John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Oh Friends, it’s Easter Tuesday; that means goat races and plenty partying down by Buccoo Reef in sweet Tobago! At least that’s how it used to be in my time. And I can only chuckle at my last visit to that august occasion…the little I can remember. Anyway, here’s a poem from a Realtor’s newsletter. I read it because he adds all sorts of interesting stuff. Of the four pages only the last one has anything to do with real estate. The others talk about things like avoiding Blackberry thumb; stepping back from conflict; exercising your brain; sharing too much info on the numerous types of media now available, plus this poem, ‘The Legend of the Dogwood,’ whose author is unknown. It’s beautiful and quite appropriate for the season. ‘In Jesus’ time, the dogwood grew, To a stately size and a lovely hue. ‘Twas strong and firm its branches interwoven, For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen. Seeing the distress at this use of its wood, Christ made a promise which still holds good: "Never again shall the dogwood grow, Large enough to be used so. Slender and twisted it shall be, With blossoms like the cross for all to see. As blood stains the petals marked in brown. The blossom’s center wears a thorny crown. All who see it will remember me, Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree. Cherished and protected, this tree shall be, A reminder to all of My agony." Wow! It sure is touching eh Friends? Now I need to take a break here to find a suitable Bit. (smile) Not my fault. That’s just how the Spirit leads me at times. Okay Friends, about ten minutes later, I’ve been led to this one. It deals with the lack of faith of one disciple, Thomas, whom we know as Doubting Thomas. And we also know that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden, early on the resurrection morning, then later that same day, He hooked up with two believers on their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus, and playing foolish to catch wise, He picked their brains to find out what was happening amongst His followers. When they intimated that there was dissension and disbelief in the camp, Jesus blasted them: ‘O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.’ (Luke 24:25-27) But they never clued in from His chiding and invited Him to stay with them when they came to Emmaus. ‘And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.’ (Luke 24:30-31) Such was their consternation that they went right back to Jerusalem where the other believers were gathered behind locked doors, still fearful, and shared their story. And while all of this was going on, who appeared, as usual with perfect timing? None but our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, uttering those famous words: ‘Peace be unto you.’ (John 20:19) However, fortunately or not, ‘Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.’ (John 20:24) And when the others told him what had happened, he refused to believe. ‘Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ (John 20:25) Ah mih people, after being with Jesus for so long, poor Thomas still couldn’t comprehend what it was all about. But we can’t blame him too much, for surely that was all part of the Lord’s master plan to prove something. Just like Judas betrayed Jesus, another of His followers refused to believe. And since there’s always method to the Lord’s madness, it’s no surprise what took place eight days later. This time, all the disciples, including Thomas were together behind closed doors and Jesus appeared. Obviously no one had told Him of Thomas’ disbelief, so isn’t it remarkable that after His usual greeting, ‘Peace be unto you,’ He immediately confronts Thomas. ‘Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.’ Oh Friends, are we like Thomas? Do we need to see and touch everything before we believe? Aren’t there any people in our lives whom we trust enough to believe whatever they tell us? Or are we like those disciples, as Mark claims: ‘Afterwards he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided (rebuked) them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.’ (Mark 16:14) Several people had seen and spoken to the risen Christ, yet many still believed not. Now none of the gospels say whether Thomas actually reached out and checked Jesus for the wound prints, but he then proclaimed to Him; ‘My Lord and my God.’ (John 20:28) Oh mih people, if we always have to see and feel before we believe, then we’re in for a real rough ride as followers of Jesus, for He deals exclusively in hope, faith, trust and total surrender of our lives to Him and His ideals. Here’s His reply to Thomas. ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ (John 20:29) Friends, Jesus is talking about people like us, who never saw Him risen, yet still believe. That’s the kind of followers He’s seeking, and the kind I’m asking us to be, who don’t need to see or touch everything to believe. I know we’ve been taught seeing is believing and touching is the naked truth, but that’s only for worldly matters. But where the spiritual business of Jesus is concerned, we need to see and believe through the eyes of faith. That’s what Christianity is all about: faith, hope, trust and total surrender to a God we can’t see with the naked eye, but whom we can certainly feel in our hearts and souls. As Bruh Paul so eloquently puts it: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) We have to believe what we hope for before we actually see it. And so it is my people with things like forgiveness, grace, mercy, salvation and eternal life. If we don’t first believe them, then we’ll never see or experience them. That faith is the power of our Lord Jesus Christ coming to the fore in our lives, making us exceptional believers and steadfast followers. Oh Friends, I can’t ever say often enough how important unconditional faith and trust in our Saviour is to our eternal well being. Please consider, believe and accept Him TODAY. Much LOVE!…only believe…that’s all we need to do…only believe…
