[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Thursday April 27, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotions  Thursday, April 27, 2006

The Daily Devotions this week are written by Pastor Ludwig. During this
second week after the Resurrection of our Lord, we will be looking at Jesus
post-resurrection appearances as a spring board to considering how Jesus has
appeared to us in our lives in obvious and subtle ways.

 

John 20: 24-29

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."

 

Thought

It was not Thomas' fault that he was absent when the risen Jesus first
appeared to his disciples. Certainly it was not his fault when he doubted
their story. We all need some sort of evidence in order to believe such an
extravagant claim as, "He is risen indeed!"  Thomas is Everyman and we all
can identify with him and his situation.

 

What is deeply touching about this post-resurrection event is that Jesus
came back for Thomas. Jesus could have left Thomas behind in his doubt, but
He came back for him. The tone of Jesus in his words to Thomas are not
scolding and they do not express disappointment in order to shame him. He
simply says, here are my hands and side. Tenderness, acceptance and love.

 

Then Jesus turns to you and me, and says that we are indeed special because
we have not been able to touch his hands and side and yet we believe in the
midst of the doubt that Thomas felt. It is a challenge to believe in the
unseen, especially in our modern world. Jesus understands this, and is with
us in the struggle, with tenderness, acceptance and love. He does not leave
us behind.

 

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