John 20:19-23
Jesus Makes a House Call
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." After he said this, he
showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced
when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace
be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When
he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive
the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven
them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
[...]
Are You Paranoid Enough?
It's not too hard to understand the fear felt by the
disciples shortly after Jesus' death. Jesus then comes to them and turns their fear into understanding and mission. Now they
are charged to go out and not only face those they fear but to
help them understand the depth of God's love. Their mission
then is our mission now.
John 20:19-31
Believe It!
[...] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of
his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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.
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign ...
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Apparently the signs that Jesus did for the disciples
did not need to be written down for our benefit. If the Gospel
writers have not already convinced us with Jesus' life, teachings,
resurrection and relationship to God, then telling us a few more
miracles won't do it either. Let us be glad that we have four
Gospels that give us what we need to think about and do in order
to do God's will! Now the hard part ... let's do it!
John 20:19-31
Thomas is Convinced
[...] But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the
twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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." 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." 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." Thomas answered him, "My
Lord and my God!" 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."
[...]
Proof Positive
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Doubting can be a good thing. It can protect us from
thinking with our emotions. It can force us to seek the
truth for ourselves, even in the face of peer pressure. Perhaps
it is a stronger show of faith to believe without seeing, so we can thank Thomas for doubting so others can believe. However, I feel we should always doubt in order to lead to a deeper understanding.
John 20:19-31
Thomas is Convinced
[...] But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the
twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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." 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." 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." Thomas answered him, "My
Lord and my God!" 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." [...]
Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt
Thomas was probably older and wiser than most of the
disciples, perhaps a little too cautious because the world had
hardened him. But William Barclay notes "...(he) doubted
in order to become sure." The others may have been swept
up in the moment or too afraid to ask the obvious question, but
those who think through and challenge their faith usually truly
make it their own.
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