Good afternoon sisters and brothers,
We sometimes think of "Doubting" Thomas unfavorably. Jesus does offer a gentle rebuke, but also gives Thomas what he needs. I'm sure many of us wish we could have seen what Thomas saw. Sometimes it's very hard to believe the stories of the Bible. Faith and doubt aren't opposites. Our doubts can actually lead us deeper in faith, if we keep seeking the truth. At the same time, sometimes our doubts do get in the way of our faith, if they stop us from moving forward until we know everything. We're always going to have questions and doubts, but as long as we're open, God can speak through doubts and questions too.
God bless,
Sam
John 20:26-31
26A 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.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Showing posts with label Thomas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thomas. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Thomas and the gang
Good evening friends,
I hope your Easter was joyful; with beautiful worship in three different sites, mine certainly was. Today's story takes us a little further in the story of the risen Jesus. Jesus appears to his disciples and they aren't quite sure what to do. He gives them a mission and the power to do it. We continue that mission today, with the faith and questions of Thomas and the others.
God bless,
Sam
John 20:19-25
19When 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.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.”
I hope your Easter was joyful; with beautiful worship in three different sites, mine certainly was. Today's story takes us a little further in the story of the risen Jesus. Jesus appears to his disciples and they aren't quite sure what to do. He gives them a mission and the power to do it. We continue that mission today, with the faith and questions of Thomas and the others.
God bless,
Sam
John 20:19-25
19When 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.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.”
Friday, April 20, 2012
doubting Thomas
Good morning sisters and brothers,
Today's reading comes from John's account of Jesus' resurrection. In John, Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene and then, in today's passage, to the 11 apostles. This is the story of "doubting" Thomas, a character many of us might identify with. Doubt is a part of faith, but trusting Jesus goes deeper than our doubts. Don't let your doubts make you feel like you're not a disciple, because discipleship is about the journey. At the same time, doubts that keep us from moving forward do hinder our development as people and as believers. When doubt leads to exploration and growth, it's a huge blessing. Take your doubts to God in prayer and study; you may be surprised what you learn.
God bless,
Sam
Today's reading comes from John's account of Jesus' resurrection. In John, Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene and then, in today's passage, to the 11 apostles. This is the story of "doubting" Thomas, a character many of us might identify with. Doubt is a part of faith, but trusting Jesus goes deeper than our doubts. Don't let your doubts make you feel like you're not a disciple, because discipleship is about the journey. At the same time, doubts that keep us from moving forward do hinder our development as people and as believers. When doubt leads to exploration and growth, it's a huge blessing. Take your doubts to God in prayer and study; you may be surprised what you learn.
God bless,
Sam
John 20:19-31
19When 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.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.”
26A 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.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
trusting the risen Christ
Good morning brothers and sisters,
Today's reading is a favorite of mine because doubt and questioning have always been important parts of my faith. Thomas wants to see Jesus with his own eyes. Ultimately, seeing Christ in scripture and alive in the lives of brothers and sisters has helped me trust him more in my own life. I don't get to put my finger in his wounds, but I do get to see his healing presence in someone recovering from addiction. I get to see his transformative spirit at work in the lives of children with loving teachers. I have not seen Christ in the flesh, but I have found blessing as I have grown in faith.
God bless,
Sam
John 20:19-31
19When 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.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.”
26A 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.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Today's reading is a favorite of mine because doubt and questioning have always been important parts of my faith. Thomas wants to see Jesus with his own eyes. Ultimately, seeing Christ in scripture and alive in the lives of brothers and sisters has helped me trust him more in my own life. I don't get to put my finger in his wounds, but I do get to see his healing presence in someone recovering from addiction. I get to see his transformative spirit at work in the lives of children with loving teachers. I have not seen Christ in the flesh, but I have found blessing as I have grown in faith.
God bless,
Sam
John 20:19-31
19When 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.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.”
26A 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.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
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