On the Way to Wonder

John 21: 3

“Let’s go fishing,” was Peter’s strategy for waiting for Jesus to appear again.  He and six others spent the night fishing.  Many times we slog along in life doing what we know how to do until our next “insight” comes.  The disciples were used to being with Jesus, following him around, helping him with his ministry, soaking in his presence.  But Easter meant Jesus was alive but they did not seem to have his everyday presence.  Something had changed.  Reality had changed in more than one way.  Jesus was resurrected and so his presence had changed.  But the disciples had changed too.  The story we ponder this week speaks to those times when we are in the midst of reorientation to a new norm.  The disciples went back to fishing, something they knew how to do, but… “but that night they caught nothing.”

     John does not write cause-and-effect into these first three verses.  He does not insinuate that the disciples were running away or being lazy, but what he does do is set the scene that replicates a similar encounter with Jesus when the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing.  We the reader see the similarity.  Have you had one of those times when you felt like, “been there and done that” … and it still doesn’t work!  After a second disastrous engagement, I had to start asking myself what I was doing wrong that I came up with same heartbreak.  My failure led me to reflect and evaluate how I was facing into the future.  “ Einstein once said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”

         So reflect, where have you come up empty handed recently?  Perhaps it was not that you did anything wrong but that God is seeking to interact with you.  Where might God’s hand be in the situation?  Is there something that needs to be tweaked?  A good prayer is to ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes, open your ears, and open your heart to see Jesus acting in your situation that is challenging you.  Blessings as you look for Him.

John 21:1-3

After the high of any exciting event comes the low of reality.  A proposal comes but then you have to choose china.  He thought I’d like big red flowers like my mother’s but I wanted small, delicate blue flowers!  Easter was a day full of intense spiritual experiences.  The tomb was empty, women encountered Jesus, two on the road to Emmaus walked and talked with him, and then he appears in the room where they huddled in fear behind locked doors trying to figure themselves out.  That was a lot for them to take in.  A spiritual experience, as wonderful as it may have been, then has to be incorporated into everyday life.  Jesus is alive and people have experienced that reality but now what?  The followers were told to return to Galilee and wait.  Ordinary days follow special days.

         “’I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’”  Seven disciples led by Peter decide to go fishing.  That is logical as they had been fishermen.  We all have activities that help us unwind and help us wait while dinner cooks, till the kids come home, till the disease runs its course, till peace is achieved.  We wait for others to do their thing and for events to unfold.  It is easy to fill a void with noise, with activity or with anything that preoccupies our minds from events.

         So what do you like to do?  Watch TV, knit, cook, shop, fish, walk, hunt, chat on the phone?  None of these are bad.  I suppose the question is whether the activity is helping us to detox, to unwind, to think or is it just filling time?  One of the complaints about quiet times and prayers is that it is hard to stay focused because our minds wander to things that need to be done or to rehashing experiences we are dealing with.  One device to help focus is a labyrinth.  Tracing a finger through the maze seems to help focus the mind.  Another trick is to keep a pad of paper and write down distracting thoughts so they can be dealt with later.  Sometimes as we do something we love to do like fishing, our mind is freed up to ponder our situation.  I don’t know what helps you but making space for the Holy Spirit to speak into your life, is always good.  Blessings as you go to your favorite unwind place or activity!

John 20:26

“Peace be with you.”

When Jesus appeared to his followers that first Easter evening and then the following Sunday again, the first thing he said was, “Peace be with you.”  That phrase has kept coming back to me this week as I have faced various challenges.  As I listen to the news, I certainly don’t hear words of  peace.  A friend had a long operation for a large heart aneurism near an aorta.  I was anxious so I can only imagine how her husband felt having lost his first wife to illness.  The author of this hymn wrote it after the death of his four children in a ship catastrophe crossing the Atlantic.  The mother lived.  The next born son died of scarlet fever!  The man who wrote the music for the hymn went on a train ride with his wife.  A bridge collapsed and he crawled back to die with his wife trapped in the wreckage.  So much tragedy.  And we have not mentioned Ukraine!  What is this “peace” that Jesus breathed on his followers?

         Peace cannot be the absence of conflict or tragedy or sorrow!  Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”  If I had to rewrite Jesus’ words into words that would comfort me, I would write, “It’s OK.  I’m right here with you.  Take my hand.  I’m with you and you don’t need to be afraid!”  It’s OK, I’m with you.  He doesn’t erase me by doing for me but he honors me by walking with me.  What words would you like Jesus to say to you today?  Blessings.  It’s OK!

John 20: 28-29

²⁸ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 

²⁹ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

Judas doubted, betrayed Jesus and committed suicide.  Thomas doubted, demanded proof, touched and felt, and bowed in faith.  Faith is a journey.  Some paint that journey as an in-out decision made in a spiritual moment.  You believe or you don’t.  For many, though, it is a process.  Are we moving towards God, asking our questions as we seek a relationship to which we bow and build a life around?  The question is whether we are moving toward God, seeking him, or running from him, denying the truth of Jesus’ identity.  Another way I’ve heard it explained is faith by “management” or “mystery.”  Management keeps track of our sins and the facts of Jesus where as mystery enjoys an unfolding journey of a deepening relationship that gets “sweet.”  Each person in that room at Easter had to deal with fear, with doubt and with the realities of life on the other side of the locked door.

