The Everyday Prayer

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.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day seven)

as the Father has sent Me, I also send you. vs 21

This is the Johannine great commission. Though Matthew’s account is the most recognized one, each Gospel has a moment towards the end of the book where Jesus commissions the disciples (and us as well) to Go and Tell. Here we find the disciples huddled together in fear behind a locked door. There is beauty in this picture though. As often as we critique these individuals for their fear, we lose sight that they were together. They knew they were Better Together. Jesus had commanded and prayed that this group would stand together and grow together. This objective had been completed. Now it was time to Go and Tell His story together. It was time to open the door and go do something.

As we move our rally cry from Better Together to Go and Tell, we can know that our strength is in our cohesion, we are stronger and Better Together. Imagine how strong we can be as we Go and Tell His story together. It is time for us to open the door and go do something.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day six)

“Peace be with you.”

This was a customary greeting, but these men heard it in a new way. Each of them had abandoned Jesus; they had fled for their lives, save, maybe John. Now, he was with them in the flesh. They were fearful of the authorities, but I imagine at that moment they were afraid of Jesus too. (In more ways than one.)

His greeting was intended to put them at ease, as if to say, “We are okay. I don’t hold anything against you.”

Up to that very moment, they must have carried so much guilt and sorrow, but with just one greeting, they were at peace. Can you imagine?

Is that not what Jesus says to us when we come to him in faith? “Peace, be with you.” Aren’t you grateful for peace?

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day five)  Make no mistake, the disciples were afraid. Not just scared, but terrified to the point of being paranoid and debilitated. Trapped behind locked doors (not only keeping Jewish leaders out, but keeping them shut in). Their minds were racing as to the potential dangers they could be facing. A perfect picture of what unhealthy fear does to the heart and soul.

Yet Jesus comes and places Himself in their “midst”. Not on the periphery but among them. What happened to them/in them is amazing. They were filled with joy. With the joy came courage and peace.  With the joy came hope and clarity. With the joy came mission and purpose.

It was a life changing moment brought about by joy. Was there still fear? I suppose. But their joy was greater, and that made all the difference. Oh Lord, fill us with joy.

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬

Joy is the serious business of heaven. – C. S. Lewis

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day four)

The breath of God is more powerful than we could ever imagine. In Genesis, man gets his very life from God’s breath. Psalm 33 proclaims that the breath of God created the heavenly host. Job tells us that the breath of the Almighty gives understanding. Here, Jesus simply breathes, and the disciples receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God himself, the third member of the Trinity, imparted through breath.

It’s by this Holy Spirit that we can participate in life with God. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to live in a new way. Right after he breathes the Spirit onto them, Jesus starts talking about forgiveness. Of all the ways that the Spirit changes our lives – Jesus chooses to talk about how the Spirit empowers us to forgive. Overcoming unforgiveness is one of the most powerful ways the Spirit acts in our lives. Are you having trouble forgiving someone who has wronged you? Take it to the Lord. When you walk with God, he has given you his Spirit through a simple breath. Through that Spirit, forgiveness is possible.