a positive future.

• Negativity Overload: Constant exposure to or thinking about negative news leads to hope blindness.

• Misplaced Expectations: Misplacing hope in uncertain things like finances or other people, outcomes instead of trusting in a higher purpose, leads to disappointment, making hope feel absent.

That is where we find the two men in our reading. They felt hopeless. The last time these men saw Jesus he was dead. But now they’ve heard from several women that angels had told them Jesus is alive. They don’t believe the what the women said, focusing instead on the sadness of what they saw.

They had come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast and now it was time for them to go home. As they leave town, blinded by grief and confusion, Jesus comes alongside them hiding his appearance. After a brief conversation about the events of the last days, they tell Him, “our hope was buried with him.” What is revealing about their mindset is that they call Jesus a prophet. They no longer say Jesus was the “Messiah” or the “Christ.” They’ve lost faith. Since Jesus is dead, he must have just been a prophet like the prophets of old who died. He can’t possibly be the Messiah chosen by God. When things get dark in life, when we lose our jobs or a loved one dies, a war, serious illness, or tragedy, and our hearts don’t sense Christ, it’s easy to say, “Maybe he’s not God, maybe Jesus is not as powerful as I thought.” They couldn’t see hope in that moment, even though hope was right next to them.

So, Jesus rebukes them, “O foolish ones,” he says, “and so slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” And as they walked Jesus begins in Genesis and goes through all the prophets, showing them that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer first and then to enter his glory. The work of the Savior and the hope that He would bring was right in front of them in the Old Testament. They just didn’t see it.

But there’s an important theme that is developing. We heard it Easter morning when Jesus appeared to the women and to Mary Magdalene. We heard it last week when Jesus appeared to the disciples and later to Thomas.

He tells them He is going to be with them in a very different way. He won’t walk physically with them, as He did before the crucifixion. Rather he will be with them according to his resurrected glory. They will have him not according to his normal bodily presence, rather they’ll have him according to his word.

That’s why he says to Mary Magdalene, “Don’t cling to me.” That’s why he says to Thomas, “Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.” That’s why he hides himself from the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Instead of opening their eyes to see his physical form, he opens their ears to hear the word.

Why? Why are we so much more blessed if we believe without seeing? Too often the natural man stands in the way of faith. It is easier to trust the senses than it is to trust God. Led by our senses (seeing is believing) we are blind to the spiritual truth that can only be discerned in the heart. True faith is not a reaction to physical evidence, but a spiritual conviction that leads to a deeper relationship with God. Physical sight is limited to the temporary world, while faith connects believers to eternal glory and the "unseen" reality of God's kingdom, which is more real and enduring than the material world.

That’s why Jesus wants us to have the sure testimony of the holy scriptures, so that we would know the truth that defies our senses. The truth is that Jesus is God in the flesh, that Jesus is crucified for us and for

our salvation, and that Jesus is truly risen from the dead. The grave is empty and he sits at the right hand of God the Father until the day coming soon when he returns for us.

This is the hope that we have. As Jesus Christ suffered in this world, so do we. Only here is the difference. We are guaranteed the victory. We will conquer in Jesus Christ. God is with us if we get sick or a loved one does. He is with His children in their time of suffering. Even if the sickness brings an end to our lives in this world, we are still the victors because an imperishable, undefiled, unfading inheritance awaits us. Nothing on this earth can destroy the hope God gives us in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To destroy our hope, you would have had to kill Jesus Christ and kept Him in the tomb. But God raised Him from the dead and therefore nothing can steal our living hope away from us.

It’s that word that rings in our ears from the pages of Scripture that gives us hope. When our eyes see trouble and despair, we can hear the voice Jesus calling us over the tumult. When we see fear and desperation, we hear the voice of Jesus say, “Don’t be afraid. I am your refuge and strength.”

Zoe Yens, and you three adult confirmands, Dean, Fred and Zoe, that’s what I have worked to instill in you through our study together. It is seeing Jesus through your ears as you listen to His word. That’s why there were so many Bible passages that we studied together. You have the whole of God’s plan for your salvation in writing. You have the promises of God written down to give you hope. You have the unwavering hope that even when you don’t see God before your eyes, you will hear Him in your heart through that word. Our eyes can deceive us, but His word never will.

When we’re struggling, fatigued or frustrated, when we can’t see Jesus and can only think of everything wrong with our lives, we should pause and check our memories and ask, “Am I being selective in what I am remembering?” How has Jesus done good things for me and shown himself to me in ways in the past. If he’s been good for years and years, why would I assume he would stop now?” Lord, may we not have selective memories but memories full of the goodness of Christ. When you can’t see what Jesus is doing in your life look to the Scriptures. Go to your Bible. See him there. Hear him there.

