Thursday, May 01, 2014

Doubt and Confession

Doubt

Spoilers - Jesus didn’t stay dead.  On the evening of the first day of the week after His crucifixion and resurrection the LORD appeared to his disciples.  They were afraid and had locked the doors and windows but he was there in their midst in spite of their fear.  I should go without saying that they were amazed and astonished to see the man they had seen executed standing in their midst.

They should not have been so surprised Mary had told them earlier he was alive.  Peter and John had both run to the empty tomb.  Now here He was.  First he tells them to be at peace.  Then he shows them his wounds.  Overjoyed they see and touch realizing that something more wonderful than they could have imagined has happened.  Jesus is alive.

But one of them was missing.  We aren’t told why Thomas wasn’t there.  When he hears the news he is skeptical and doubtful.  Thomas also wants to see and touch the body of Jesus.  He is not going to simply take their word.  He needs the same experience they had.

A week later Thomas gets his chance.  Once again the disciples have locked themselves in and once again Jesus walks right in.  Thomas experiences the resurrected Jesus and is the only person in the Gospel of John to correctly identify him as“My Lord and my God!”

To Thomas Jesus is not simply a lord or a god.  Jesus is his lord and his God.  He over comes his uncertainty and doubt and believes!

We are challenged by this story to look closely at our doubts and seek truth to answer them.  We are to move past doubt to faith and belief.  Jesus tells them they are blessed because they see.  He also declares that we who did not see but believe are also blessed.

The power and truth of many stories from the Biblical narrative is not that they happened long ago and far away but that they are happening in our lives today.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

a Terrible or a Wonderful Choice

A Terrible or A Wonderful Choice

But with loud shouts the crowd insistently demanded that Jesus be crucified,
and their shouts prevailed.
So Pilate decided to grant their demand.
He released Barrabas who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder,
the one they asked for,
and surrendered Jesus to their will.
- Luke 23:23–25 (NIV)

The crowd choosing one of its own over Jesus seems like a one time event hundreds of years ago.  It feels like time, distance and culture removes us from that event.

It would seem that way but the truth is different.

This choice didn't just happen once it happens every day.  Every day we are confronted with the choice to blend into the crowd.  Every day we choose either to accept or reject the LORD Jesus Christ.

Take a good look around you and you will see people choosing.  When a spouse chooses to violate their marriage.  When a grown child chooses to neglect their parents.  When someone chooses to go along with a bully rather than stand with the weak.  When you choose to allow someone else’s poor life choices make you feel better.  It is in moments like these that we make the terrible choice of Barrabas and the crowd

One the other hand we see people making the wonderful choice too.  When we choose to stop and help a stranded motorist change a tire.  When we choose to comfort a friend who has just suffered a loss in their life.  When we choose to make a bold stand with the weak instead of fearfully following a bully.  When we choose to feel compassion, mercy and forgiveness towards the one who hurt us.  It is in moments like these that we make the wonderful choice of the LORD Jesus Christ.

The power and truth of many stories from the Biblical narrative is not that they happened long ago and far away but that they are happening in our lives today.


Are you going to make a terrible choice or a wonderful choice?