John 20:24-29
But Thomas, sometimes called the
Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other
disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
But he said, “Unless I
see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and
stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
Eight days later,
his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them.
Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace
to you.”
Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your
finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side.
Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
Jesus
said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even
better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
In a recent television interview,
Arkansas Razorbacks head football coach, Bret Bielema, shared the story
of his 27-year-old sister Betsy’s death in 1990. Betsy Bielema was in
Seattle, Washington, working with underprivileged children. She broke
her neck when she landed on her head after a horse she was riding
encountered a snake and threw her. Bret Bielema was understandably
devastated by this shocking loss. But he shared that after her passing,
his pastor asked him, “What is something you will always remember about
Betsy?” Bielema noted that his sister LOVED donuts.
The pastor
told Bret Bielema that from now on, whenever he sees donuts, he should
stop and tell SOMEONE about his sister…that this will keep her memory
alive. Bielema asked the reporter [paraphrased]…”Do you know how many
airports I’m in and how many Cinnabon® shops I pass?” He added that he
always stops and tells someone about Betsy - sometimes even complete
strangers! But Bielema admitted that talking about his sister and
remembering keeps her “alive” in his heart and memories.
Even our
little children understand that when someone dies, we cannot see them
any longer – but they are still “with us.” Just yesterday,
four-year-old Nathan was telling me (more to reassure himself) that “God
is in our hearts…just like Granny. Granny died, but she is still in
our hearts!” And he is so right. We talk about my mother, look at
pictures, and carry on some of her “traditions” in an effort to keep her
memory strong - and recognize her “presence.”
Quite often, my
mother hosted a birthday dinner for my niece, Jasmine. She did this as
recently as last year. So this year…Greg and I hosted the dinner. A
cousin applauded our efforts to “keep the family strong” and noted
that…”It would be way easier to let it all go.” I thought about Coach
Bielema…how busy he is and how it must be incredibly inconvenient at
times to stop in an airport - or wherever he happens to encounter donuts
– and tell someone about his sister.
But what if we just let go
of these people? More importantly, what if we just “let Jesus go?”
What if we didn’t carry on His work and “believe without seeing?” I
still remember the first time I heard this scripture passage taught and
realized that people who have never “seen” Jesus (like you and I) – yet
believe in Him with our whole hearts – are extra precious to God. It’s
easy to love someone, talk about them, and share in their experiences
when they are physically with us. But to keep them “alive” after they have passed takes effort…faith…hope…strength…and perseverance.
So
this is our mission for today…to “Keep Jesus Alive!” We must go the
extra mile to do His work and share His message with others. We must be
willing to “stop people in an airport” and tell them about this amazing
Prince of Peace that none of us can physically “see”…but Who is
completely present with us at all times - in ways great and small. We
must honor the importance that God has given to each of us in His
Kingdom. We must trust in an unseen Savior…and “make Him real” to
others.
It would be way easier to let it all go…but then
we would be left with absolutely nothing. And I want no part of a life
without Jesus…what about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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