Doubting Thomas

 

Something to Ponder on the Lord’s Day!          

New Testament reading: John 20:19-31

 John 20:19-31       Anselm of Canterbury had a little Latin expression, "Credo ut Intelligam," which means "I believe so that I may understand." Anselm's expression is an ideal place to begin our reflection on Jesus' first three resurrection appearances in the Gospel of John. Jesus appears the third time in response to Thomas' request, providing him precisely what he asked for after the other disciples informed him that they had seen the risen Savior. I suggest Jesus' first and second appearances to Mary at the tomb, and the ten disciples behind the locked door provided them with exactly what they needed to believe.

"Thomas did not believe the disciples, just as the other disciples had not believed Mary Magdalene (v. 18). In response to the disciples' claim, Thomas said, "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" (v. 25b). History has criticized Thomas for not believing the other disciples, but I think Thomas has been treated unfairly throughout the ages. Like so many scripture stories, his story shines a light on our faith struggles, a light that guides us to some sense of clarity to strengthen our faith. 

Thomas stops doubting and believes when he sees Jesus in the flesh. Jesus, however, does not offer praise for his newfound faith. Instead, He asks the disciples gathered in the room a faith question. "Have you," He says, "believed because you have seen me?" (v. 29a). The implied answer to Jesus' question is 'Yes.' Thomas and the others believe because they see Jesus. Their belief is commendable but not as praiseworthy as those "who have not seen and yet have come to believe" (v. 29b). According to Jesus, these are the ones truly "blessed." 

Following these appearances, the gospel of John states its chief purpose for sharing these accounts in verses 31. 

"…these [reports] 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" (v.31). 

Something to Ponder on the Lord's Day!

 

Something to Ponder on the Lord’s Day!          

New Testament reading: Luke 24:1-12 - The resurrection revelation

There are similarities in the resurrection stories, but the accounts also vary in detail. In Luke, the women are silent. They simply reach the tomb and discover that the stone has been rolled away (v. 2). Matthew resembles Luke in that the women are silent, but Matthew's narrative reads as if the stone is moved after the women arrive (Matthew 28:1-2). Mark is the only Synoptic to report that the women were talking on their way to Jesus' grave, asking, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" (Mark 16:3).

Some disbelieve scripture because of these subtle anomalies. Still, they actually strengthen the overall credibility of their unified claim, the resurrection revelation, namely that Jesus has been raised from the dead. Even now, whenever the testimony of witnesses agrees in every detail, law enforcement agents and officers of the court tend to suspect a conspiracy and thus doubt whatever claim is being made — whether accompanied with solicited or unsolicited oaths. Consequently, it's sensible to underscore these discrepancies rather than harmonize them due to some ill-advised devotion to perfect agreement between the gospel accounts.

Several years before I answered the call to ministry, I sat with a father as he watched his daughter resting in a hospital bed. Out of grief, he picked up a copy of a Gideon Bible and read where it opened, Matthew's reading of Jesus' crucifixion. After a couple of minutes, he stopped, turned to me, and said, "this Bible isn't right; this is not how the story goes. The thieves don't both insult Jesus; this is a bad translation.” He gave me the Bible to see it, and I turned to Luke's version of the story and showed him the version he remembered.

The difference in the reading does not weaken the unified claim. The resurrection stories may vary in detail, but the revelation that Jesus is alive is evident in each account.

Something to Ponder on the Lord's Day!

Jesus: fully God and fully man

 New Testament reading: Luke 19:28-40

   Today is Palm Sunday when we reflect on Jesus' ride through the crowd into Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover and the days leading to his death. Jesus' arrival was filled with excitement and praise from the crowd. However, the crowd's temperament will change over the next few days. A crowd will gather in just a few days and call for Jesus' execution.

   Reverend Dr. Tony Campolo, the former spiritual advisor to President Bill Clinton, once said, "Jesus really did abandon power when he lived among us. He wasn't simply holding back and pretending to possess our physical limitations; He truly was one of us." 

   Many Christians, however, react negatively to this fact and seek to suppress Jesus' humanity. "They want to think of Jesus as a God who disguised himself as an ordinary man but, at will, could step into a phone booth, rip off his robes, and show us who he really was, a first-century Superman." 

   Palm Sunday is a time to remember Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, humbling himself by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey not to overtake the city but that through Christ, by the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit, the city, and the world, might be saved.

   Something to ponder on the Lord's day!

Different approaches to Discipleship

 New Testament reading: John 12:1-8

This text highlights two characters with utterly different approaches to discipleship. One person is lavish with her gifts; the other is parsimonious and critical. One expresses her devotion openly and earnestly; the other is guarded and treacherous. One loves; the other betrays. This interaction happens in the disciples' presence, most of whom had themselves done something rather lavish: they'd given up their livelihoods to follow Jesus of Nazareth. They'd also been with Jesus when the widow put her last penny in the offering plate. Jesus praises the widow and defends Mary's gifts. Both gifts are valued differently in the world, yet highly valued by Jesus. 

Judas asks Jesus, Mary, and the disciples, "Why this waste?" He suggested the perfume could have been sold, and the money could have been given to the poor. The author of the Gospel, who knows the rest of the story, inserts this sensible objection upon the lips of "the one who was about to betray him" and notes that his true motivation was the theft of the money. The widow and Mary acted in devotion and love. In contrast, Judas' heart and motivation were different. 

In their own way, Mary and the widow lived a life of lavish discipleship by surrendering completely to God. What we have, our careers and our ability to earn a living are from God. Can there be anything more lavish than offering our lives entirely to God?

Something to Ponder on the Lord's Day!