Thoughts for the Day

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

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.’

Jesus and Thomas

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.’

The Purpose of This Book

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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Our human minds search constantly for order and reason. It's why medical science observes diseases and attempts to provide solutions in the shape of new technology for operations and improved medicines. But it's also the reason why we like puzzles and mystery stories. We want to be able to find the evidence to establish who stole the jewels or who committed the murder. The trouble is that faith doesn't work in that way, it is counter-intuitive! Our mind wants to say "But where are the facts? Where is the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead, to save us from our sin?"

Thomas is the equivalent of this modern need for rational evidence. Despite all the other disciples saying they have seen Jesus he will simply not believe in Jesus' resurrection until he has some physical evidence laid before him. The disciples cannot change his mind. He is implacable. Now we have all met people like that - those who scoff at our beliefs as fairy stories - but try to imagine the disciples' reactions. Yet somehow they manage to keep Thomas with them as the messages come in of other sightings over the next week. Then suddenly there is Jesus once again. He understands that sight is not enough evidence, Thomas must touch his wounds in order to believe. His cry "My Lord, and my God!" echoes down the ages.

The resurrected Jesus is recognised in different ways to different people at this time: to Mary Magdalene it was Jesus' voice that she recognised; to the two men who walked to Emmaus it was when Jesus broke the bread at the table; and to Thomas it was through the touch of Jesus' wounds. Today is no different! One person comes to faith through singing hymns, another through reading the scriptures, another through the loving support from a faithful Christian, another through a challenging sermon, and yet another through prayer. Our Lord reaches us when we are ready to be open to Him!

Lord God,
when we doubt You;
when we ask for proof;
when we seem totally alone;
when all seems doubt and darkness;
and when faith seems impossible,
speak to us in a way we understand.
May we accept the reality -
that You lived and died to save us
and reunite us with Your Heavenly Father.
Amen.