As these three approached a village towards evening, Jesus pretends to keep going but like good hosts they invite Jesus in to stay with them the night. When he breaks the bread, much like he did at the feeding of the 5,000 and the Last Supper (Luke 9:16; 22:19), they finally recognize him for who he is. Then he’s gone. And what do they immediately afterwards?

They marvel at—the scriptures!

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Once they understand how all of Scriptures point to the Messiah needing to suffer and die and rise it changed everything. They believe! Their hope is restored.

There is a movie called The Sixth Sense. Have any of you seen it? You can only see that movie twice because once you know the ending it changes how you see the whole movie. It came out in 1999, so this is a spoiler alert. Bruce Willis, a child psychologist, is trying to help a young boy who sees dead people. You go through the whole movie with that plot line and at the end it turns out Bruce Willis is one of the people who is dead. Now if you go back through the movie it’s so obvious he is dead. His wife doesn’t look at him or interact with him. No one really talks to him except for the young boy. After knowing the ending, you can’t help but see the whole movie differently.

Easter is like that. The gospel is the good news that the hero of the story is alive and well. Now as you go back through the Scriptures you can’t help but read them in light of that good news. It’s all about him. It’s all about the hope that He brings. Knowing the ending we can’t but help look at all the troubles, trials, setbacks and problems we experience with a whole different understanding. It’s all about Jesus, his suffering, his death, and his life-giving resurrection so that anyone who puts their faith and trust in him will one day come out victorious!

For you confirmands this morning, and for all of you, may this be your confidence, your comfort, your wisdom, and your peace.

As the hymn says, “O God our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.”

And all God’s people will say, “Amen.”

4

St. Pauls Manistee

April 20, 2026

April 12, 20206 Written Sermon

St. Pauls Manistee

April 20, 2026

Pastor John Eich

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Alma, MI

John 20:19–31

The Difference is Peace

I think most all of us get peace of mind at night by locking our doors. It gives us safety and security when we’re sleeping or away. And that’s where we find the disciples today - behind locked doors. But it wasn’t peace of mind that made them lock the doors. Their hearts and minds were in turmoil. Can you imagine the turmoil that the disciples were in that evening? They were afraid of the Jewish leaders who had their Teacher and Master killed on Friday morning. Their hopes and expectations and faith in Jesus as the Messiah were dashed to pieces by the events of previous 48 hours. Can you imagine the disappointment in themselves for abandoning Jesus. The disillusionment that they had spent three years of their lives following Jesus only to have their hopes and dreams snuffed out? Can you imagine how they felt having believed Jesus’ words about forgiveness and love only to see him crucified before their eyes for saying that? Can you imagine the sense of lostness they were feeling? How their hearts must have been broken.

Their minds storming. Their consciences beating them up.

When the disciples were together, with the doors to their room locked and the doors to their minds barred shut from hope and peace, Jesus came and stood among them. What would have been the first words out of your mouth to a room of men who deserted and abandoned you a few days earlier. Who, except for one (John), were too scared to even show up at the cross when Jesus died. If Jesus’ first words were “seriously, guys? After everything I did for you?” - we’d totally understand. But what he says is one of the best and most beautiful phrases that exist: He said “peace to you.” And to put their restless hearts to rest even further, Jesus doesn’t just tell them words of peace, but shows them assurance as well. The holes from where the nails were. The space from where the spear pierced his side. Visible here for all to see. Then he doubles down on His greeting saying, “Peace be with you!”

And then to prove that He harbors no ill will, he gives them the keys to the greatest kingdom of all - the kingdom of heaven. He doesn’t punish them for their actions over the past days. He reinstates them as His disciples, to carry on His mission. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Words of peace twice, see your Savior standing before you, bring the peace of forgiveness to others. Perfect love drives out turmoil and unrest.

That’s the difference that Easter makes. It’s the proof that brings peace.

When we read Bible stories from the gospels we can go hard on the 12 disciples. Why did they fall asleep in the garden like that? Why did they abandon their Savior on Holy Weekend like that? Why are they so afraid here! Why did Peter say that or do that! Silly foolish disciples! Why does Thomas doubt?! Bad Thomas. I think we sometimes go hard on them because we have the benefit of hindsight. We have the whole story laid out for us in the Word. They were living it in real time. Honestly, they were real people with real turmoil. Fearing for their lives they hid behind locked doors. They were being eaten up by grief and regret. No one talks much about that Good Friday night. We cut to the happy ending and the joy of Sunday morning. There are moments in which the promise of Easter seems irretrievably far away — when life itself seems far harder than death. Our turmoil and unrest might look different than those first disciples, but it’s still turmoil and unrest. We too, have doubts. Are we afraid that by being a follower of Jesus, our lives are on the line? Church shootings and bombings are becoming increasingly common. Some churches, like ours, lock their doors during the service. Others hire security guards. When rain clouds descend upon our world even the strongest faiths among us have wrestled with a lack of peace.

