Thursday May 30, 2024

Today is Thursday, May 30 and we are studying the Gospel of John chapter twenty.

In the morning I praise you, Lord. You are the Living God, holy and mighty is your name. All honor and glory is yours, my risen Savior Jesus, redeemer and friend. As a new day dawns I pause to seek your face. I quiet the cares of my mind, slow my breath and still the concerns of my heart. Come, show me what it means to live the Resurrection life. Amen.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “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.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29

Easter evening Jesus appeared to the disciples inside a locked room and showed them the wounds on his hands and his side. He also ate a piece of broiled fish (Luke 24:42-43). Thomas was not there for that encounter with Jesus. We don’t know where Thomas was, but he missed seeing Jesus that first night. When he arrived, I imagine all the disciples were talking about seeing Jesus. Perhaps he felt left out, after all, the most extraordinary thing imaginable had just happened and he missed it.

Because of his response, Thomas is forever known, thousands of years into the future as “Doubting Thomas”. His nickname stuck. We don’t call the other disciples “Denying Peter” or “Coat-holding Paul.” What if I was known because of my sin and trespass? What would my nickname be? It doesn’t seem quite fair that Thomas can’t shake his moniker. A lot of people in the Bible doubt – Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Gideon, John the Baptist, Peter and Martha as well as Thomas. In all cases, the Lord came to doubters with a reassurance of his presence, a sign of his comfort and a reminder of his promises.

Whatever circumstance in my life that is causing me worry or concern, whether it be big or small, God wants me to share it with him today. Like Thomas, I may want to touch and see for myself before I believe. Maybe I don’t think “God is Big Enough” to help me with my particular situation, change my circumstances or solve my problem. Maybe I don’t think God is powerful enough to heal my broken relationship, comfort my loneliness, break my addiction or recover what has been lost. Ultimately Thomas doubted God had the power to bring Jesus back from the dead. What am I doubting God has the power to do in my life?

Ask: What is the source of my doubt and skepticism? When do I display a lack of confidence in what God is able to accomplish?

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord Jesus, I invite you to remind me once again that you see through locked doors. You see me for who I really am and you know my struggles, challenges and concerns. You know my skepticism and doubt. You know my heart and how to heal it. You know my mind and how to change it. You know my soul and how to save it. I turn to you in faith and I believe that your Resurrection power is at work in my life. Amen.

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