“Thomas and the Touch

 Scripture:   Matthew 14:25-32; John 20:24-29; James 1:4-8

All too often, we hear people of faith express their fears of doubt.  Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus either being enabled by the faith of others, or limited in his abilities through limited faith.  How often do we read in the Gospels those words of Jesus - “Oh you of little faith!”?  And in every case, it was either fear, worry or doubt that had raised their ugly heads because faith had yet to grow strong enough to meet the person’s needs.

 In today’s sighting of the Risen and Living LORD Jesus, we will consider how Thomas came to set his doubt aside through Christ’s offer for him to actually touch the wounds in his hand and side.  But in truth, it was the touch of Jesus that Thomas really needed – not his own touch.  The touch on others wasn’t always a physical process either – sometimes is was a touch of love, or compassion, or understanding, or encouragement that Jesus gave to those in need.

 In the case of the Canaanite woman, her “great faith” enabled Jesus to heal her daughter of the demon, even though the girl wasn’t even present. (Matthew 15:21-28)  In the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who had been praying that God would bless them with a child, even in their advanced age.  It would seem that Zechariah’s faith was tested on that day in the Holy of Holies, when an angel came to him to announce that their prayers were to be answered, and that they would have a son.  God had a purpose, even though Zechariah didn’t understand that yet. (Luke 1:5-25)

 One of the most recognized events of doubt erasing the power of faith was in Peter’s stepping out of the boat to walk toward Jesus in the storm.

 Read Matthew 14:25-32

 Jesus has chosen to come to His band of believers later instead of joining them when the boat left the shore.  It is a dark and stormy night, and in the fear that the men experience, Jesus calms them with a few words of hope.  And in that, Peter’s faith is renewed and strengthened, and he asks his LORD to give him permission to join him on the waves, which Jesus does.  Peter gets out of the boat, takes a few steps on the water, and then it happens – the storm catches his attention, he takes his eyes off of Jesus, and he sinks into the stormy mass.

 It wasn’t that Peter didn’t believe in Jesus – it was just that the world distracted him, and his focus turned from faith in Christ, to fear over the world’s buffeting.  But before we start questioning Peter’s faith, we need to think about those times when our faith got sidetracked by an attack of anxiety over the effect that the things of earth have on us!  If Peter - and we - could just stay focused on the fact that Jesus has power over everything, including the storms of life, none of us would ever have to fear sinking in the waves of doubt!

 But did Jesus leave Peter to his own fate in the water?  Not on your life!  He reached out to the man, caught him up, and only then asked him where his faith had gone!  But even as Jesus rescues Peter, the storm continued to rage until they both were in the boat, and it was only then that the winds were calmed.

 The one issue, though, that we have no answer for, is what was the tone of Jesus’ voice as He told Peter “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Personally, I don’t think it was a voice of scolding or chastisement.  I believe it was as personal and loving as Peter needed in that moment, and that it was meant to be a means for personal reflection on all that had happened in those last few minutes.  Peter didn’t need a word of condemnation to realize that when he lost focus on his LORD, his eyes were left to only gaze upon the trial that the world was presenting to him.

 By faith, Jesus had conveyed upon Peter the power and authority to actually walk on those wild storm-driven waves, until, that is, when Peter averted his attention from the glory of God to the violence of worldly fear.  And so it may be for each of us, if we don’t stay focused on the truth of Jesus.

 Read John 20:24-29

 For years, I have thought that Thomas got a bad rap by being labeled as “Doubting Thomas”.  If I could have my way, he should be known as “Honest Thomas” – after all, he merely said what the others had been thinking, but didn’t actually say!  In the previous few verses, Jesus appears to an unnamed group of disciples in that locked upper room.  He offers His peace to them twice, and then shows them His hands and side as evidence, and breaths the Holy Spirit onto them. (John 20:19-23)  He gave them what they needed, without the need for them to ask.

 But Thomas, who hadn’t been present for that first appearing, actually confesses his need to see proof that Jesus had truly cheated death.  Peter and John didn’t believe Mary’s report, and even when they went running to the tomb to see for themselves, they still weren’t absolutely certain that the empty tomb meant that Jesus had risen from death and into life!

 The LORD gave what they all needed to fully believe that He lived, and would live throughout eternity.  Thomas was given the opportunity to not only see, but to touch the wounds, but apparently, the seeing was enough for him, and he strongly proclaims “My LORD and my God!”  It turns out that Thomas didn’t need to touch, even though he said he did, because the power and presence of Jesus had touched him.

 Our LORD wants us all to fully believe without the need to have proof!  But He knows that from time to time, we do need to have His reassurance that what He is asking us to do is truly His will for our lives.  Remember those words – “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)  That’s not a hollow promise – when we believe in Jesus, even though we may have some uncertainty as to what He is asking of us, even though we may be hesitant to take that step in faith, even though we may not fully understand what He is asking of us, we can always ask for clarification or assurance or even for evidence for certainty, and Jesus will give whatever it may take to relieve our concerns.  Faith in Him is the beginning – this is what “asking in His name” implies – and when we do, the LORD will never let anything stand in the way of our following wherever He may be leading.