     We all have a locked door to keep our fears out.  Some of us will see Jesus clearly and be blessed.  Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”  Some of us will have visions, speak in tongues and touch the divine but many days we plod along clinging to our faith, believing because we know he is real in the midst of the chaos of the world.  May we not be guilty of doubting in the night what was revealed in the day!

         Let us use our devotional time this morning to thank God for the ways he has blessed our lives and shown himself real.  Focus on the words, “Lord” and “God.”  What does that mean to you?  Thank you Lord for appearing and inviting me to touch and feel as you speak into my reality, today!

John 20:26-27

²⁶ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them.

Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said,

‘Peace be with you.’ 

²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands.

Reach out your hand and put it in my side.

Do not doubt but believe.’

Wish granted!  Thomas has waited.  Thomas has witnessed the risen Christ.  A week later, still behind locked doors, the followers gather but this time Thomas is present.  Jesus came.  This time Thomas is the focus.  Very much like the first visit, Jesus first tells everyone to calm down.  He breathes peace.  For Thomas that means that all the doubt and regret, all the rebellion against his friends and saying he would not believe “until,” disappears. Perhaps it was like that breathing exercise to deal with stress. We are told  to sit in a chair, hands on knees, relax and… “breath out” whatever stresses and “breath in” peace, or love, or calm.  It is scientifically shown that doing this breathing exercise is good for our health.  Jesus first has his followers relax.

         Again they are told to touch and feel.  As we relax we can more accurately enter the experience that has us stressed out.  Touch and feel is like focusing on the details.  But interestingly Jesus continues on to say, “do not doubt but believe.”  Jesus juxtaposes doubt with belief or faith.  So my question today is to ponder what Jesus wanted Thomas and us to believe.  What doubts are we to release to Jesus and what are we called to believe about our challenges today?

      Most obviously I am called to believe that Jesus is alive and working in the circumstances that confront me.  I may not be in Ukraine, in the hospital, at the bank but I believe Jesus is.  In the midst of whatever trauma is facing me, Jesus is alive and actually present whether I see him or not.  I do not see that Thomas was commanded to believe that Jesus would eliminate the challenge, the potential danger, or the implications for the future.

         As we sit this morning let us practice our breathing.  Breath out the concerns of your heart and breathe in…Thank you Lord, for your presence.  Thank you Lord, for your love.  Thank you Lord, that you are working for good for me and my loved ones.  I believe, help my unbelief!  Blessings.

John 20: 26

December was a rough time for our family years ago.  Our second son was born Dec. 12.  Christmas was Dec. 25.  Our twins were born January 1.  A week was a long time to wait for a birthday…and who’s birthday?  And we tried to treat each twin as an individual.  Sigh.  Apostle Thomas was not with his friends on Easter evening when Jesus appeared as they huddled behind locked doors in fear.  For one week Thomas has felt on the outside of an experience that his good friends had.  I’m sure he wondered if he would meet Jesus and “how much longer” must he wait.

         Waiting is hard.  Thomas did not know for sure he would meet Jesus alive but he must have wanted to.  As much as we hope to meet that baby when it is born, we know there is always the possibility of drama.  We have dreams about what marriage will mean but we don’t know because we have never been there.  So how do we wait for Christmas, for birthdays, for holidays, for bonus checks, for the end of the war, for the mail to come, for the death of a loved one, for…..fill in the blank.  How do you wait?  What fills your mind and your thoughts.  Waiting is hard.

         I do not know what Thomas did while he was waiting but we do know a whole week went by.  A week can feel like eternity.  I’m sure he too wanted to see Jesus alive.  But, he had to wait for God’s time. 

         While waiting, some of us spin stories about the excitement of an encounter.  Some of us try to ignore the anxiety in the pit of our stomach. We eat.  We shop.  We do crafts.  Others cook to prepare for a celebration.  Keeping a positive attitude is important.  Prayer focuses our thoughts on God as our good shepherd who is working for good and who knows the right time and context for our dream to unfold.  Prayer  turns anxiety over to God. That is helpful.  Scripture memorization helps me.  Music that focuses me on God lifts my spirits.  Think of ways you help your soul when you must wait.  We all wait to meet Jesus.   Blessings as you wait on the issues in front of you.

John 20: 25

²⁵ So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’

But he said to them,

‘Unless

I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side,

I will not believe.’

Yesterday we pondered how Thomas must have felt as the only missing apostle when Jesus visited the others huddled behind locked doors, in fear.  Thomas was absent for an unknown reason.  The others told him they had seen the risen Jesus.  Jesus is alive!  Thomas refuses to believe, “unless…”  But in fact, none of the apostles had believed that the tomb was empty nor that Jesus was living when the women reported that first Easter morning.  There seems to be a plague of doubt but then many of us still doubt today.  Many are willing to be healed, willing to go to heaven, willing to call Jesus a great prophet, willing to share a portion of their profits with the church, but often there is still an “unless…” in our commitment to our faith.  We are not that different from Thomas.

