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- Apr 25, 2006
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27 March 2008
Word on the Web
John 20 v 24-29
Thomas (called Didymus), who was one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other followers kept telling Thomas, "We saw the Lord."
But Thomas said, "I will not believe it until I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side."
A week later the followers were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came in and stood right in the middle of them. He said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop being an unbeliever and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you see me. Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed."
Normally, when someone is injured, the natural response is to protect the wounded area but here, rather strangely it seems, we have Jesus inviting Thomas to poke at the spear hole in his side; something he had said he needed to do. It's debatable whether Thomas should be denounced or admired for requiring confirmation of Jesus' resurrection.
People I know occasionally adopt the "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude when it comes to belief in God, preferring to keep Him at a distance. Others though, do need something more than words to go on because they are genuinely seeking some kind of experience of God. In Matthew 6 v 33 Jesus tells us to put what God wants first in our lives. Only then can we begin to see blessings.
Was Thomas simply suffering from seeing his ideal world fall apart and too stuck on what was rather than what is? His idea of the Kingdom of God was inevitably human and therefore limited. Early in the Bible, God calls himself 'I AM'. This has always been a great comfort to me because it means God is not lodged in the past or too concerned with the future but here and now, as I write and as you read.
In contrast to the moment Mary saw him in the garden, he now invites Thomas to touch and experience reality. You and I are the people he refers to as "truly blessed" if we just say, "I believe".
Put your hand on a place that hurts, physically, emotionally or spiritually and repeat the prayer for as long as you need to.
Jesus, here I am.
Jesus,
Here,
I AM,
Please touch.
Written by Hil Jennings
Word on the Web
John 20 v 24-29
Thomas (called Didymus), who was one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other followers kept telling Thomas, "We saw the Lord."
But Thomas said, "I will not believe it until I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side."
A week later the followers were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came in and stood right in the middle of them. He said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop being an unbeliever and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you see me. Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed."
Normally, when someone is injured, the natural response is to protect the wounded area but here, rather strangely it seems, we have Jesus inviting Thomas to poke at the spear hole in his side; something he had said he needed to do. It's debatable whether Thomas should be denounced or admired for requiring confirmation of Jesus' resurrection.
People I know occasionally adopt the "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude when it comes to belief in God, preferring to keep Him at a distance. Others though, do need something more than words to go on because they are genuinely seeking some kind of experience of God. In Matthew 6 v 33 Jesus tells us to put what God wants first in our lives. Only then can we begin to see blessings.
Was Thomas simply suffering from seeing his ideal world fall apart and too stuck on what was rather than what is? His idea of the Kingdom of God was inevitably human and therefore limited. Early in the Bible, God calls himself 'I AM'. This has always been a great comfort to me because it means God is not lodged in the past or too concerned with the future but here and now, as I write and as you read.
In contrast to the moment Mary saw him in the garden, he now invites Thomas to touch and experience reality. You and I are the people he refers to as "truly blessed" if we just say, "I believe".
Put your hand on a place that hurts, physically, emotionally or spiritually and repeat the prayer for as long as you need to.
Jesus, here I am.
Jesus,
Here,
I AM,
Please touch.
Written by Hil Jennings