 Read James 1:4-8

 When James writes that we should let “perseverance finish its work within us”, he is telling us that growth in faith is a continuing process, and one that will never be finished in this lifetime!  Whatever we feel is lacking in our lives, we can petition God to provide and complete for us.  But again, we read that when we ask, we must first believe.  You may ask, though, believe what?  After all, if we believe, shouldn’t we already have whatever we need?

 Whether we read this in James’ epistle, or in Christ’s teaching in the gospels, “believing” is based in who Jesus is and in the faith that He has already blessed us with, and not in the certainty, maturity and fullness of faith that comes through the process of sanctification.  This is a lifelong endeavor that grows us in wisdom and understanding every time we take those steps in faith that move us out of our comfort zone and into the glory that God has prepared for those who will follow and learn and give and trust through Him.  If this wasn’t the case, then why should we need perseverance? 

 In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he wrote “We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

 It's all about the many steps that it takes for our faith to strengthen and mature in Christ.  Doubt?  Uncertainty?  Hesitation?  Absolutely!  It will all be ours at some time or other – Satan’s world doesn’t want us to become stronger in the LORD, so they are constantly throwing challenges (“struggles”) into our path.  But what they don’t seem to realize is that Jesus is always there to give us a hand up out of those raging and storm-tossed waters of life, and will always be there, prepared and willing to give us that precious “touch” that holds us close to the path that leads us ever onward to life eternal in Him.

 Remember all the times when you were afraid, or when doubts were flooding your soul, or when the uncertainty of life was so oppressive that you cried out to God for help?  In the moment when you knew that all would be OK, it was then that He Touched you!  Marvelous, wasn’t it!

“Cleopas on the Road to Truth”

 Scripture:   Luke 24:13-35

Following His easter resurrection, Jesus began appearing to the faithful, offering comfort, assurance, and reminders of all that He had taught during His ministry, as well as encouragement in the new life that awaits all who believe.  In today’s passage regarding the encounter that Cleopas and his unnamed companion had with Jesus on the Road to Emmaus, we discover one of Jesus’ lessons that is so vitally important for all seekers – that the differences between what we understand through our human senses, and the truth that God would have us know through faith, will usually stand diametrically opposed!

 The two men had left Jerusalem sometime early Easter morning.  Nearly all of the faithful had gone into hiding, for fear that the Jewish and Roman leadership would now begin a purge of all who had been loyal to Jesus so that all hope of continuation of His ministry would be brought to a screaking halt!  But they would soon discover that while God’s plans may experience human opposition from time to time, they can never be destroyed, interrupted, or changed through the hostility of worldly desire!

 Read Luke 24:13-18

 The events of the past weekend were well known by all, including those who were visiting Jerusalem for Passover.  Passover had been that night in Egypt when the angel of death passed over the homes where the sacrificial lamb had given nourishment and his blood for the people’s salvation.  But Cleopas and his friend hadn’t made the connection between this holy celebration that all of Israel, even those who lived in other areas of the world, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice and rejoice over.  It had been over a thousand years since that night, and that same God was doing it again, but this time through the life and sacrifice of His own beloved Son.

 It would no longer be a matter of Israel’s having to do something to earn God’s mercy – it would now be available to all – both Israelite and Gentile– simply by faith in what the Son of God had accomplished on their behalf.  Eternal death would no longer be a final certainty for humanity - its power had been defeated, and life in Christ had become a Godly offering to all.

 Even when the Risen Christ joined the two men on their journey, their grief and lack of understanding kept them from recognizing their Living LORD.  And even worse, they were reluctant to even talk about Jesus with a stranger, until He asked them point blank - “What have you been talking about today?”  And even then, their reply seems to imply that they hoped that the stranger already knew the answer to His own question!  “Don’t you know?”

 Read Luke 24:19-24

 Jesus gives the men a chance to recount all that had happened, even though fear and sorrow blurred their faith to the point that the power of prophesy couldn’t revive the memory of all that God had told them.  Sorrow had replaced joy; fear had risen above hope; loss had taken a greater place in their hearts than even glory could.

 Even in their proclamation that they had hoped that Jesus was the Redeemer who Isaiah had spoken about (Isaiah 41:14), they still fell short of believing that it was true.  They had “hoped” it would be, so why didn’t they believe that He was?  These two had followed Jesus for some time – not as disciples, but certainly as His faithful servants!  Luke’s account of their conversation with Jesus was accurate and included every major issue that they had experienced over those past few days.