            Often Jesus’ words of wisdom are so counter intuitive.  Forgive our enemies.  Surely Jesus does not understand the insult or humiliation we experienced at the other’s hands … or mouth.  Stop gossip and sharing info about another.  Sharing so easily slips into gossip because we convince ourselves our motives are pure.  Slander is what the news does or how the other side spreads misinformation, not what I say.  A subtle “unless” slips into our thinking and like Thomas a wall goes up between us and God.

            Thomas has become known as “doubting Thomas” because he wanted to be able to touch and feel the risen Christ.  He is open and honest about the questions swirling in his soul.  As we spend a few minutes today quietly pondering our faith and how the Easter story impacts our lives, may we be still and let the Holy Spirit reveal to us if there is some way we too are saying “unless” in our faith journey. Jesus spoke into those honest doubts. Pretty special.   Blessings as you pray.

John 20:24

Remember that commercial, “Sorry Charlie, only the best for Star-Kist Tuna!”  Many of us can identify with that feeling of not being quite good enough, not the best.  We have scars from not having a date for the prom, being that nerd that was chosen last for the baseball team, or not chosen for the drill team in high school.  Being on the outside of the inside group is an isolating, lonely, very vulnerable place to be.  Thomas was one of the original 12 disciples or apostles but he was not with the others that first Easter night.  Perhaps grief kept him away or perhaps the weight of his failure at deserting Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane or maybe he chose to go home.  Perhaps he didn’t get the memo.  For whatever reason Thomas was not present that first Easter night when Jesus appeared.

         I find it very touching that John cared enough about this moment to report that Jesus noticed and sought out absent Thomas.  Jesus could have depended on the others to tell Thomas the good news but he didn’t.  Jesus returns a week later when the followers are gathered again.  Thomas is present.  Thomas’ absence was important – to Jesus.  Often we convince ourselves that it doesn’t matter if we miss church or a meeting.  Nobody will notice and possibly nobody will care.  Perhaps, but your presence and your faith is important to Jesus and important enough for him to seek you out.

         We talk about the church as the body of Christ and a body without a hand or an organ or any part is just not whole.  Each person is important and contributes something to the whole.  “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts!” is a quote attributed to Aristotle and used in modern Gestalt Psychology.  I think we see the dynamic as the small countries of Europe plus, support Ukraine.  A group has more “voice” than an individual.  The followers sought out Thomas and told him their experience because Thomas was an important part to them.  Thomas did not believe but he was informed and was there the second Sunday.  AND Jesus sought him out! 

         You are important and have a gift to contribute.  Jesus knows when you’re absent.  Let’s show up so we can be part of a team, a team that will go on to change the course of history.  Blessings as you play your part.

We have been pondering for three weeks the stories that came out of that first Easter Sunday.  Mrs. Civilla Martin wrote this favorite Gospel song after visiting a bed ridden friend.  Mrs. Martin asked how her friend could be so joyful in her seemingly horrible situation.  The woman quoted Matthew 10:29-31,

²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

 ³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

 ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Those people who visited an empty tomb, who huddled behind locked doors terrified, and who were confused by all the swirling rumors, were transformed by meeting the risen Christ.  The number of changed lives has  grown through the centuries.  Tomorrow our texts will focus not on sparrows but on sheep and Jesus being our Good Shepherd.  Ethel Waters sings this song that is so beloved by many.  Perhaps jot down reasons you experience happiness and freedom today and ways you have experienced God’s eye on you recently.  Blessings as God brings those scenes to mind.

Luke 24: 45-48

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 

⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written:

The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 

⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins

will be preached in his name to all nations, 

beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴

⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

For Luke, Easter ends with this statement by Jesus.  Scriptures and prophecy have been fulfilled.  The script that was written over centuries has now been produced and played.  Before the final curtain call, the only thing left to do is to be witnesses to the truth to tell others.

     So let us reflect as we close Easter evening what kind of witnesses we are. Are we a “silent partner?”  We believe but we wouldn’t want to sound judgmental.  Perhaps our friendship needs to be dusted off and some WD40 or rust remover needs to be applied.  We might speak in hushed tones.  In so many ways we fail the “witness test.”  Perhaps no one has asked us the right question – testimony by omission.  I hope we are not “fair weather friends!”

         I note Jesus did not ask his followers to memorize the whole of Scripture. Many were just ordinary people.  He did not ask them to speak of things they did not experience.  He merely asked them and us to be honest about our experience of him.  We are not judges trying a case.  We are not responsible to convert.  The Holy Spirit speaks to the heart.  We are asked to witness.    We know him through Scripture, through his presence in our life, through our awareness that we are forgiven and how he has ministered to us when we suffer.  Let us be faithful witnesses to whomever God brings into our lives today.  I believe words are necessary.