Oh Friends, it’s Easter Tuesday; that means goat races and plenty partying down by Buccoo Reef in sweet Tobago! At least that’s how it used to be in my time. And I can only chuckle at my last visit to that august occasion…the little I can remember. Anyway, here’s a poem from a Realtor’s newsletter. I read it because he adds all sorts of interesting stuff. Of the four pages only the last one has anything to do with real estate. The others talk about things like avoiding Blackberry thumb; stepping back from conflict; exercising your brain; sharing too much info on the numerous types of media now available, plus this poem, ‘The Legend of the Dogwood,’ whose author is unknown. It’s beautiful and quite appropriate for the season. ‘In Jesus’ time, the dogwood grew, To a stately size and a lovely hue. ‘Twas strong and firm its branches interwoven, For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen. Seeing the distress at this use of its wood, Christ made a promise which still holds good: "Never again shall the dogwood grow, Large enough to be used so. Slender and twisted it shall be, With blossoms like the cross for all to see. As blood stains the petals marked in brown. The blossom’s center wears a thorny crown. All who see it will remember me, Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree. Cherished and protected, this tree shall be, A reminder to all of My agony." Wow! It sure is touching eh Friends? Now I need to take a break here to find a suitable Bit. (smile) Not my fault. That’s just how the Spirit leads me at times. Okay Friends, about ten minutes later, I’ve been led to this one. It deals with the lack of faith of one disciple, Thomas, whom we know as Doubting Thomas. And we also know that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden, early on the resurrection morning, then later that same day, He hooked up with two believers on their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus, and playing foolish to catch wise, He picked their brains to find out what was happening amongst His followers. When they intimated that there was dissension and disbelief in the camp, Jesus blasted them: ‘O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.’ (Luke 24:25-27) But they never clued in from His chiding and invited Him to stay with them when they came to Emmaus. ‘And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.’ (Luke 24:30-31) Such was their consternation that they went right back to Jerusalem where the other believers were gathered behind locked doors, still fearful, and shared their story. And while all of this was going on, who appeared, as usual with perfect timing? None but our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, uttering those famous words: ‘Peace be unto you.’ (John 20:19) However, fortunately or not, ‘Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.’ (John 20:24) And when the others told him what had happened, he refused to believe. ‘Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ (John 20:25) Ah mih people, after being with Jesus for so long, poor Thomas still couldn’t comprehend what it was all about. But we can’t blame him too much, for surely that was all part of the Lord’s master plan to prove something. Just like Judas betrayed Jesus, another of His followers refused to believe. And since there’s always method to the Lord’s madness, it’s no surprise what took place eight days later. This time, all the disciples, including Thomas were together behind closed doors and Jesus appeared. Obviously no one had told Him of Thomas’ disbelief, so isn’t it remarkable that after His usual greeting, ‘Peace be unto you,’ He immediately confronts Thomas. ‘Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.’ Oh Friends, are we like Thomas? Do we need to see and touch everything before we believe? Aren’t there any people in our lives whom we trust enough to believe whatever they tell us? Or are we like those disciples, as Mark claims: ‘Afterwards he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided (rebuked) them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.’ (Mark 16:14) Several people had seen and spoken to the risen Christ, yet many still believed not. Now none of the gospels say whether Thomas actually reached out and checked Jesus for the wound prints, but he then proclaimed to Him; ‘My Lord and my God.’ (John 20:28) Oh mih people, if we always have to see and feel before we believe, then we’re in for a real rough ride as followers of Jesus, for He deals exclusively in hope, faith, trust and total surrender of our lives to Him and His ideals. Here’s His reply to Thomas. ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ (John 20:29) Friends, Jesus is talking about people like us, who never saw Him risen, yet still believe. That’s the kind of followers He’s seeking, and the kind I’m asking us to be, who don’t need to see or touch everything to believe. I know we’ve been taught seeing is believing and touching is the naked truth, but that’s only for worldly matters. But where the spiritual business of Jesus is concerned, we need to see and believe through the eyes of faith. That’s what Christianity is all about: faith, hope, trust and total surrender to a God we can’t see with the naked eye, but whom we can certainly feel in our hearts and souls. As Bruh Paul so eloquently puts it: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) We have to believe what we hope for before we actually see it. And so it is my people with things like forgiveness, grace, mercy, salvation and eternal life. If we don’t first believe them, then we’ll never see or experience them. That faith is the power of our Lord Jesus Christ coming to the fore in our lives, making us exceptional believers and steadfast followers. Oh Friends, I can’t ever say often enough how important unconditional faith and trust in our Saviour is to our eternal well being. Please consider, believe and accept Him TODAY. Much LOVE!…only believe…that’s all we need to do…only believe…
SCRIP-BITS 