What Do You Believe?
Good Morning Friends,
One thing Bible history helps us to see is that many people, if not all people struggle with issues in their lives that are resolved only on the journey. The list is long. Hopefully they see and we as well something in our minds eye that moves us from doubt to faith. What Do You Believe?
Scripture: Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24 (NRSV)
Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.
Mark 16:9-15 (NRSV)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 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.” 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 20:19-31 (NRSV)
Message: Today we look at a major theme of the Bible…that Jesus is God and that absolutely nothing will be accomplished without His powerful presence. This is a key to great life, but there is more to it than the resurrected Jesus appearing to His disciples just before pointing out the holes in His hands to Thomas. For here in this dynamic we discover the happy fellowship of those who follow the way. We feel it in our hearts and it shines in our faces. Here we are empowered to witness to others that forgiveness is indeed attainable…that doubt is natural but can be overcome. For here when we gather together in His name, He is in our midst. Here our purpose becomes clear. We are to give in to the joy of this day…we are to embrace the surprise of Shalom….that when Christ is with us we can be whole. We can be at peace with our past, present and future. Here when Jesus is saying “peace be with you,” He is giving us the Holy Hope we so desperately need in our continuing journey with the living Christ. He is marking our lives with a purpose, meaning and direction. So let us prepare for Easter and all its surprises… an empty tomb, a doubter’s fears and unbelief changed, a Savior announcing that His Peace will be with us. But make no mistake about it, the disciples struggled as well as Thomas. They had been given training, authority and experience but doubt crept into their faith too. You see, unbelief cannot be victorious over evil. Unbelief cannot please God. So that is why Jesus the King comes to confront us in our unbelief and in His presence and testing we can become stronger and can rediscover the power of faith. So here is the deal, if we have it all how can we say we have faith? It is only when it is beyond our abilities that we can measure our faith. It is only in the anguish we are brought to our knees in prayer and then raise up with Jesus. It is only when we become aware of our spiritual shortcomings… only when we honestly struggle with powerlessness that faith can grow. Trials, difficulties and defeat can all lead us to discover a faith. Rejoice because Jesus comes to those who are honest about their doubts and helps us face them so we might grow deeper. So do not stay in the land of doubt. Press on to higher ground and experience God’s power through greater faith. See and believe so that we might together be victorious with Christ.
Pray that our deepest desire is that Jesus will be in our midst….the middle of our lives. Pray that Jesus make us peaceful…surpassing everything we can expect. Pray that Jesus make us joyful…rejoicing in the victory on the cross. Pray that Jesus make us useful…witnessing to others the good news in our lives. Pray that Jesus make us powerful…creating in us the very breath of our existence. Pray we never forget the message of peace. Pray we share with one another the healing and wholeness that God has shared with us through Jesus Christ His Son.
Pray we trust in Jesus. Pray we learn to value those things that He values. Pray that our scars make us real, believable and trustworthy. Pray that in the scars of life we discover peace. Pray that in the scars of life we discover a growing faith. Pray that in the scars of life we discover healing. Pray that in the scars of life we discover honor. Pray that in the scars of life we discover love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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