Journeys with Jesus: The Disciples (and Thomas)
Now that we have completed the Lenten season with the Easter celebration, this is the final edition as we take a look at some of the various encounters and journeys with Jesus after His resurrection and how we, as Corpath members, can use these stories to help us think about our journeys.
Luke 24:35-53, and John 20:9-29
In last week’s edition, we read about the two followers that met Jesus on the road leading to Emmaus, about two miles outside Jerusalem. When Jesus departed them, the travellers were so overcome with joy and excitement they ventured back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples what they had seen.
When they had found the group of disciples, the two men told the others what had happened. The story continues.
Take a few moments right now and read the accounts of what happened next. You can find them in Luke 24:35-53, and John 20:9-29.
Like the others, I must confess that I too would have been sceptical and doubtful of what I was hearing from these two men. I tend to rely on data and facts to help inform and shape my opinions and decisions.
Facts:
Jesus was executed. Everyone saw it.
He died. Everyone saw it.
He was placed in a tomb. Everyone knew it.
The tomb was sealed with a royal seal. Everyone understood it.
Nobody ever escaped Golgotha. Everyone was afraid of it.
Yet, everything that had happened recently seemed unbelievable surreal. The events that occurred just don’t seem to make sense. So much had happened in the previous 72 hours:
Jesus was arrested, tried, and executed.
The group that had travelled together for over three years had been fractured.
The strongest and most passionate follower turned away from Jesus and denied Him.
Strange events occurred at Jesus’ death, such as the temple veil being torn, local earthquakes and the dead being raised to life.
The leaders of the Jewish faith in Jerusalem were unusually silent. Something was up. • Word of “Jesus sightings” was starting to spread amongst those closest to Him.
Any reasonable person would likely be cautious about what they were hearing from others. Fatigue, lack of food and anxiety can play tricks on your mind… maybe even cause hallucinations.
Jesus, knowing their struggles, as they tried to make sense of the last few days, chose to do the one thing that would remove their doubt; He showed up! He appeared to them. He connected the stories the disciples were hearing to the truth. He loved them so much he wanted to share His good news with them, He has risen, indeed!
While giving them a moment to mentally process what they were now seeing, He encouraged them to connect with Him and touch Him. It was the only way to bridge their unbelief with what was now happening. Even despite that, they still were having a hard time believing it was really Jesus. Then, Jesus did one of the most social and intimate things with them; He said, “Let’s eat!”
I find this story is starting to take on a bit of a humorous twist.
How did Jesus get in here? Is it really Him?
What kind of trickery is this? After everything that’s happened, He’s hungry?
He eats - they watch.
In all seriousness, how does the Son of God convince the finite minds of men that “death has died” and no longer has any power? He shows up and eats with them.
This is where I would have started to feel humbled. My doubt and lack of faith would have made me feel somewhat ashamed. Even though He is reaching over the supernatural divide to be present and share a meal with me, I still don’t believe.
As I pause to place myself in the story, I reflect on today’s reality…
How many times has this happened in my life already?
How many times has God intentionally reached down to me personally and I doubted it was Him?
How many times have a minimized His connection with me because the facts and data of past experiences led me to be “misinformed”, reason it away and believe it was something else?
What would it take for me to see Him for real? Have a meal with me?
I believe we likely see “Jesus” every day and fail to recognize Him. He shows up in many places, and many ways, and we miss it. He often talks to us directly through others and we aren’t listening. He leads and protects us, and we write it off as the results of our decisions and actions. Our egos sometimes (oftentimes) keep us blinded and deaf to seeing and hearing Him.
When He says to the disciples, “You have seen and don’t believe. Blessed are those who have not seen and believe”, I think, and hope, that my response to Him might have been like that of the father who was asking Jesus to heal his son when he said, “I do believe. Help my unbelief.”
I believe that God, through the teachings of Jesus and the leading of His Spirit CAN reach down and communicate with me, but I often don’t believe He DOES. Not to me, anyway.
Q: Where, in your past, has Jesus “shown up” and you believe you missed it? How can you become more aware of His presence with you in the future?
Prayer:
My God and Heavenly Father, I praise You for your goodness, care, and concern for me. Thank you for “showing up” for me even in times when I might not see You. Reach down and cause me to be more aware of Your leading and protecting of me this week. Give me the awareness of Your presence in ways that I can sit quietly and eat with you (symbolically), and help others see You as well. Amen.
For an interesting look at a photographer’s perspective of what a journey with Jesus would look like, consider watching the video series, “Broad Roads and Narrow Paths - Jesus Through the Eyes of a Fashion Photographer”, available to you as part of your FREE Corpath Member subscription at RightNow Media.
You can see it by logging into your account with this link:
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/510035
Go with Him this week!
Steve Shrout
President
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this email is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development and SPIRITUAL growth.
