Introduction

“The difference between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God lies exactly in this, that the kingdom of God comes through the death and resurrection of his Son, not through naked displays of brute force or wealth.” (N.T. Wright, Surprised By Hope, 245)

And if this is true, and it must be, then the church too comes through the death and resurrection of His Son and not through naked power plays or displays of brute force or the collection of massive amounts of wealth. We are created as one people in him, and through him, and by him.

We have a sense of what this means but only a glimmer because we haven’t yet succeeded. We still think that the power we work with in the church is the same as the conventional power of the world. We think whoever yells the loudest, whoever makes the most noise, whoever has the biggest coffers—we think they are the ones who will get things done and be the leaders. We think they are the ones necessarily blessed, the ones in whom the Kingdom surely is.

But all he gave us is death, burial, and resurrection. That is what we are armed with in this world. These are what define us: Defeat (death); Disdain (burial); Dominion (resurrection). And yet this is what we have; this is who we are.

In this post, the writers of CRN.info offer you personal reflections on one of the resurrection stories of Jesus found in John’s Gospel. Be blessed in His grace and His resurrection.
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A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

(John 20:26-29)

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Brendt

It’s been said many times before that “doubting” Thomas gets a bad rap, and it’s been noted that Jesus did not condemn him, but met him where he was.

But what occurred to me the other day was that Scripture does not tell us that Thomas put his “finger into the print of the nails” or put his “hand into [Jesus'] side”. I don’t think that was just because John was running out of parchment, and he figured that he’d better abbreviate the story, but rather that John didn’t write about what didn’t happen.

So Thomas did not need to fulfill the acts that he had earlier declared necessary for him to believe. Instead, he immediately recognized Jesus for Who He was, and not just some dude from Nazareth, but his Lord and his God.

So why did Thomas recognize Him thusly? Might it be that when Jesus said “because you have seen Me”, He wasn’t simply talking about an experience of Thomas’ optic nerves? Might it be that only his Lord and his God would meet him where he was? Might it be that only his Lord and his God would display such an attitude? Might it be that only his Lord and his God, while acknowledging that it would have been better for Thomas to believe without seeing, still gave him the opportunity to see, and did not make a blanket rejection of him because of a moment of weakness?

Thomas is not the only one to whom Jesus reveals Himself in order to help someone believe.  Such is the graciousness of our Lord and our God.

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Chris L.

As I consider Thomas (and others like him, I suspect), I wonder how often my words, thoughts and actions belie a hidden belief that Jesus is still on the cross and that the tomb is not empty. How often do I emphasize the cross, my fallenness and Jesus’ sacrifice, forgetting that he rose again, and that his resurrection is a call to live?

Yes, the cross was absolutely necessary. Yes, Jesus’ death paid the ransom to Satan – replacing his rightful accusations against us – and left us sinless before God. But Jesus’ death would have been a true defeat had the tomb remained empty.

Are we like Thomas when we keep Jesus on the cross and live as if he’s still in the grave – waiting around for things to improve once we die? Do we miss the call to live life more abundantly? Do we miss what Jesus taught because we get caught up in who he is? Do we miss that he freed us from seeing God’s instruction, His Torah, as a set of minimum rules to be kept, instead giving us the ability to live by the aims of God’s Torah – to love God with our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves?

Are we like Thomas’ predecessors – OUR predecessors, recognizing that God brought us out of Egypt – but refusing to enter the Promised Land. Refusing to enter out of fear, and doubt – not allowing ourselves to go beyond awe and respect for God to experience the boundless love He has for His children?

We, like sheep, have all gone astray. But the Good Shepherd lives and breathes and cares for us. Let us eat from the pastures He provides. Let us drink from the waters of shalom to which He brings us. Let us fear no lasting harm when He leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. Let us eat confidently when we eat at the banquet table He has presented us, in the presence of our enemies. Let us praise Him, honor Him and LIVE for Him in His house – both now and into eternity.

Let us believe in the open and empty tomb, and the life that it brings.

