Second Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri — On April 12, 2026, Immanuel Lutheran Church gathered for the Second Sunday of Easter to hear the story of Thomas and the risen Christ from John 20:19–31. Pastor Christopher Ramstad preached on the power of “what if” questions — how they can lead to either curiosity and discovery or worry and doubt — and how Jesus comes as the answer to every one of them. DCE Jason Glaskey brought a mystery envelope for the children’s talk, connecting Thomas’s need to see and touch to the truth that we are blessed who believe without seeing. The children of Martin Luther School also sang during the offering.
Second Sunday of Easter in Joplin Missouri: Jesus Answers Our “What Ifs”
The 10:30 AM Divine Service on this Second Sunday of Easter at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri was a special celebration — the children of Martin Luther School joined the congregation to sing during the offering, lifting their voices in praise of the risen Christ. Pastor Ramstad’s sermon explored the “what if” questions that fill our lives, and how the risen Jesus comes to answer every one of them with His peace.
Mr. Glaskey’s children’s talk opened with a lumpy envelope — “There’s something amazing in here. Do you believe me?” Some kids raised their hands; others admitted doubt. Just like Thomas, they wanted to see first. Mr. Glaskey walked through John 20: the disciples locked in a room, afraid, when Jesus appears and says “Peace be with you” — showing His hands, feet, and side. Thomas wasn’t there and refused to believe for eight days. When Jesus returned, Thomas touched and confessed five powerful words: “My Lord and my God.” Then Jesus spoke directly to us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Where do we see Jesus today? In His Word, in the waters of baptism, and in the bread and wine of communion.
“Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'”
John 20:29, ESV
Scripture Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter
The readings for the Second Sunday of Easter traced the early church’s bold witness to the risen Christ. In Acts 5:29–42, Peter and the apostles stood before the Jewish council and declared, “We must obey God rather than men” — and left rejoicing that they had suffered dishonor for the name of Jesus. In 1 Peter 1:3–9, Peter praised God for a living hope through the resurrection and reminded believers that though they have not seen Christ, they love Him and believe with inexpressible joy. And in John 20:19–31, the risen Jesus appeared to His frightened disciples, breathed on them the Holy Spirit, and invited doubting Thomas to touch His wounds and believe.
Theological Reflection: From Doubt to Discovery
Pastor Ramstad opened with the power of two words: “What if?” He pointed to Martin Luther School’s Academic Night the Thursday before — Skittles experiments, sink-or-float tanks, and famous inventors put through a Shark Tank competition. Then he traced “what if” through history: Isaac Newton wondering about falling objects and discovering gravity, Alexander Fleming nearly throwing away the mold that became penicillin, and the Wright brothers asking if humans could fly.
But “what if” has a darker side. The original proverb wasn’t “curiosity killed the cat” — it was “care killed the cat,” written by Ben Johnson in 1598, meaning worry and anxiety. Pastor Ramstad walked through the what-ifs that haunt us at every stage of life: What if the teacher calls on me? What if that relationship doesn’t work out? What if I don’t know how to be the parent God has called me to be? What if that health scare turns out to be something more? What if my retirement money runs out before I do?
The disciples in that locked room on Easter evening were drowning in what-ifs. What if the crucifixion was the end? What if the Pharisees come for us next? What if Jesus is disappointed that we abandoned Him? And into that room full of fear, Jesus came — not with anger, but with peace. Thomas missed that first visit and spent eight agonizing days refusing to believe. But when Jesus returned, He didn’t scold Thomas. He invited him to touch His wounds. Thomas’s what-ifs dissolved into five words: “My Lord and my God.”
Pastor Ramstad challenged the congregation: What if Jesus could reshape our what-ifs? What if I love my neighbor the way I want to be loved? What if I take my anxieties and put them at Jesus’s feet? What if I forgive the way I’ve been forgiven? “Can you imagine the change that would bring in our lives and the lives of those around us?” The resurrection is not a what-if — it is a certainty we take by faith.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8–9, ESV
About Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri
Immanuel Lutheran Church is a member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod located at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. We gather for worship every Sunday at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Martin Luther School serves children from preschool through 8th grade, and Curiosity Camps runs all summer. Sunday School and Youth Group meet weekly for all ages.
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This message falls in the Easter season at Immanuel. Revisit Easter Sunday, continue with the Third Sunday of Easter, or browse our sermon archive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Thomas called “Doubting Thomas”?
Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples on Easter evening. He refused to believe their testimony for eight days, insisting he needed to see and touch Jesus’s wounds. When Jesus appeared again and invited Thomas to touch His hands and side, Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus responded with a blessing for all future believers: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
What is the Second Sunday of Easter about?
The Second Sunday of Easter always features the account of Thomas and the risen Jesus from John 20:19–31. It reminds the church that faith comes not from physical sight but from the Word of God, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper — the means through which Christ reveals Himself to His people today.
What does “Peace be with you” mean in John 20?
When Jesus says “Peace be with you” to His frightened disciples, He is giving them more than a greeting. He is bestowing the peace that only the risen Christ can give — forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with the Father, and freedom from the fear of death. This is the peace Jesus promised at the Last Supper: “not as the world gives” (John 14:27).
Where is Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri?
Immanuel Lutheran Church is located at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. Sunday worship is at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. All are welcome.