'Jesus appears to Thomas'
A post resurrection reflection
Tom Pender
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
As I was reflecting on the Easter weekend, thinking over the current situation in our land, my thoughts were drawn to what the disciples must have been going through in those days. A group of followers that had personally experienced Jesus and his miraculous signs were then hiding away, locked in a room, scared and alone, wondering what the next steps were going to be. It is not unlike what some are feeling now, with the uncertainty of what will happen next.
What struck me most though was the response from Jesus to the disciples, especially Thomas. Even in their worry and doubt, being hidden away and feeling defeated, Jesus came back with a message of love. He didn’t berate the disciples; he didn’t make them feel bad or tell them off for what their inaction or doubt or sadness. This was shown even more in Thomas.
Jesus’ first words were “Peace be with you”, knowing that was what they all needed at that time, not only because a once dead man was now alive and talking to them. As much as the rest of history looks at this account of “Doubting Thomas”, I prefer to reflect on the fact that Jesus wasn’t upset that Thomas wanted proof or had questions. He welcomed Thomas and his questions. He didn’t condemn Thomas just because he wasn’t at the same stage or because there was a doubt. Jesus still responded in a way that reassured those who would not have seen but believed as well as showing that questions and doubt will not prevent anyone from knowing and experiencing Jesus.
Given the situation so many of us are in, I strongly believe this is a very uplifting place to be in. God isn’t upset or disappointed in any of us who are doubting how things will turn out, questioning where God is in this or worried about why we aren’t coping the way we would like. God is reminding us with this scripture that even in the midst of the turmoil, peace and understanding are given to us if we are willing to listen. What a joyous thing to hold on to and give thanks for!
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1: 7
Easter Sunday is always a time of refreshment and renewing. A reminder not only of the sacrifice of Christ but of the victory won for us all. We have been set free from sin. We have our freedom from that tyrant that held us captive and we are now free to serve God in the way that we were designed to be. For those of that new what life was like before you had a personal relationship with Jesus, think about the things you were delivered from and what you have been brought into. For others, think about what you have been protected from and what changes you have seen in your life because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This verse highlights some of the important things we need to remember that we have been given and what it looks like in this time we are living in.
This verse gives us four points that I would like to highlight to help us with our walk and to remind us of the wonderful provisions of God: the power, love and self-discipline we have been given but also the timidity that we can exchange.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5: 13-14
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4: 12
Wonderful Provisions of God
Timidity
This verse could easily have left this part out and simply read that God gave us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline and that would have been clear enough and helpful. But I believe there is a deeper point to this.
To say to someone in this day and age “Don’t be afraid” with all that is going on around us is a bit patronizing to say the least. This is a time of uncertainty and a point when many people are struggling to get by. The role of the Christian is not to give a false hope or to have empty words. We are to be a light (Matthew 5:13-14). We are to shine in the darkness by being only what we have been called to be. A light doesn’t become brighter in the dark nor does it shrink away. Light does become more intense when more light is added to it.
See, the first part of the passage is a reminder that what we have gotten from God doesn’t make us shrink back. It is a reminder that what we have been given enables us to endure what happens around us. That having questions and doubts isn’t a problem, but the question remains about what you are going to do about it.
The deeper point of this is that it serves as a reminder that even in tough times, our God has given us what we need. We need to remember what is actually of God and from God by what it says in His word. Hebrews 4:12- For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. These words are more than just words, they are a truth to hold on to and remember, allowing it to penetrate deep.
Power
What does a spirit of power look like? It isn’t about physical power, otherwise all Christians would be in weightlifting competitions. This spirit of power has to do with overcoming the weakness. Biblical weakness has to do with giving in to sin and sin having a power over us. Instead, we are told that we are given power over this, the ability to be free from the powerlessness felt by those who are under the bondage of sin.
We are made in God’s image. We have been given the Holy Spirit. We are able to overcome. We were not made to be slaves to the earthly desires or to sin. We have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) but that doesn’t mean we have to stay there. By His Spirit, we are able to move forward.