And I haven’t even started talking about spiritual matters yet. How often don’t we remember a bad choice, a cruel word, a failed opportunity that changed our lives? Even years later those memories haunt us. Have we deserted Jesus when we could have spoken up? How often don’t the memories of past sins come back to haunt us? Have we stood by Him or run away when the going got tough? All of that and more robs us of peace. We lock ourselves up hoping no one, even God, will find out.

As Jesus came and stood among the disciples he could have unloaded on them. If he came in the flesh right here among us - the things he could say to us! He could bring all our most shameful sins to light. He could call us out on our lack of faithfulness. We celebrated last week, Jesus lives! How long did that joy and peace last? Likely only until the next turmoil arose. If Jesus stood in this room of fearful children, and if he opened his mouth to speak...what he could say to all of us?

Well, he’d say the same thing he told the disciples. “Peace.” And then he’d say it again. Again, peace be yours. We come here each week in the Lord’s house and each week he calms our troubled hearts by speaking peace to us. Christ has eliminated the greatest reason for our turmoil- -our sins by His victory on the cross. Our sins are paid for. They’re erased.

Spiritually we have nothing to fear. And when we are here on Sunday we receive words of peace that can soothe us in our relationships with others, guide us through our hardships, and strengthen us as we walk through dark days. Does that mean that everything will become a bed of roses when we walk out of these doors? No, not necessarily. But we can walk out of these doors knowing that we have the God of the universe in our corner, filling us with love and peace.

Christ brought peace to his disciples and Christ brings us peace, too. Jesus is present to give us peace in the words of forgiveness that we offer to one another. We call these the Keys to the Kingdom and they were from one of our verses here - I’ll read them again. “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Some guests to our church have asked me, “Why are you (the pastor) able to stand up there and say, “I forgive you your sins …?” This is the reason why right here. God has given his church, us, the ability to forgive sins of others. And you don’t need to wait until 10:20am every Sunday to finally hear that. You don’t need to wait for an eight-year trained man of the cloth to remind you of forgiveness. Because our parents and kids, friends and family can assure us of Christ’s forgiveness because Christ has given us these keys.

You can give others the peace of Christ when you forgive sins. You receive the peace of Christ when you take to heart that God stops keeping record of wrongs. We experience the peace of Christ from the Word we meditate

on week in and week out. Christ gives us daily peace, through these simple pages. He restores our hope.

Even if we are like Thomas. Poor doubting Thomas. He refused to believe even when all the others told him they saw the risen Christ. So locked in by doubts, and unrest, guilt and human limitations that he just couldn’t believe. But let’s give Thomas some credit. The resurrection of the dead was too good to be true. It was unheard of, even though he had seen Jesus raise the dead multiple times. But guilt does that. It blinds us to the truth. It can deafen us to words of comfort that resurrect our peace.

Throughout my ministry, I have known men and women who like Thomas have been equally troubled in their faith. They held high expectations for God’s assurance, but along the way they were met with disappointment, and they became skeptical. Perhaps, you count yourself in that number. Doubt breaks in in all sorts of ways. Tradition doesn’t match truth. Or, perhaps you were offended one of God’s messengers along the way. We hear the pastor speak the words of peace, but does he really mean me? “If he knew what I did, what I thought, how I live in the privacy of my home, he wouldn’t be so quick to say I’m forgiven. How can God forgive me for what I did?” With others it is a struggle with questions about suffering that has been a major stumbling block.

The more I have grown to know the modern day Doubting Thomases, the more I have grown to understand that faith and doubt are often closely linked. Doubt doesn’t need to destroy faith. After all, doubt did not destroy Thomas’ faith. But rather doubt inspired, encouraged and drove Thomas to seek that faith in Jesus which would transform his life. Doubt can do the same for us, if we use it to find God’s answers instead of blaming Him.

When Jesus appeared, He gave Thomas visible signs. He showed him his hands and feet. Don’t doubt Thomas, believe. I did this for you. You are forgiven. I give you peace.

He gives us visible signs too. His body and blood in the Holy Supper. He says, “This is for you, for your forgiveness. I don’t reject you, I reinstate you as my disciple. Don’t doubt. Believe. I did this for you. You are forgiven. I give you peace.”

What comfort today's Gospel has for us. Despite all that we have done to make God hate us, He still loves us. He searches for us. He comes to us. He gives us His peace. He encourages us to touch Him. He overcomes our terrors and our doubts. He brings peace to our turmoil.

My friends, in the midnight hour of the soul, when you are wrestling with doubt, when everything you have been holding onto seems to have fallen away, turn again like Thomas to the places where your faith can be nurtured, and where Christ promises he will meet you- in the mystery of God’s word and sacrament. Yes, in these simple means of grace, Jesus invites you “to place your fingers into the nail prints” and to “place your hand into his side.” So that you too may confess, “My Lord and my God.”

Amen

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