The Story of Easter – Day #11
(Devotional by Pastor Ben)

Jesus’ resurrection-light has opened the eyes of a woman blinded by tears, two followers blinded by their beliefs, and the disciples blinded by fear. Now, He appears just for Thomas, the disciple blinded by doubt.

 “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)

Thomas was not the last person in the world to say, “Show me.” The apostle Paul speaks directly to other Thomases who doubt that the resurrection took place in 1 Corinthians 15:1-14. Read that passage.

It is a misty fisherman’s morning. Peter has just flung himself off his boat to swim ashore and get close to Jesus, and he is now drying off by a crackling fire that Jesus Himself built. The last time we saw Peter warming himself by a fire was when he denied he knew Jesus, and Jesus’ penetrating gaze sent him running from the courtyard in shame. Peter once again finds Jesus looking deep into his soul, this time offering him restoration, three times over.

 “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’

    ‘Yes, Lord.’ He said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’

     “Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’

    “The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’
    “Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’
    Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’

    Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!”
                                    (John 21:15-19)

Jesus is lovingly reconciling with Peter, making sure he knows that his mistakes are not fatal and have not destroyed His love. None of us are mistake-free; we can’t possibly be good enough to earn God’s love. Read Ephesians 2:8-9 to see that God’s grace is all we need.