Greetings!

The scripture lesson from John’s Gospel continues the resurrection narrative. It begins the very next day, “the first day of the week” with the disciples in fear, locked behind closed doors, even though Mary Magdalene has already told them “I have seen the Lord.” 

Thomas missed the initial experience of Jesus among the disciples and expresses something we might often feel, “seeing is believing.” He gets the opportunity to have that experience when Jesus comes again, and speaks directly to Thomas. Through the ages, Thomas’ need for verification is belittled. Persons who question are called “a doubting Thomas.” But if we are honest, all of us have doubts about a great number of things. Doubt drives us to seek understanding. Ultimately, faith is doubt seeking understanding.

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Joey

Theme for Sunday

“Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don't have any doubts, you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.”

-Fredrick Buechner, Wishful Thinking

John 20:19-29

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.” 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.”