Lectionary readings for this week are John 20:19-29. Below is an excerpt from that reading followed by my comments:
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
Thomas very clearly had doubts. Not surprising at all is it. When we are faced with the death of a loved one don’t we consider it a finality. That is it. Death is the end! So Thomas’s response to the other disciples was just what any of us might say or at least think when it comes to death and being faced with the possibility of the resurrection of someone whom we know to be dead. The difference between what we experience and what the disciples experienced was the Son of God was their loved one. The “Good News” of course is that the Son of God was resurrected to show us that there truly is life after death. We, according to Biblical teaching, are to experience two deaths. The first we are to die to our old flesh driven lives and be born anew into the kingdom of God, to a life led by the Holy Spirit where we grow spiritually. This new spiritual growth is to continue throughout our lives leading us into being the Christian witnesses that Jesus calls us to be. The second is when our physical bodies are unable to sustain life, for whatever reason this world brings to us, and we pass on into the new life that Jesus Christ experienced in His resurrection and ascension.
Jesus invited Thomas to reach out and touch Him physically. He did not physically touch Him but he believed. Jesus invites each of us to do the same, that is reach out to Him for our spiritual nourishment and our growth in our faith. Jesus tell Thomas that if we believe even though we do not see Him we will be blessed.
Reach out to Jesus. Grow in your faith. You will come to know Him and His presence. You will be blessed.
Pastor Randy
Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX 
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