Stand Alone

In this episode, Chris Lawrence delivers our reflection.

 

A week after Easter, we see Doubting Thomas standing alone, out of sync with the rest of his friends, unable to bring himself to believe, unable to match the energy of their ecstatic belief.

 

Yet, we see that he was not ostracized.

 

Thomas wasn’t left behind to figure things out for himself. Instead, Jesus shows up on his behalf, embraces the humility of God and presents his body, the very proof Thomas had asked for

 

Thomas shows us that in these Easter and post resurrection stories, it’s not always easy to JUST BELIEVE.

 

With Easter a week behind us, it’s quite possible that there’s been enough trouble in the world and maybe enough stress and struggle in our own lives, that the good news of Easter begins to fade.

 

Perhaps for us the dazzling shaft of light illuminating the empty tomb has quickly lost its mystery and now all we’re left with is a dark cave. 

 

Whatever our post-Easter headspace might be, we see that Thomas, full of doubt, was not sacrificed for the majority as if he was expendable. He’s an integral part of the post-Easter story and his position deserves to be considered.

 

And so, we read his statement, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” - John 20:25 

 

And, we find that his challenge was met.

 

The resurrected Jesus showed up on Thomas’ behalf as the physical embodiment of new creation, even as he bore the marks and scars of the old world; remnants of a struggle not to be glossed over. In Jesus, God is “caught up in the struggle” and his wounds speak to anyone and everyone who has ever endured suffering. 

 

And yet, Jesus is not only God’s commitment to physical reality, but also God’s commitment to time. As Jesus presents his scarred body to Thomas, he not only embodies the humility of God, he also embodies the patience of God.

 

It is a beautiful thing that Christians can be people of a particular patience. In a world which often seems to only know violence and retaliatory response, the Christian can pause, and this is a rare gift in the sort of world in which we inhabit.

 

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