Second Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri — On this Sunday, Immanuel Lutheran Church celebrates the continued joy of the resurrection. “Peace be with you.” With these words, the risen Lord Jesus appears to His frightened disciples on the evening of Easter, and again a week later for Thomas. He shows His wounds, breathes the Holy Spirit, and sends His disciples into the world with the message of forgiveness. Rev. Christopher Ramstad proclaims this Gospel from John 20:19–31.
Second Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri: “Peace Be With You”
Join us for the Divine Service at Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS), 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. Sunday worship is offered at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. The 10:30 AM service was made especially joyful by the children of Martin Luther School joining in worship through song — a beautiful reminder that the faith is passed from generation to generation. Watch the full worship broadcast above, or join us in person any Sunday morning.
Scripture Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter
The appointed readings for the Second Sunday of Easter come from the historic three-year lectionary of the Christian Church (Year C):
Acts 5:12–20 — The apostles perform signs and wonders among the people in Solomon’s Portico. When the authorities imprison them, an angel of the Lord opens the prison doors and commands them: “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” The resurrection cannot be silenced.
Psalm 148 — All creation — angels and heavenly hosts, sun and moon, mountains and hills, kings and children — is summoned to praise the Lord, for His name alone is exalted and His glory is above earth and heaven.
Revelation 1:4–18 — The apostle John receives a vision of the glorified, risen Christ: robed, golden-sashed, with eyes like flame and a voice like rushing water. He declares, “I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” The risen Lord reigns.
John 20:19–31 (Gospel & Sermon Text) — Jesus appears to His disciples behind locked doors, speaks peace, shows His wounds, and breathes the Holy Spirit upon them. Thomas, absent the first time, declares he will not believe without seeing. Jesus returns for Thomas — “Put your finger here… Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas confesses: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus replies: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The following reflection accompanies the Second Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri worship broadcast from Immanuel Lutheran Church, April 12, 2026.
Sermon: “Peace Be With You” — John 20:19–31
The disciples are huddled behind locked doors — afraid, uncertain, grieving. Then the risen Jesus appears in their midst. His first word is not rebuke but gift: “Peace be with you.” He shows them His hands and His side. The wounds are real. The resurrection is real. Their fear gives way to joy.
Jesus then commissions them with the Office of the Keys — the authority to forgive and retain sins in His name. This is the ministry of the Church in every age: to proclaim the forgiveness of sins won by Christ’s death and resurrection. When the Church speaks absolution, it is Jesus Himself speaking peace.
Thomas was not there. He demands proof — something to touch, something he can verify with his own hands. A week later, Jesus appears again. Not to rebuke Thomas, but to meet him where he is. “Put your finger here. See my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas’s response is the highest confession in the Gospel of John: “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus says: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” That word is written for us. We have not seen the risen Christ with our eyes, but we have His Word, His Sacraments, and the faith given through Holy Baptism. We, too, are blessed — recipients of the same peace, the same Spirit, the same life.
John closes with the purpose of his Gospel: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” That is the heart of Christian worship — life in His name, week after week, at the Divine Service.
About Immanuel Lutheran Church — Joplin, Missouri
This Second Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri service is one of many worship opportunities at Immanuel Lutheran Church each year. Each Sunday the Divine Service delivers the same grace: the forgiveness of sins won by Christ for sinners like us.
Immanuel Lutheran Church is a confessional congregation of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) located at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. We worship in the historic liturgy of the Christian Church using the Lutheran Service Book, and we are committed to faithful preaching of Law and Gospel and the proper administration of the Sacraments.
Our ministry includes Martin Luther School (K–8), youth ministry (grades 5–12), adult Bible study, and regular Sunday worship. Sunday services are at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM, with Bible Study and Sunday School at 9:20 AM. Pastor: Rev. Christopher Ramstad.
Browse all our sermons and worship broadcasts online, or join us in person any Sunday. All are welcome here.
Watch this Second Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri worship broadcast above, and find more sermons at immanueljoplin.com.