Have you ever felt stuck in a moment? This Easter weekend Pastor Steve Andres shared a message about Thomas, one of Jesus’ followers. We have called him doubting Thomas for centuries, but is that really fair?
John 20:24-28
One of the twelve disciples, Thomas, was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
It isn’t until Thomas meets the risen Jesus that he can move on from the trauma and disillusionment of Friday’s crucifixion. Meeting the risen Christ means three important things to us:
1) Suffering can’t keep me stuck.
Jesus’ resurrected body still has scars. God doesn’t take away our suffering, he transforms it to work for his purposes and for our good.
2) Labels don’t have the last word.
For Thomas and all of us, Jesus’ resurrection means that we are no longer defined by OUR worst moments, but by HIS best moment.
3) Facts are facts, but they aren’t final.
The facts about me or my circumstances are true but aren’t the whole truth. When Thomas saw Jesus risen, he declared the truth about Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
Happy Easter! We have life because Jesus is alive!
