How Does Jesus Relate to Different People in Different Ways?

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 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 where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A 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!” 27 Then 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.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

In John 20 we see several resurrection appearances of Jesus to different disciples.  What is amazing is that Jesus has a slightly different approach to each person he meets. To Mary who is confused and thinking he is the gardener, he looks at her and calls her by her name, "Mary".  At this point Mary realizes it is her Lord.  

Other disciples were locked behind closed doors in fear of the Jews.  When Jesus greeted and addressed them he said, "Peace be with you!" He also showed them his hands and side as further physical proof it was him.  They were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

In the story above we see how Jesus handles Thomas, who will forever be known as "doubting Thomas".  Thomas doubts the other disciples' report and tells them he will not believe unless he is given first hand evidence (no pun intended!).  In this case, he wants to literally put his fingers in the wounds in Jesus' hands, and his hands in Jesus' side.  This is a pretty big "ask" and a little bit creepy.  But Jesus is more than happy to meet Thomas's demands. If this is what it will take to bring Thomas over the line to faith in Him, he is more than willing to oblige.

Jesus ends by saying, "You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those who believe without seeing."  Guess what? Jesus is talking about us.  We who have believed without literally seeing him.  But I think the point is Jesus was willing to meet people where they were at and address them based on their need for evidence that He was resurrected from the dead.  

As we seek to share Christ with those in the world, differnt people will have different needs in order to believe in Him.  Some want just the facts.  We call this "apologetics", where we give people a plausible explanation for the truth of Christianity.  This is usually centered around the historical nature of the resurrection.  Others are more interested in the relational Jesus.  The Jesus that knows them, is there for them, and wants to be a friend.  The Jesus that loves them so much that He even died for them on the cross.  Others just want to see the practical side of Jesus.  Why difference does being a Christian make? Do Christians actually do things to change the world they live in.  They want to see the concrete evidence of Christians who live out their faith in the world.  

So as seek to make disciples of all nations let's remember to use Jesus' strategy of meeting people where they are at.  Get to know them before you assume you know what they need to come to faith.  Find out where Jesus might connect to their heartfelt need for meaning and purpose in life.  Let's use Jesus' method, after all it worked pretty well.