John 20-21

November 13

John 20-21

Have you ever just missed an amazing event? You show up and everyone tells you about what they saw moments before you arrived. Can you imagine Thomas’s disappointment? The other disciples are adamant that they had seen the risen Lord. For whatever reason, Thomas was not there. He could not believe, though he probably wanted to, that the Lord had actually shown himself to the other disciples. Thomas said he could not believe unless he saw the Lord himself. For an entire week, Thomas heard the other disciples talk about the appearance, but He doubted.

The following week Jesus walked into the room with locked doors again and addressed Thomas. He said; “Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas called Jesus; “my Lord and my God!” Thomas went from doubting the resurrection to recognizing Jesus as God through one encounter with the risen Lord. Jesus restored Thomas by addressing his doubts.

Another time, Jesus showed up while the disciples were fishing. When Peter realized it was Jesus, he jumped overboard and swam to get to the shore, and Jesus, quicker. During this encounter, Jesus restored Peter. Three times He asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter affirmed his love. While Jesus was being tried, Peter had denied even knowing Him three times. Jesus restored Peter and repeated the words He spoke when He first called Peter; “follow me.”

Jesus came not to condemn us, but to save us. He comes to each of us and offers restoration just as He offered restoration to Peter and Thomas. He gives us the opportunity to turn our doubt to faith, our rejection to acceptance. Just as John wrote; "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31, NIV) Jesus continues to work in our lives so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and through faith we will have eternal life.