In our current circumstance, that can be applied to the mindset that we can trapped in by not knowing what we can do or by not choosing to do the things we know are good for us. We are not powerless against what is going on. We can be praying for those around us. We can be contacting others to check in on them. We can be encouraging people and helping to suggest ways of dealing with all the uncertainty.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:23
Love
This spirit of love that we have been given is a powerful spirit. To love like Christ loved is to be sacrificial. It is to put the needs of others ahead of our own. This is needed more than ever now and is being demonstrated by so many who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of others.
Love can be demonstrated in many different ways. Times like this really bring to the forefront that we need to learn how to communicate love in different ways. I personally like to show love through gifts. I am not able to do that in the same way at the moment as I would normally. I can get or make nice things for my family to give them but maybe I can take this time to find out what ways they operate in love to better communicate love to them.
It is so easy at this time to be caught up in the doing of things that we kept putting off. What if we took the time to get to know the people we live with better by loving through quality time? What if we wrote notes around the house to communicate with different words how we love those we are isolated with, or in some cases those we can’t be with – emails don’t need to be disinfected! There are many different ways in which we give and receive love. Take time with God to seek out what this can look like for you. How can you better love those around you?
Self Control
This was a very important part of the message when it was written, and it still holds its importance today. In the early church, one of the issues that had arisen was that people felt that because they were free, they could do what they liked. In some cases, it meant that people were doing things they used to thinking it didn’t have an impact. We see this today in people who don’t want to change their lifestyle even though what they are doing is hurting them.
Power without self-control can lead to damaging others. Love without self-control can cause damage to the person doing the loving because they get themselves into debt or forsake the other aspects of life. God knows what he is doing and knew that we needed guidance on how freedom should look.
A song I used to sing at a previous church had the line “Freedom is not for us and what we want, Freedom is free to be a slave to the Son”. Knowing that we are freed from sin doesn’t means I can live however I like. It does mean I am making the choice to be a servant of God. A servant doesn’t do whatever they like, they listen and obey the master. In some ways it is a blessing to live in a country with a monarchy because we can understand this concept a little better. While we enjoy the freedoms of this country, we know that have a ruling body over us that we are subject to. While this isn’t a perfect picture, it does help to remind us of the self-control we should be exhibiting in our lives.
Self-control is one of the gifts of the spirit – something that shows up from us living the way we should. We have been given this to help demonstrate to others. During this lockdown, even though I am feeling fine, I am following the guidelines and only going out for an hour long walk once per day. There are times I would like to do more, but what kind of witness would that be to others?
This self-control isn’t just public, it is private as well. This is a hard-hitting point because it reminds all of us of the importance to practice what we preach. I need to demonstrate self-control with my finances, with my private time, with my eating, and so on. While I may not always do my best at it, I am reminded that God has given me the spirit to endure and do this.
Through all of this, it is important to remember that God is for us. If we fail to live up to this truth of having a spirit of power, love and self-control then we can ask forgiveness and start again. Just look at the disciples and remember that the men and women who walked and talked with Jesus were afraid and doubting all that He had told them. When he saw them again, he didn’t condemn them, he loved them.
It is ok at this time to question and doubt and wonder and be in a strange place. What we are called to do is remember what God has given us – the ability to overcome through power, love and self-control.
Prayer
Father, we thank you as we remember the wonderful work of the death and resurrection of Jesus. We thank you that you loved us so much that you were willing to sacrifice to set us free.
We ask that you help to show us what it looks like to be powerful, loving, self-controlled people. Show us how we can demonstrate your love to others in this time.
We pray for our leaders and officials and pray that you give them guidance and peace at this time of leading us through.
We pray for all the essential workers and pray a blessing over them and their families. May your peace reign over them and may they come to know you better.
We lift up those that are worried and those that are struggling to cope at this time. We pray your peace on their lives and pray that they will find comfort in you and your promises over their lives.
In your name we pray,
Amen.