Lesson 20
Risen!
"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29
Read John Chapter 20
If you read through this chapter slowly and allow yourself to connect with the people, it's incredibly passionate and emotional. Mary goes to the tomb, sees it empty, no Jesus and hurries back to Peter and John to tell them. They then race to the tomb, find it empty except for the linen strips and head cloth and somewhat at a loss wander back home. However, Mary stays. Filled with bewilderment, an aching heart and a face streaming with tears she weeps, because the one she loves is gone (can you relate?). It always struck me strange that she didn't recognize Jesus. Until this morning! Have you ever cried tears or sobbed so much that your eyes become blurry and all you see is a blur; I have. I think this is what happened with Mary when Jesus first spoke to her; with blurry eyes from tears she thought he was some kind of gardener. But when Jesus spoke her name, "Mary," that's when the connection was made and she recognized Jesus. There's a scene at the end of "Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade" when Sean Connery is holding onto Harrison Ford whilst Ford is reaching for the Holy Grail, but to get the Grail he would have to let go of his father's hand resulting in certain death. Connery who always calls Ford by his nickname of "Junior" finally calls him by his true name of endearment, "Indiana." The connection is made, Ford gives up the Grail and his father pulls him up to safety. That's what Jesus does, he calls us by our true name of endearment and the connection is made. Mary turns to Jesus and wraps her arms around him in a loving embrace not wanting to let go!
Jesus was dead and buried in a tomb for 3 days. But now Jesus is alive. ALIVE! Come back to life, living and breathing, and meeting with his friends, he has Risen!
But this isn't the part I want to focus on, it's on a young man named Thomas; the one who has been given the unfortunate title of "Doubting Thomas." Over the years I've heard sermons and lessons condemning Thomas for his doubts, however let's take a look at things from Jesus' perspective.
Jesus appeared to the disciples and showed them his hands and side and the disciples were overjoyed. It's amazing, a celebration....Jesus is alive, risen from the dead, come back to life, breathing and talking. The one who was brutally tortured, crucified and died is back with us (if you saw a loved one come back to life wouldn't you feel the same way). But one of the Twelve wasn't there. Thomas wasn't! So what do the disciples do...they rush to tell Thomas; that's what good friends do, they want other friends to share in the joy and celebration. "We've seen the Lord," they exclaim. Now imagine yourself with a bunch of friends telling you something that sounds really good, maybe too good to be true. It could be really easy to go along with the crowd, be swayed by the masses, cave and give in! But not Thomas, he's a man of Character, a man of principle and not easily swayed....no matter what...he doesn't go along with the crowd! "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Wow! It would be easy to call him the "Debbie Downer" of the group. To write him off and discard him. And if we left it there it's quite possible that's what could have happened to Thomas.
But not with Jesus! Jesus cares about every single one of us. He's the Shepherd who leaves the ninety nine to go off in search of the one, and he cared about Thomas. Thomas hadn't been there with the disciples when Jesus appeared. Maybe Thomas was someone who dealt with things on his own, maybe he was still grieving over the loss of Jesus, maybe he just couldn't bring himself to be with other people, even friends and family, in that moment. We don't know, but Jesus does! And Jesus accepts us where we are at, like the Good Samaritan, comes to where we are, and cares for us. And in caring for us, builds our faith! He came to Thomas, "put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe." And Thomas' response, "My Lord and my God." This is how Jesus deals with our doubts, he gives us faith!!
If that's how Jesus builds faith with someone who had walked and talked and eaten with him, imagine how Jesus will build faith with those of us who haven't. So be real with Jesus and your doubts!!!
Some questions to ask.
1: When you have had doubts in the past, how have you dealt with them?
2: Seeing how Jesus dealt with Thomas' doubts, how can He help you with your doubts?
3: What does this tell you about Jesus and his desire to build your faith & confidence?