Wednesday, April 13, 2005
John 20:26-27 Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
EASTER INVITATION
When the risen Lord appeared in the circle of His disciples a week after the first Easter, for their sakes He let Himself be seen and even touched. More than that -- for their sakes and ours He crossed out both seeing and touching. For only as Christ's Word takes away the importance of sight is the entire resurrection of Christ given to us who do not see Him. This devaluation of seeing with our own eyes makes the risen Lord real, true and close to us.
See His strong love in his words to Thomas and know such love is extended to you too. Jesus still recognizes that doubts -- even unbelieving doubts -- can creep into the heart of even the strongest disciple.
For Thomas was not a weak, fringe follower. He was an apostle who had earlier said, "Let us also go with Him that we may die with Him."
If Thomas struggled with doubts, it can happen to us as well. Don't seek them -- don't deny them -- don't be shocked -- and don't stay away from the Word if doubts arise.
Jesus' words to Thomas encouraged and invited faith. The same Christ still invites weak hearts to believe -- still speaks to our hearts -- still urges us to stretch forth faith's hand and to confess with Thomas: "My Lord and my God!"