Shalom
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Eugene

When I meditated on John 20:26-27 today, I experienced peace… Peace not because of what I believe but peace because of what Jesus did in spite of Thomas’ unbelief and what He does in spite of mine. Jesus did not tell Thomas “Depart from me you evil unbelieving excuse for a human being”. No, He met Thomas where he was – in his state of doubt. That is the Christ that has been revealed to us – the One who comes to the aid of the helpless. We see this character trait of God from the very beginning of creation. When Adam and Eve sinned He reached out to them; when Israel was enslaved in Egypt unable to help themselves He came to the rescue; when David sinned God sent a prophet so that David might have the chance to repent; when we were still without strength Christ died for the ungodly (Rom 5:6); when one sheep wanders off He leaves the ninety nine; when Thomas doubted Jesus said reach here…

This gives me peace for no longer do I have to believe the right things, doctrines, algebraic systematic theology in order to be right with God. It is no longer dependent on my understanding or lack thereof. Whenever I’m in doubt I can just call out: “My Lord and my God.” He is the one who saves, He is the one restores and my soul is safe in His hands. Like Thomas’ faith grew through relationship with Christ my faith in Him will grow as I get to know Him better. Though my faith has grown I am no more saved today than I was yesterday, and would I stumble and fall in my faith I will not be less saved then than I am now.

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Jerry

I am getting ready to make some major changes in my life. These changes will not be easy and, to be sure, I am not a little terrified. Stepping out into the world, such as it is, and doing ministry in a whole new way is, at my age, a daunting prospect.

I was at a prayer meeting a couple of weeks ago. Several of my friends and peers and fellow ministers from area churches were there. I confessed to these men that I was embarrassed that I was such a failure at ministry. I don’t have the gift of church growth and it seems that my personality is not suited to the sort of politics that are necessary to keep a local church thriving. (See Confessions of a Frustrated (Christian) Preacher, 1 & 2)

I confessed to the men gathered that I was embarrassed that I was such a failure at ministry, that I was ashamed that despite all my work and prayers and faithful preaching, I could not seem to get any church to grow. Nearly 10 years at my current location—and for what? That’s when one of the preachers touched me on the shoulder and reminded me that my identity as a human, as a Christian, is not determined by failure or by other people’s opinion of me and my failure. He reminded me that the only opinion that matters is Jesus’ and Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

So as it is, I may never have to hide behind locked doors. I may never have the sort of doubts Thomas had. I may never stick my finger in His side. This side of eternity, I may never see Him. I may never be Thomas or in the exact same situation Thomas and the others found themselves in that day when Jesus stood among them. I will never grow a big church. I will never be the lead pastor of a thriving congregation with a huge budget and my own youtube channel and blog read by millions. But one thing I will always be is Blessed. Because Jesus said so.

Think of that: The mouth of the Savior of the World, the Mouth of the Resurrected Lord, the Mouth of the Crucified King has pronounced me, us, you, Blessed! We are blessed! We are not defined by our defeat and failure, but by our belief. Those who believe, they are Blessed!

Imagine that! Jesus Christ, resurrected, says that we are blessed! Blessed!

Charis & Pax

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Christian

It is still interesting to me how many different ways we can respond to a short passage of scripture.  This is as true for one person as they grow in Christ and discover new insights and new connections to their own faith, as it is for a small group of people sharing a reading together.  In our responses we may connect what we know and think, how we feel, who we interact with, and where we are at in life.

Passages like these are of particular interest because there are so many questions that we don’t have the answers to such as “Why wasn’t Thomas with the other disciples the first time Jesus appeared?”  We also make assumptions because we haven’t asked enough questions (or at least enough of the right questions).  We call him “Doubting Thomas” even though he wasn’t the only one who doubted.  We talk about having faith even though we can’t see and touch.  But this story isn’t included because Thomas didn’t believe, it is included because he witnessed the resurrected Jesus and did believe.

It is in this moment with Thomas that John presents the climax of everything we read about Jesus.  Immediately after this passage in John 20:30-31 we are told,

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

For all our learning, knowledge, insight, reflection, emotions, words, actions, hurts, bad choices, and even sins, we come before the resurrected Jesus believing that He is the Christ, the Son of God… and in His name we have life.

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Live Blessed! Be the Bride! And may all glory be to Christ Jesus both now and forever. Amen.