Post by Admin on Mar 14, 2019 7:23:52 GMT
Tonight, we learned that the stereotyped “doubting Thomas” has been a little unfairly maligned; the reactions of the disciples, including Thomas, encountering Jesus after His resurrection were logical and rational responses to an experience outside even their imagination.
First, we briefly chatted about our own levels of skepticism. Are we very trusting, or are we more likely to be suspicious? Fairly quickly we came to agreement that we are more willing to trust those we know, and often we are interested in getting facts to validate situations. That was a hand-off to reading the scripture for tonight, in which Jesus miraculously appears to eleven of the disciples and gives them gifts, tasks, and authorities. Before He does that, as we noted, He shows His hands and side to the gathered group of disciples. When Thomas rejoins the group later, he wants to see the same verification, or facts, that the other disciples had seen – the wounds in the hands and side of Jesus. We enjoyed a lively discussion about the impressions and thoughts of the eleven who saw Jesus first. Were they intimidated and fearful of death when (in verse 21) Jesus told them he was sending them to do like His Father had sent Him – or excited to have a purpose again as a group, or still confused? In verse 22, Jesus breathes on them with the Holy Spirit, which seems to obviate the need for them to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which launched their ministry work. We considered whether the Holy Spirit from that point permanently resided in them or provided short term comfort.
Thomas’ unwillingness to accept the truth from the other disciples has to be considered in the context of the circumstances. The disciples are coming to terms with Jesus’ death and resurrection and aligning their understanding with the seemingly impossible testimony of their eyes. Without knowing it at the moment, they are involved in a test: can they convince another person of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus based on their teaching and eyewitness testimony alone? The eleven do not succeed in persuading Thomas. However, neither does Thomas throw up his hands and bail on the group. A week goes by, in which discussion and perhaps influencing went on, and then Jesus appeared again, immediately fulfilling Thomas’ prayer to touch the wounds. At which point, Jesus reminds the disciples of the work ahead – to make believers from those who are not eyewitnesses to the resurrection – and the work for us, to believe even though we have not seen Jesus in the flesh.
The dangling questions for us to consider in the days ahead is: on what evidence do we base our belief in Jesus’ resurrection?
First, we briefly chatted about our own levels of skepticism. Are we very trusting, or are we more likely to be suspicious? Fairly quickly we came to agreement that we are more willing to trust those we know, and often we are interested in getting facts to validate situations. That was a hand-off to reading the scripture for tonight, in which Jesus miraculously appears to eleven of the disciples and gives them gifts, tasks, and authorities. Before He does that, as we noted, He shows His hands and side to the gathered group of disciples. When Thomas rejoins the group later, he wants to see the same verification, or facts, that the other disciples had seen – the wounds in the hands and side of Jesus. We enjoyed a lively discussion about the impressions and thoughts of the eleven who saw Jesus first. Were they intimidated and fearful of death when (in verse 21) Jesus told them he was sending them to do like His Father had sent Him – or excited to have a purpose again as a group, or still confused? In verse 22, Jesus breathes on them with the Holy Spirit, which seems to obviate the need for them to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which launched their ministry work. We considered whether the Holy Spirit from that point permanently resided in them or provided short term comfort.
Thomas’ unwillingness to accept the truth from the other disciples has to be considered in the context of the circumstances. The disciples are coming to terms with Jesus’ death and resurrection and aligning their understanding with the seemingly impossible testimony of their eyes. Without knowing it at the moment, they are involved in a test: can they convince another person of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus based on their teaching and eyewitness testimony alone? The eleven do not succeed in persuading Thomas. However, neither does Thomas throw up his hands and bail on the group. A week goes by, in which discussion and perhaps influencing went on, and then Jesus appeared again, immediately fulfilling Thomas’ prayer to touch the wounds. At which point, Jesus reminds the disciples of the work ahead – to make believers from those who are not eyewitnesses to the resurrection – and the work for us, to believe even though we have not seen Jesus in the flesh.
The dangling questions for us to consider in the days ahead is: on what evidence do we base our belief in Jesus’ resurrection?