Greetings Dear Reader,
We need to recall that Sunday was not a weekend day for the
Apostles. Sunday in this era is the day
after the Sabbath. It is the day when
one may tend to work that needs completion or continuation.
The women leave the Apostles to tend to the body of
Jesus. Again, it is noteworthy that the
Apostles did not join them. It is
another missed opportunity. It is arguable
that they do not know yet that Judas is dead.
For some reason, Thomas leaves.
It may have been simple provisioning or seeking solace somewhere
else. He may have wished to visit the
busy market since Jerusalem is populated with Passover vendors. What we do know is that when Mary returns to
let the Apostles know that Jesus is risen.
He is not there. Only John runs
to the tomb. Then Jesus appears to them
all. Thomas is absent.
I picture him returning with the groceries. His friends excitedly tell him that Jesus is
risen and has come to them. The ten men
he has been with for the last three years assure him that Jesus is alive. He has been a part of healing the sick,
producing food from nothing, and yes, raising the dead.
Still, he says the thing by which he will be remembered for
all of time. “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.” (NIV)
It is a further progression from yesterday’s collective lack of faith
and hope among the Apostles. He has
declared that he must see to believe.
His faith is gone. Ten men he
knows and the women there are telling him that they have seen Jesus. Even that is not enough.
Jesus chooses to answer his doubts directly. He will lose the opportunity to have
faith. He must live with the conflict an
entire week. The others all
believe. They are not changed as they will
be at Pentecost. They have, however,
recovered their faith and hope. Thomas
is still filled with unbelief and hopelessness.
Then Jesus acts. John
20: 26 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!” 27 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.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and
my God!” 29 Then
Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed
are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Thomas seems to be the first person to hear of the
resurrection and doubt it. The line
behind him stretches across the centuries from him until now. Many doubt the resurrection and refuse to
see who Jesus is. I am not here to convince
you. Rather, I am here to testify to the
belief I carry. Jesus is risen. He lives.
I believe. We can discuss it if
you wish but I will not argue with you about it.
What we learn from the Apostles is that faith is better than
seeing. When faith feels thin is when we
must cling to it. When things are bleak
is when we must hope. Now, Dear Reader,
the sun is about to rise and I need to go sit on the veranda and worship the
one I have not seen and is risen indeed.
You are welcome to join me.
Better
Days – Goo Goo Dolls
And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And designer love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
So, take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight's the night the world begins again
I need someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And that’s faith and trust and peace while we're alive
And the one poor child who saved this world
And there's 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them
So, take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight's the night the world begins again
I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
So, take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight's the night the world begins again
Cause tonight's the night the world begins again
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every
writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a
homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Every human story is part of the great story that leads
to the Father getting everything back to Good.
Contacts for Aramis
Thorn:
#aramisthorn
Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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