Touch.

"So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger into his side, I will not believe it.'" - John 20:25

Sometimes I think Thomas gets a bad rap too.

I mean, you've just seen the most brutal beat-down and death in history and now these fanciful stories about an empty tomb, hollow grave clothes and a risen, walking, talking Jesus start making their way back to you.  Sorry...but I can see Thomas needing a second to process that.

When I take a good hard look at myself...I think I'd doubt a little bit too.

It was too much to come back from.  Too big a defeat.  Too much blood.  Death came down too hard.

I'm not sure how these words were communicated but I have a feeling they were rooted in feelings of tremendous grief and love.   

The verses go on to say that it was a week later that Jesus showed up and beckoned Thomas to touch the wounds.  

A week.

I wonder what went on in Thomas' head during those next seven days.  

Grieving mingled with questions.  Emptiness dancing with possibility.  And questions.  Lots and lots of questions.

And then, Jesus shows up, looks Thomas in the eye and says, "Go ahead and touch...stop doubting and believe."  

How many times do we have to see God's hand moving in our world before we stop doubting?  How many times do we have to touch before we believe.  Doubt can be healthy if it forces us to ask questions of God that only he can answer.  But doubt can also be a constant wind spinning wildly and going nowhere if we never move off of it and make a decision.

So many people - myself included - have failed to make decision about following Jesus because they allowed doubt to control them.  They allowed doubt to keep them in the same eddy - spinning around and around.  And it's fascinating how we're cool with that spinning.  Life ends up never being lived because we're constantly waiting to be sure before we move on it.

I can think of several people who, even after seeing and touching Jesus, would still doubt.  We can always find a reason to explain away even what we see right in front of us.  So Thomas still took a leap of faith by finally believing.  A smaller leap, but a leap nonetheless.

It's time.  All of us have, in some area of our lives, come to the edge of a cliff.  It's time to stop doubting God's truth, largeness, sovereignty, grace, whatever...and start believing.  

We've asked our questions.  We've gotten answers.  

It's time to jump.

Father, give us grace to question the things we're unsure of, the wisdom to seek answers from you, and the courage to believe what you say.    

  

Comments

[Luke]

Two times in John 20 Jesus appears to the disciples who are gathered in a locked and secure place. It says that he entered through the locked doors. First of all, that's pretty awesome. Second, how many times are we trying to lock the world out, hide from something, protect ourselves out of fear.....and yet, Jesus is with us. No locked doors can keep him away. He joined them and he meets us wherever we are.

Thank you Lord for walking right through the many locked doors and rooms that we put up or use to shut things out. Thank you for meeting us here.

LL

[JLH]

Mike, let me remind you that you push people like us to the place where we ask questions and you are right there next to us cheering us on saying "yes! you can believe the answers He gives!" This is what I aspire to be for others...this is my mission--to get them to ask the hard questions and to help them understand that they really can believe the answers they get!
What a wild ride!
Jesus is the ultimate thrill seeker.