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." Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. "Peace be with you," He said. Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed.
This is an amazing story Jesus tells us about here. I used to think it was all about the doubt part, but I think this story is another picture of how we are to position ourselves as followers of Jesus. We have been discussing Hospitality and how it is a lifestyle and not a meal. It is an attitude not and action. This portion today I want to take the approache that it is how you position yourself with those you come in contact with. I believe the attitude of hospitality towards the Holy Spirit and towards the world should be one of curiosity and a desire to know.
The culture we live among and with does no longer connect to some story or idea about what God has done or a story of who God is... they want to experience it. They want to feel it, they want to see it, they want it to be tangible. This is what this story is all about with Thomas.
It wasn't that he didn't distrust the other disciples and waht they saw or experienced, but he was tired of the stories about what Jesus hs done for others and he wanted to experience it for himself. This is a beautiful description of our culture today. They have heard the stories of Noah, or Jonah, and Gideon and David, and they have heard about this Jesus and yet they are unbelieving... why? Simple, because they have not experienced the cross and what it stands for and represents. Most non Christians experience distnace and judgment for not believing the stories we Christians tell. They feel likethey have to join some club and say they believe something they don't in order to belong and this is not what Jesus desires. Jesus wants us - "THE CHURCH" to position ourselves in such a way that non Christians can experience the grace and forgiveness and freedom and acceptance that the cross represents.
How do we do this? Let's look at this story of Thomas. Thomas hears the story and does not believe yet he is invited into the inner room, the locked room, the safe place where the other believers are. In this place Jesus shows up and allows Thomas to literally experience the cross. He has the chance to touch, and feel, and see the wounds that Jesus endured specifically for him. We as "THE CHURCH" must beginto position ourselves in close proximity with those who don't believe the way we believe so that in the living we can help them experience the grace and forgiveness the cross represents. In order for us to do this effectively we must create a peaceful enviornment for them that is not judgmental. When Jesus showed up in the locked room the disciples were in there in fear and very anxious about what was next. Many non Christians feel this way when they are put in a circle of Christians and we must not only position ourselves in close proximity, but we must do it in such a way that they feel at ease or at peace. Then as you live alongside them in proximity where peace exists, they then have the opportunity to experience the cross in it most tangible form. Through this you and them both get to experience the Holy Spirit working in your hearts.
Through positioning ourselves correctly I believe we will see more and more people experience the Jesus the way He designed it and we will see more and more people speaking the words Thomas spoke.... "My Lord and My God!"
Go out today and begin positioning yourself correctly in this world.