 But what was it that had marred their understanding of who this Man was?  What would it take for them to see the truth that was before them?  For Mary Magdalene it was the voice that spoke her name that triggered the truth for her.  For these two, they would also need something from Jesus that would open their eyes and hearts to the truth of their LORD.

 Now, while we all would hope that experiencing those things that Jesus had done – the healings, the teachings, the miracles, His life’s work that had amazed everyone – that they would have understood that everything they had seen those last few days was the evidence that they so desperately needed now.

 But then, what does anyone need to fully believe that Jesus is who He said He is?

 Read Luke 24:25-29

 The truth of God in Christ is that He will never leave us in our doubt if we have hope.  If it takes a word placed on our heart, He will.  If it takes a word spoken to answer a doubt, He will.  If it takes a touch of encouragement when we are lost in fear, He will.  If it takes a nudge by the Spirit to get us moving again in faith, He will.  Whatever we need to put us back on the track of God’s truth, and for the fire of hope to be rekindled in our soul, He will without hesitation.

 For these two, Jesus knew that the first thing that they needed was to be refreshed in all that scripture had foretold about the Gift He would be for them.  And so He did – not just a few of the passages, but “what was said throughout ALL of scripture”.  They needed to remember all that prophesy had proclaimed about Messiah, and that their LORD Jesus is that very One.

 What do each of us need to be stronger in our faith?  Have we shared that with God?  Have we opened our lives to the truth that Christ wishes to refill within us?  Or are we so immersed in our own preconceived and limited notions that His truth and word are no longer a priority for us? 

 Maybe we just have to extend a word of welcome to Him, and allow everything we have ever needed from God to inundate our entire being!

 Read Luke 24:30-35

 The guest has become the Host, and the scene is reminiscent of Revelation 3:20 – “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”  Table fellowship has always been an important part of the Christian life.  The breaking of bread somehow has a unifying effect on the lives of all who participate. 

 Cleopas and his friend had extended the hand of welcome by asking Jesus to spend the night and rest up for the coming day – they had answered the knock that the LORD had placed on the closed door of their lives!  Since they had asked Jesus to join them for the night, they should rightly have been the hosts of the dinner.  But Jesus, having been welcomed by them, was about to give them the very thing that would refresh and renew their lives.

 The thing that they needed in order to understand and believe was to be reminded of those words that Jesus spoke at the Passover dinner just a few days before – from Matthew 26:26, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”.  His body was with them, their eyes were opened, and faith was once again filling them with the depth of hope that they had always desired.  The truth of Christ was theirs once again!

 Because of the sorrow that had been burdening their hearts, the two men could only see with their eyes, and only remember with their mind.  But it was in the breaking of the bread that Jesus opened their eyes and put the hope of remembrance back in their hearts - right where hope always should be!  And once faithfulness was restored, He could leave them to live out the call that had been placed upon their lives.

 If you have been living in doubt, if you have been burdened by the cares of this world, if the things of earth are pressing you to put your entire focus on creation instead of the One who Created it all, invite Jesus to enter through the door that you have closed, but are now opening for Him.  And when we do, He will enter, and feast with you, and will be the power, the strength, and the hope that you have been seeking all of your life.

 This may very well be the time for the invitation that your faith so sorely needs!!

“Mary & the Gardener”

 Scripture:   John 20:11-18, John 4:4-10

 Today, we begin a post Easter series regarding the people who had firsthand experiences in meeting the Risen Christ.  Of course, 1 Corinthians 15:6 tells us that Jesus appeared to over 500 of the faithful in those days leading up to His ascension, but we only have a record of 4 – Mary Magdalene, Cleopas, The disciples in the Upper Room and later with Thomas, and finally the fishermen. 

 In our examination of the encounter, and the reactions that each of these had, we will also see how they set the stage for our meeting and discovery that Jesus is alive and living for, and in, all of us – and each and every one occurs right where they, and we, are at the moment when the new life of Jesus touched us.

 Our first encounter will be that of Mary’s, who discovered that Jesus was living for her right there in the garden of the tomb, a place that had always been seen as a place of death.

 Read John 20:11-15a

 First, a look at what each of the other gospels reported regarding this discovery

In Matthew 28:1-15, there were two Mary’s – Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary”.  An angel tells them of Jesus’ resurrection, and then instructs them to tell the disciples, but on the way, they actually meet Jesus, recognize Him, and stop to worship Him.

In Mark 16:1-8,  there were three women who discovered that the stone had been moved, but the rest of this passage is similar to Matthew’s.

In Luke 24:1-12, there were an undisclosed number of women who discovered the empty tomb, where 2 angels were waiting for them with a similar message and instruction that we read of in Mark’s account, and they did exactly what they were told to do. 

In John’s gospel, John 20:1-10, it is only Mary who finds the tomb empty, but the primary discussion would be focused on Peter and John’s discovery at the tomb.  Mary’s meeting with Jesus wasn’t mentioned until the later verses that we read today.

