2:118 – …And You Noticed Him

#faithbites #faithjourney noticed

Yesterday we talked about how when the darkness rolls in when you don’t know how you are going to survive, and the decked is stacked against you, Jesus shows up. Now we take it one step further, did you notice him when he showed up? Did you believe that he showed up?

Going back to our movie analogy yesterday, in many hero stories, the townspeople don’t believe in the hero or are afraid of them because they don’t look like them and don’t like them. How could their hero be someone so different from what they were expecting?

Jesus is that type of hero. He wasn’t a hero on a magnificent stead with an army and armor but rode in on a Donkey. He didn’t raise up an army to conquer the Jews or sit on a throne but died on a tree, poor and broken.

This led many to wonder if he was their hero. Some believed without seeing, others needed sight to believe.

Scripture

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 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.” 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!” 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.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – John 20:24-29

Reflection

The story of Doubting Thomas is familiar to many Christians. The disciple who didn’t see Jesus appear to the others and who didn’t believe them. He went as far as saying he wouldn’t believe unless he “thrust” his finger through the holes in Jesus’ hands and “thrust” his hand into the wound in his side.

Now Jesus obliged him with that. He appeared and gave him his hands and his side to touch. Thomas then believed that his hero had returned.

We don’t have the option of thrusting our fingers into his hands or his side. We weren’t present during his ministry or his Crucifixion. But as Jesus tells Thomas, “you have seen me and believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed”. Jesus is talking to us.

We are blessed by the belief that our hero is alive. That he is with us every day, and helping us in all of the opportunities, challenges, and obstacles. That we are blessed that we know His word is true and that he has conquered the grave. No other hero in life has done that. We don’t need to be afraid.

Charge

Are you like Thomas and need proof to believe Christ is risen? If you are, then look around at all the God Moments in your life and notice how God is working in the world around you. If Jesus hasn’t risen, how would these happen? Take time to reflect on your risen Lord and see the proof is all around you.

Are you like others who believed without seeing? Then be steadfast in your faith, then notice and share God’s miracles worked through you.

Prayer

Almighty Lord, thank you for showing us that you are a true hero. That even if we have never seen you in the flesh or in your risen form, that we know you are our Messiah. That no matter what happens, you will be there to fight with us. Lord, give us strength in those days when doubting seems easy when the ways of the world are the strongest. Help us to remember that we are never alone and our Lord has blessed us always.