Day 8
Thomas missed church the first time. For whatever reason, he left the upper room where the disciples were gathered on that first Easter, and while he was gone, Jesus had visited them. In the flesh, back from the dead. But Thomas had been out walking, or moping, or mourning or--something. And when he returned, he thought they were, perhaps, teasing him. "Risen from the dead? Are you kidding? Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and the gash in his side from the spear, I will not believe." And so he didn't. For a whole long week, Thomas refused to believe.
It wasn't until a week later—the next Sunday—that Jesus showed himself to Thomas. A whole week. Can you imagine how long that week was? When we read about it in the Gospel of John, it's just a jump from one verse to the next. But in Thomas' life, it was day after lonely day, waiting. You know how long a week can be. Can you imagine what it must have been like for Thomas, waiting and seeing the joy the other disciples had because they had seen the Lord?
Why didn't Jesus show himself again to Thomas that first Easter evening? Why make him wait a whole week? Were there other things Jesus had to do? John doesn't tell us about any extra visits to anyone Jesus makes, though some of the appearances from the other Gospels could be fit into this timeline, but still—you mean to tell me Jesus couldn't fit in a 5-minute appearance to Thomas somewhere in that week? Thomas was one of the twelve, one of the faithful. He had been with Jesus for so long. Some of the others (like those folks walking to Emmaus) hadn't shown the long-term devotion Thomas had.
And yet, Jesus made Thomas wait. Some will say it was some sort of punishment for Thomas' doubt, but I don't think that's it. Some (okay, me) say it's because Jesus wanted to show what happens when you miss church. Others might say it was to heighten his anticipation for seeing Jesus, and perhaps that's partly it. I wonder if Jesus allowed the week to pass because he wanted Thomas to know just what doubt felt like. And a week later, Thomas realizes that the joy of believing overwhelms the despair of doubt.
Even though Jesus calls Thomas to stop doubting and believe, he doesn't condemn Thomas. In fact, he gives Thomas the opportunity to do just what he asks: to touch the wounds of Jesus (though John doesn't say that Thomas does). All, it seems, Thomas needed was a glimpse of Jesus to believe. Doubt, he finds out, is not the enemy of belief and it's not the opposite of belief. (The opposite of belief is unbelief, refusal to believe.) Doubt is a piece of the puzzle on the way to real faith. In fact, had Thomas not continued to believe in some fashion even while he doubted, he wouldn't have been in the upper room on that "week after Easter" day. Why hang out with Jesus followers if you didn't believe anymore?
Can you imagine what "Day 8" felt like to Thomas? Can you imagine what he woke up with on his mind and heart that Monday morning? "Jesus is alive—he really is! I've got to go tell someone!" The man forever known as a doubter had crossed the line. He had seen and believed—though, as Jesus himself says, even more blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Those were the folks Thomas had to go and tell.
And his story continues to tell us, in all the Day 8's of our lives, of the risen Jesus. He is alive! He is risen! Still!
It wasn't until a week later—the next Sunday—that Jesus showed himself to Thomas. A whole week. Can you imagine how long that week was? When we read about it in the Gospel of John, it's just a jump from one verse to the next. But in Thomas' life, it was day after lonely day, waiting. You know how long a week can be. Can you imagine what it must have been like for Thomas, waiting and seeing the joy the other disciples had because they had seen the Lord?
Why didn't Jesus show himself again to Thomas that first Easter evening? Why make him wait a whole week? Were there other things Jesus had to do? John doesn't tell us about any extra visits to anyone Jesus makes, though some of the appearances from the other Gospels could be fit into this timeline, but still—you mean to tell me Jesus couldn't fit in a 5-minute appearance to Thomas somewhere in that week? Thomas was one of the twelve, one of the faithful. He had been with Jesus for so long. Some of the others (like those folks walking to Emmaus) hadn't shown the long-term devotion Thomas had.
And yet, Jesus made Thomas wait. Some will say it was some sort of punishment for Thomas' doubt, but I don't think that's it. Some (okay, me) say it's because Jesus wanted to show what happens when you miss church. Others might say it was to heighten his anticipation for seeing Jesus, and perhaps that's partly it. I wonder if Jesus allowed the week to pass because he wanted Thomas to know just what doubt felt like. And a week later, Thomas realizes that the joy of believing overwhelms the despair of doubt.
Even though Jesus calls Thomas to stop doubting and believe, he doesn't condemn Thomas. In fact, he gives Thomas the opportunity to do just what he asks: to touch the wounds of Jesus (though John doesn't say that Thomas does). All, it seems, Thomas needed was a glimpse of Jesus to believe. Doubt, he finds out, is not the enemy of belief and it's not the opposite of belief. (The opposite of belief is unbelief, refusal to believe.) Doubt is a piece of the puzzle on the way to real faith. In fact, had Thomas not continued to believe in some fashion even while he doubted, he wouldn't have been in the upper room on that "week after Easter" day. Why hang out with Jesus followers if you didn't believe anymore?
Can you imagine what "Day 8" felt like to Thomas? Can you imagine what he woke up with on his mind and heart that Monday morning? "Jesus is alive—he really is! I've got to go tell someone!" The man forever known as a doubter had crossed the line. He had seen and believed—though, as Jesus himself says, even more blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Those were the folks Thomas had to go and tell.
And his story continues to tell us, in all the Day 8's of our lives, of the risen Jesus. He is alive! He is risen! Still!
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