 The interesting point that each account emphasizes is that it is the women who discover the empty tomb, not the men, and that in two of the gospels, Jesus met either one, or all, of them.  Women in the gospels received Jesus’ presence,  blessings, and His healing, while culturally, they were generally considered to be a second class person, having little standing in the context of faith.  Jesus was changing all of that – but we don’t see the evidence in the text until in Galatians 3:28, where we read “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

 It is Mary who is the first to begin spreading the news that Jesus has cheated death, and has risen from the grave!  She would be seen as the first evangelist to proclaim that Jesus Lives, but the sorrow at her initial discovery (John 20:11) wouldn’t be relieved until she heard Jesus speak her name.

 Read John 20:15b-18

 Without knowing it, she had been acting within the will of God, even as her heart was breaking, but Jesus wasn’t about to let grief continue to rule her life – He speaks her name, and she knew immediately who this was.  His physical appearance had changed, the situation was unlike anything she had ever known before, but apparently, the voice and the inflection was perfectly familiar to her. 

 In John 10:1-21, Jesus describes Himself as “the Good Shepherd”, and in verse 3 of that passage, He says “ ³ … the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”  The Good Shepherd calls His own sheep by name (!), and in this instance, the name He calls is Mary.  “The sheep listen to His voice”, and this time, it is the voice of her Good Shepherd that she responds to!

 Has your Shepherd been calling your name. and what did you do about it?  Did you recognize the voice?  Did you follow in the way that He leads?  And just as Mary did, did you find overwhelming joy in hearing your “Rabboni” (a personal and affectionate form of the word for “teacher”) calling you to discover a new experience by following His lead?  And just as important, have you been sharing the good news that He has given with others who also need to know?

 Read John 4:4-10

 This is a portion of Jesus’ encounter with the unnamed Samaritan women at Jacob’s well.  She had become an outcast of sorts in her own community – she was shunned and spurned because of her personal lifestyle, and she had no friends to speak of - until Jesus came into her life, that is!  This would be, quite literally, one of those “sheep” moments the LORD mentions in John 10:16 – “¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” 

 Not only was she rejected by those living in her own community, but she had been rejected by every Jew she had ever encountered, until she met this most unusual Jewish Man.  And what does Jesus ask of the woman?  That she give Him a drink of cool water in the heat of that day, and that she come to know Him and His voice, just as Mary would one day very soon.

 If Jesus had followed the norm for that day, He would have taken a detour through Gentile territory, to avoid walking through Samaria altogether.  If Jesus had conformed to cultural normality, He would never have talked to the woman, or even asked her for a drink of water.  And if He had never struck up a conversation and relationship with her, neither she nor any of the people in her town would ever have received that new relationship with God through His Son Jesus.

 There isn’t any name on the face of the earth that Jesus isn’t prepared to call, but He can never call our name, nor can we ever  hear Him, if we don’t know and love Him.  The Samaritan woman came to know Him when He gave her a drink of His “Living Water”.  Mary, at first, thought that she had met the gardener who was responsible for the tombs in the garden.  She didn’t know his name, she didn’t have a relationship with him, and in speaking to him, there was no relief or reason for her LORD’s disappearance.  But when she heard her name being called, she knew immediately whose presence was surrounding her.

 I want to ask all of you to remember that moment when you gave your life to Jesus, and what He has given to you in return.  And if you have never taken the time to have that conversation with the LORD, this is the time to have it!  Personally, on the night when I confessed that I could no longer go on without Jesus guiding me, and that I needed to hear Him telling me what to do, the only thing I heard was “Trust Me.” – twice.  And in those words, and in that moment, I knew, without a doubt, that the LORD was speaking directly and personally to me.  Have I always been perfect in my trust of Him during the nearly 30 years since then?  No, but I believe that my faith in Him has, and He has always been perfectly present for me during that time. 

 In your moment when you truly and fully met the Risen Christ, what did He call you to do, and how has that been working out for the two of you?  For the Samaritan woman, she began sharing the truth of Jesus with the very neighbors who would never give her the time of day, let alone a word of support and encouragement.  For Mary, she began telling others that Jesus was alive almost immediately, and as far as we know, she never stopped.    I’ll admit that when He called me into ministries in nursing homes, and later in prisons, I wasn’t actually overjoyed at the prospect of going into those places, but each of them, in retrospect, brought me exceptional joy, and prepared me for pastoral ministry, which, when He confirmed this next step for me, it seemed strangely and perfectly reasonable.

 Where is Jesus calling you to go, and what is He asking you to do in His name?  Trust me, whatever it is, it will bring blessings and joy beyond anything you could ever imagine, and I strongly doubt that it will have anything to do with any of your own desires and plans. 

 Won’t you give Jesus a chance to richly bless you today?