Daily Bread John 20
Daily Bread John 20
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So 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 where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Observation:
Chapter 20 is filled with Jesus’ post resurrection appearances. Each of the disciples needed varying amounts of evidence to believe. Some, like John, only needed the empty tomb to come to believe. Mary thought someone had stolen Jesus, and then has a conversation with someone she believes to be the gardener, who ends up being Jesus. When Jesus calls her name called, she recognizes her Lord and her God. We will see next chapter the process in which Peter is reinstated after his threefold denial.
Finally, we see Thomas who won’t believe unless he touches the scars in his hands, and puts his hands in his side. Jesus realizes he needs to not just hear or see him, but touch him! The one key denominator is that Jesus is not against giving them plenty of evidence to His friends for them to realize He is Risen. He didn’t say, “See I told you I would rise after three days, why do you need any further explanation?” Jesus meets each disciple where they are and leads them to saving faith in Him. Jesus claimed to be the Way, the Truth and the Life, and now He has proven to those closest to Him.
Application:
If Jesus was so willing to give the first disciples so much proof based on each person’s needs, there is no reason to think he wouldn’t do the same today. Jesus is not aloof, mysterious and hard to find. He comes right out in public and makes himself known physically, spiritually and emotionally. This is important because it proves the bodily resurrection, not just a spiritual resurrection.
Jesus did everything possible in His earthly ministry to make everything known about His Father to everyone who was willing to examine the evidence. Although ultimately we must walk by faith and not sight, we have good reasons to believe. The only mistake we can make is not examining the evidence at all.
What do you need to see/touch/feel to believe that Jesus is who He said He was? Come to the empty tomb and discover that He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed. As we come to saving faith in Him, the power of the Risen Jesus will live in us until one day though we die, yet shall we live.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for revealing yourself to us in so many ways. As we seek you we will truly find you. You are not far from any of us. Continue to show us Your glory, the glory You had with Your Father before the world began. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So 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 where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Observation:
Chapter 20 is filled with Jesus’ post resurrection appearances. Each of the disciples needed varying amounts of evidence to believe. Some, like John, only needed the empty tomb to come to believe. Mary thought someone had stolen Jesus, and then has a conversation with someone she believes to be the gardener, who ends up being Jesus. When Jesus calls her name called, she recognizes her Lord and her God. We will see next chapter the process in which Peter is reinstated after his threefold denial.
Finally, we see Thomas who won’t believe unless he touches the scars in his hands, and puts his hands in his side. Jesus realizes he needs to not just hear or see him, but touch him! The one key denominator is that Jesus is not against giving them plenty of evidence to His friends for them to realize He is Risen. He didn’t say, “See I told you I would rise after three days, why do you need any further explanation?” Jesus meets each disciple where they are and leads them to saving faith in Him. Jesus claimed to be the Way, the Truth and the Life, and now He has proven to those closest to Him.
Application:
If Jesus was so willing to give the first disciples so much proof based on each person’s needs, there is no reason to think he wouldn’t do the same today. Jesus is not aloof, mysterious and hard to find. He comes right out in public and makes himself known physically, spiritually and emotionally. This is important because it proves the bodily resurrection, not just a spiritual resurrection.
Jesus did everything possible in His earthly ministry to make everything known about His Father to everyone who was willing to examine the evidence. Although ultimately we must walk by faith and not sight, we have good reasons to believe. The only mistake we can make is not examining the evidence at all.
What do you need to see/touch/feel to believe that Jesus is who He said He was? Come to the empty tomb and discover that He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed. As we come to saving faith in Him, the power of the Risen Jesus will live in us until one day though we die, yet shall we live.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for revealing yourself to us in so many ways. As we seek you we will truly find you. You are not far from any of us. Continue to show us Your glory, the glory You had with Your Father before the world began. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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