Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:36:-43; John 20:26-29 (day five)
Thomas was missing (at Jesus’ appearance to the disciples). John points this out in 20:24. Do you wonder why? Was the grief and sense of loss and defeat more than he could bear? Perhaps. Was he scared and in hiding? Maybe, but my opinion is NO. Remember in John 11, Thomas was willing (leading the charge) to go back to Judea and die with Jesus. I think it was more of the former. Often times our reaction to grief, pain, trauma, or distress is to withdraw. Be alone. Circle the wagons, so to speak. In Thomas’ case it was counterproductive.
It can also be said that “Thomas missed out.” He missed seeing Jesus. Maybe a couple of possible applications: 1) When we are with other believers we often sense the strength and encouragement of Christ in and through them. DON’T MISS OUT. 2) When there are folks missing (maybe for the reasons listed previously), our joyful task is to reach out and bring/welcome them back into our groups and gatherings. We get to extend and express the love and strength of Christ (isn’t that cool). (See Hebrews 10:24-25) Will you be in your place with your group, class, body? Will you reach out and draw others back, to see and experience Christ at work through your group, class, or body?
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