The two men on the road to Emmaus finally recognized Jesus. He was alive!
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. (Luke 24:33-37 NIV)
The reason I’m taking the time to read through all these stories is this: they had doubts. The people closest to Jesus did not believe that it was Jesus. They had walked from town to town with him. They ate countless meals with him. They gathered up the twelve basketfuls of food that were left over from five loaves and two fish that fed thousands and thousands. They were empowered by him to cast out demons, heal the sick, and proclaim that the Kingdom of God is near. But they did not believe that he was alive.
He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. (Luke 24:38-43 NIV)
I find comfort in their doubts. In fact, their lack of faith builds my faith. These people needed to be convinced. They had to have proof. Jesus spent 40 days giving them proof that he was alive and then he ascended into heaven before their eyes. If people this close to Jesus needed to be convinced, I don’t feel so bad for my own process of coming to faith and growing in that faith.
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "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." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:24-29 NIV)
Their lack of faith gives me hope for those around me, too, who still do not have faith. God didn’t give up on them. God doesn’t give up on us, either. God gave the disciples what they needed to believe. Now, God gives us what we need to believe, too.
He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45 NIV)
How about you? Do you know that God doesn’t give up on you? Do you know that Jesus is alive?
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