Category: JOHN

Re:Verse passage – John 21:1-14 (day four)

What do you do after life is turned upside down? How do you go about the daily-ness of life when your whole world has changed? Maybe you’ve experienced this before. Whether the change was good or bad, you go through life in a fog for a little while, and it’s difficult to return to normal routines.

The disciples have had a life changing experience across just a few days. Their Lord was put to death, and most of them fled for their lives. Then, all of a sudden, they hear the news that he might be back – Jesus might be alive. He appears to them not once, but twice, giving them proof that he indeed died and rose again. How do you move on after that? What does life look like?

Well, in chapter 21 we find them fishing. Life may be turned upside down, but you still need to eat. I imagine they were in a sort of fog on the boat, mindlessly casting their nets unsuccessfully. Then, Jesus appears. He provides a miracle, and light cuts through the fog. As soon as Peter realizes this, he dives straight into the water, wasting no time getting to his Lord. The same man who deserted Jesus is now running to him with reckless abandon. The Light has made things clear.

When life is foggy – run to Jesus with all your strength. He’s already there, cutting through the fog.

Re:Verse passage – John 21:1-14 (day three)

“None of the disciples ventured to question him, ‘Who are You?’ knowing that it was the Lord.”

Several passages in the gospels’ post-resurrection accounts deal with the question of recognition: Who is this person? Luke says the travelers on the road “were kept from recognizing him.” (Some say recognition was divinely prevented, but their experience was that dead people stayed dead.) Mary thought he was the gardener. And here, it took the disciples some time before it began to dawn on them that this was their Lord. In each of these passages, Jesus encounters them with measured demeanor, never breathlessly declaring his identity and pressing them to recognize him. This is the way friendship proceeds. When Lord and disciple love each other, the disciple will know, even if it takes some time. Jesus was patient with them, as he is with you.

Re:Verse passage – John 21:1-14 (day two) This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. Vs. 14

I love this story. It is so earthy and full of imagery. The disciples fishing, up all night. Jesus at the shore with a fire ready for breakfast fish…which is still weird to me. What struck me as I re-read the passage this morning was that we don’t ever hear how these encounters end. This is the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples, and you might think that once he appeared that would cling to him and not let him out of their sight. Clearly, that is not what happened. We have studied three distinct appearances of the savior, and at some point he goes away, and for several days at a time. It isn’t too much to read into this narrative that Jesus was preparing them, yet again, for a time when he would not be physically with them. He is sort of weaning them from their dependency on his human form. As he would ultimately ascend with the promise of the arrival of the Holy Spirit, he was preparing them for their next assignment. In our own walk there may be good things to which we cling too tightly. If our call is to go and tell, are we letting other church routines get in the way. Jesus knew his disciples needed to be coaxed forward. He knows you too.

 

Re:Verse passage – John 20:24-29 (day seven)

There are plenty of Thomases walking around these days. They appear as skeptics who claim to follow logic and applaud themselves for being openminded. More and more, there seems to be an increase in these types of skeptics. Bolstered by the internet and waves of “research,” they dissuade themselves from believing what they ultimately know to be true.

Yet, is it so bad to be a Thomas? For it is Thomas who makes the first claim of deity in Jesus post-resurrection in his statement in verse 28, “My Lord and my God!” It is also Thomas who convinced the other disciples in 11:16 to follow Jesus to His death. Thomas had deep conviction. Thomas was loyal. Thomas went on to do great things for Jesus.

It is the Thomases even our world today who will do great things for Jesus. Once a skeptic converts to Christianity, they are fully invested and ready to defend their faith. Just imagine if someone had given up on C.S. Lewis because he was a skeptic. Let us be the ones to reveal the Risen Lord to the doubting Thomases in our midst.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:24-29 (day five) “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.” Thomas “was not with them”(physically, emotionally, spiritually). Grief had flooded his heart and mind. He was devastated at the loss of his Rabbi. He had chosen to be alone. Yet the other disciples don’t leave him to be alone. They go and find him. Spend enough time with him to talk and share what they have experienced. They listen to his skepticism. They invite and welcome him back into their community (gathering). All the while, just saying what they have seen and experienced. Not arguing. Not condemning. And after eight days, he comes back. Maybe it was their joy. Maybe it was their consistent testimony. Maybe it was their kindness. Maybe it was their determination to not let him drift away from the faith. Maybe it was simply their concern for him. Maybe some of “all of the above”. May we love and encourage others like this. Concern. Testimony. Inviting. Listening. Know anyone who is lost or struggling with their faith? Let’s be intentional to love like these disciples.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:24-29 (day four)

This story has earned Thomas the nickname “doubting Thomas” for quite some time. It is often said with the intention of being a tad derogatory toward him. And yes, Thomas expresses doubt that Jesus is alive. But look at what Jesus does in response! He comes back, walks through another locked door, and ministers to Thomas, giving him exactly what he needs. He doesn’t chastise him or belittle him. He knows Thomas’ heart, and he comes back for him.

Jesus is the good shepherd. When one of his sheep is missing, too grief stricken to know what to do, he comes back for that sheep, and gives it exactly what it needs. Jesus doesn’t despise our feelings of doubt, and I don’t think he would have called Thomas by his unfortunate nickname. Rather, he draws near to us in our doubt, and just like with Thomas, he gives us the gift of his presence.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:24-29 (day three)

“Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

It’s not hard to read Jesus’s words as, “Those who will believe without physically having seen me occupy a place of greater favor than those who have seen me with their eyes.” But Jesus pronounces a blessing on generations of people yet to be born without taking anything away from Thomas’s experience. Thomas was a man grappling with a sense of grief and loss. His initial disbelief might well have served as a buffer against further suffering – his way of saying, “I can’t let myself long for something like that to be true, lest I become even more bitterly grieved when it turns out to have been wishful thinking.” What Jesus does do here is announce to future disciples that he longs for them as deeply as he does these eleven dear friends.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:24-29 (day two)  Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Vs. 28

We know what Thomas said when the other disciples told of their experience with the risen Jesus. He talked a big game. “Not until I actually put my finger in his side will I believe.” Then came his opportunity, and Jesus gives him permission to touch the wounds. It is interesting to me, that scripture does not record Thomas actually following through. Jesus’ nearness, his presence, his voice, and the sight of his resurrected body were more than sufficient. Thomas’ response was perfect. He acknowledged Jesus as his Lord. Jesus goes on to speak of us who would not have that opportunity that Thomas had. People today will speak of needing to witness a miracle before they believe. Are they that different than Thomas? What is needed is to experience the nearness of the Holy Spirit and to know his presence, which is a miracle in itself. It would be wise for us to not put conditions upon our meeting or following Jesus. We should seek to be near him, and acknowledge our savior.