Daily Devotions

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31

All of us older than the Internet age can remember trudging over to the library, combing through the card catalogue, wandering the stacks, looking for just the quote or piece of (otherwise) useless information to include in a term paper. Maybe just a few titles to flesh out the bibliography or a few gems to cement an article.

Today, without hesitation, we open up the browser and run a quick Google search and we’re there.

Isn’t it odd, living in the INFORMATION AGE, how little we really know? Nothing is worse that standing in line, finally making it to the front, to hear those dreaded words, “Oh, oh, the system in down.” Suddenly, the person behind the keyboard doesn’t know anything at all and is seemingly incapable of doing anything other than calling someone on the phone who may or may not answer.

We know so much but we can’t figure out how to fix the health care delivery system, what to do next in foreign wars, or how to climb our way out of a recession. Not to mention the best way to parent the teenagers living in our own home.

We know so much. But we don’t know everything. John tells us that we know enough.

Jesus did many other things not recorded in his book – but John has told us enough that we might come to believe, and that believing, we might have life in his name.

We don’t know everything but we know enough.

We know enough to know that life is short and we only get one chance. Jesus stands before us promising us an abundant life that begins now and is brought to its fullness at the end.

We know enough to know that, no matter the chances and changes of life, Jesus has promised never to leave or abandon us.

We know enough to know that, though human divisions will constantly seek to tear at the fabric of life, following Jesus means we hopscotch those divisions, engage in hospitality to the stranger, meet the woman at the well, stop for the blind, the lame and the broken.

We know enough to know that, though many voices clamor for our attention, many of those voices belong to thieves and robbers and guide us down wide paths that lead to destruction and brokenness. But in their midst comes the voice of the One who knows our name, who sends the Advocate who whispers into our lives and guides us to the truth.

Eleven frightened men, huddled behind locked doors, are greeted by words of peace, softly spoken by the one who has taught them of a life worth living.

We don’t know everything. But we know enough. Others don’t – they might know Google but they don’t know the God who can bring them life that is really life.

Get out from behind those locked doors and bring what and Who you know to them!

Let us pray: Gracious Lord, come to us when we are frightened and give us peace. Come to us when we are confused and give us direction. Come to us when we are lost, that we might be found in your life. Come to us behind the locked doors of our lives and set us free to be your own, signs ourselves of your gracious kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.” 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 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.” John 20:26-29

Matthew leaves his “and some doubted” hanging out there but John brings closure to the Thomas story. Jesus shows up and shows off his scars.

Look. Touch. Believe.

But notice how Jesus keeps the tension of faith alive? He challenges Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me?” Just as he has throughout the gospel of John, Jesus questions those who believe because of the “signs” rather than trusting the One who is signified.

Then Jesus blesses those who have “not seen” and yet have “come to believe.” Would that include us? Or do we still seek signs, do we still seek to believe?

I understand what it feels like to “come to believe.” For me, I can say that it wasn’t about “signs” but that wouldn’t really be true. I had spent a day in the company of people who came together as the people of God. I listened to them sing. I saw the smiles on their faces. When they prayed they really seemed to be doing something other than talking to themselves, convincing themselves in a massive show of “group think” that they really weren’t wasting their time on idle myths.

That day came at the end of a long long process of dipping my toes in the faith and then walking back to the beach. It came after years of seeing Christian people acting in both wonderful and questionable ways. It came after the witness of Sunday School teachers, friends, songs in the air.

I still wonder how it is that someone tips over the edge from trusting their doubts to doubting their doubts, from knowing about Jesus to trusting Jesus. All I can see for sure is that the Holy Spirit has got to be involved – healing our blindness, so that the ever-present signs of God suddenly appear to be just that, signs of God.

When the once blind man was questioned by the authorities in John 9, all he can finally say is, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” Maybe that is all we can finally do, those of us living the tension of faith, those of us committed to following Jesus even though there are those who think WE are the ones who ought to be committed for trusting such childish stories – maybe all we can finally do is tell our truth. We believe and we act on that belief in our lives.

Notice also that all the disciples are still gathered in that upper room. It has been a week. We don’t necessarily need to read anything into that, although we might wonder if they are just back home for dinner or if they have been hiding in their fear all week long. It is all still so new to them.

All we know for sure is that they didn’t stay in that room forever. That isn’t where the game was to be played. And we know as well that St. Thomas has long been honored as the apostle who carried the faith to India. He believed, and he blessed those who could not see.

Let us pray: Gracious Lord, you move through people’s lives in mysterious ways. You give us what we need, and what we need most is a trusting heart and a willing spirit. Come to us when faith grows hazy and doubt looms large. Fill us with a holy discontent, that we might not hide in the safety of upper rooms but go into the world as your followers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.