NickNames

By Pastor Brad Heintz

icknames – almost everyone has a nickname. Most of us know what our nickname is and some of us don’t. When I moved to the Detroit area, in the eighth grade, my new b-ball team nicknamed me “Tower of London” because they found out I was born in England. I didn’t know I had a nick name until it showed up in the yearbook and on a trophy. In the Bible, lots of people have nicknames. Jesus even gave some of them, like “Sons of Thunder” to James and John (The Gospel of Mark 3:17).

Yet one of his disciples has the dubious nickname of “Doubting Thomas.” According to the Gospel John, chapter 20, Thomas was the disciple who missed Jesus’ resurrection appearance the night Jesus rose from the dead. Because he was not there and the word of His friends wasn’t enough to convince him, he said he wouldn’t believe unless he, himself, not only would see Jesus, but could touch his wounds.

Therefore, the nickname doubting Thomas. And probably a gut-wrenching week of uncertainty, lack of peace and doubt. Then Jesus does mercifully show up a week later, inviting

APRIL 29, 2023

Walter Hall Park