More about Thomas

Photo by Christian Begeman

This past weekend the Lectionary (as it does each year) led us to the story of the "Doubting Thomas" in the Gospel selection.  Since I tend to preach the most from the Gospel offering, that led me to the story of Thomas. Was there any new insight... and new message to be gleaned from these verses?  Well, I think there is and I hope you'll listen to the sermon and see what you might take away from the message.

One of the points that I struck up harder in my message on Monday to the folks at Shady Oaks was about the Disciples possibly being afraid of confronting Jesus due to their deserting Him in the garden.  The message here was that we all (if we're honest about it) a little bit apprehensive about coming face to face with Christ one day... we all have sin and we all have turned our backs in some fashion to God.  But, the stunning thing is that when Jesus suddenly appears among the Disciples in the locked room, that he doesn't start scolding, nor correcting, nor tormenting as commonly depicted in renderings of Hell and damnation... rather He says "Peace be with you".  That little snippet tells us a great deal about God and how He wishes to interact with us...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

John 20:19-31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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[a]), 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[b] that Jesus is the Messiah,[c] the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Footnotes:
a) John 20:24 Gk Didymus
b) John 20:31 Other ancient authorities read may continue to believe
c) John 20:31 Or the Christ