This first comment is more about yesterday's readings, but it's a bit applicable to today's too.
I've always felt so depressed for Jesus' followers who had to experience that delay between the crucifixion and the resurrection. We know about the resurrection, but hindsight's always 20/20 and they didn't have that benefit.
However, really they did.
Jesus spoke about his death and resurrection numerous times - and very plainly at that!
The first time....
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:21
The second time...
When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. Matthew 17:22-23
The third time...
Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Matthew 20:17-19
You can hardly get more specific than that - especially the last one. He predicted it exactly!
1) The chief priests and teachers of the law would condemn him to death.
2) They would hand him over to the Gentiles.
3) They would mock him.
4) They would flog him.
5) They would crucify him.
6) On the third day he would be raised to life.
The problem isn't that they didn't know.
The problem is that they didn't believe. Not even after predictions 1 through 5 came true.
How like the disciples are we?
When hard times come, we despair. We forget God's promises. We act like He never made them in the first place. But He did!
We need to study God's Word so that we know His promises. We need to believe His promises. And then we need to cling to them for all we're worth.
And if we do that, the circumstances won't change. But the way we navigate through them surely will!!
On a different subject entirely.....
I've always seen Doubting Thomas in a negative light, but I'm realizing that's wrong.
My Life Application Bible says....
Jesus wasn't hard on Thomas for his doubts. Despite his skepticism, Thomas was still loyal to the believers and to Jesus himself. Some people need to doubt before they believe. If doubt leads to questions, questions lead to answers, and the answers are accepted, then doubt has done good work. It is when doubt becomes stubbornness and stubbornness becomes a prideful lifestyle that doubt harms faith. When you doubt, don't stop there. Let your doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer. (emphasis mine)
I've always thought less of Thomas for doubting when the others believed. When reading closer, however, it appears that the other disciples also only believed when they saw Jesus themselves, but that Thomas wasn't with them at that time. (Luke 20:19-30) So, first of all, he wasn't the only doubter!
And secondly, everyone doubts at some point. It's what we do with those doubts that count.
Especially as teenagers, it is very normal to question your faith. To decide if you believe because you believe, not because your parents believe. In fact, without this period of questioning, I think faith remains very superficial.
We need to make sure our children feel safe to question in the pursuit of Truth, and help them on their spiritual journey. I loved Lee Strobel's books The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator - and he has the same books for kids as well. I'm looking forward to going through these with our kids as they get older.
It's also where we look for answers that is important. Searching the Word, praying, reading commentaries/books from respected, reputable Christian leaders are all beneficial.
Of course, being human, we will never understand everything. There will never be an explanation for everything, at least not that we are capable of understanding. And that is when faith comes in. Some things we do have to accept by faith - but questioning and pursuing is not wrong, and can, in fact, result in a strengthened faith.
Tomorrow's passage: Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1-2
2 comments:
Good points, all, Tammy!! I've noticed before too ~ and it caught my eye again this time ~ that it was really only after Jesus physically appeared again that they began to understand. I wonder if it wasn't until the Holy Spirit came on them at Pentecost that they really fully understood the significance of what had happened. Yes, they believed Jesus had risen from the dead and amazing miracles had happened surrounding His death, but did they get it that He had just paid for all their sins? I wonder if that realization maybe still didn't really hit them until later.
I like this take on Thomas, too. I, myself, have always been a bit critical of him, but that doubt can lead us on two completely opposite paths, one good, one bad, is an eye-opening observation.
Great thoughts, Tammy. I don't remember when or where, but somewhere I've heard before that it isn't wrong to question, as long as questioning leads you to find the answers. The true answers to our questions will lead us closer and make our faith stronger.
Post a Comment