Immanuel Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion
Monday 1 April 2013
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ESV John 20:30-31 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
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After the resurrection the disciples have a distinct advantage - Jesus comes to them and does many signs in their presence. They are the nucleus of the Church which will proclaim the risen Christ to the world. We are removed by 2,000 years of time and 10,000 miles. We rely on the written word of the Gospel writer of John to kindle in us faith in the risen Christ. We have heard it preached, we have read the Gospel of John and yet - do we believe?
This Sunday’s Gospel lesson is about unbelief; the Apostle Thomas is the person who is the foil in this lesson. He does not get to see the risen Christ. The rest of the Apostles tell him what occurred. He makes an idle boast regarding how he has to not only see the wounds of Christ, but place his fingers in the wounds. Thomas not only has to see but touch the wounds.
What do we need to see, or feel to believe? If Jesus came into our presence and showed us his hands, his feed, his side, would we believe? If Jesus spoke with us, would we believe? If Jesus touched us, would be believe? Belief is not an intellectual pursuit; belief a is very emotional conviction we have. We do not know it; we feel it. Yet many of us believe without seeing, or touching. Is it because any of us may have had an encounter with the divine - where we were spoken to, where we were touched? We do not come to belief on our terms. The Holy, the divine comes to us and we are changed, transformed, and we believe. The power of God comes into our lives, and it makes all the difference in how we then live our lives. Yes, we rely on the Word of those who personally and physically experienced Jesus. But Jesus through the power of God comes into our lives and we experience, and we believe Jesus lives - he is indeed risen.
Alleluia - Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed - Alleluia.
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We Pray: Dear Lord, there are times when we do not believe, we have our doubts. Help our unbelief; be present with us. When we are in need of your presence - speak to us, touch us - may we experience you with us. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen
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