Dearest e-votees-
This Sunday we visit again with Thomas wanting to experience the risen Christ as the other disciples had.
Some call him doubting. I find him earnest and zealous.
Peace,
Karl
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19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:19-31, NRSV
The disciples are post-Easter yet still afraid. They are lurking behind locked doors out of fear. I wonder "What doors do we crouch behind hoping to stay safe?" Jesus pushes through the obstacles and breathes peace and power into them. What a gift that Jesus gives to the disciples. I wonder "Is Jesus still willing to come through the obstacles we put in his way to bring reconciliation?" and "Is Jesus willing to empower us to reconcile as well through forgiveness?"
Thomas is gone (maybe fetching food and supplies for the survivalist disciples, who knows?). He returns and the disciples tell him what they have seen and heard. Thomas wants assurances too. He wants God's peace. He wants God's power. He wants to see the wounds the other disciples saw. He is not weak in the faith but strong in zeal and deeply earnest. Jesus grants Thomas' request.
The disciples were restored and empowered to give witness (including writing the book of the gospel) so that others might come to faith. We are among those who have not seen and yet have come to belief. Jesus calls us blessed.
God, draw us up into earnest zeal and help us be a blessing to others by passing along that which you have revealed to us. Amen.
This Sunday we visit again with Thomas wanting to experience the risen Christ as the other disciples had.
Some call him doubting. I find him earnest and zealous.
Peace,
Karl
------------
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
The disciples are post-Easter yet still afraid. They are lurking behind locked doors out of fear. I wonder "What doors do we crouch behind hoping to stay safe?" Jesus pushes through the obstacles and breathes peace and power into them. What a gift that Jesus gives to the disciples. I wonder "Is Jesus still willing to come through the obstacles we put in his way to bring reconciliation?" and "Is Jesus willing to empower us to reconcile as well through forgiveness?"
Thomas is gone (maybe fetching food and supplies for the survivalist disciples, who knows?). He returns and the disciples tell him what they have seen and heard. Thomas wants assurances too. He wants God's peace. He wants God's power. He wants to see the wounds the other disciples saw. He is not weak in the faith but strong in zeal and deeply earnest. Jesus grants Thomas' request.
The disciples were restored and empowered to give witness (including writing the book of the gospel) so that others might come to faith. We are among those who have not seen and yet have come to belief. Jesus calls us blessed.
God, draw us up into earnest zeal and help us be a blessing to others by passing along that which you have revealed to us. Amen.
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