Thomas

Devotions come from Parent Cue and are what JAM (Jesus and Me - Faith Formation) kids talked about April 24. 

The JAM theme is Puzzled, Believe there is a bigger picture.

Find a quiet place to reflect what the Bible has to say to us this week.  Deep breath, exhale saying He is Risen!

Read John 20:19-29

19 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.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.” 26 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.” 27 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 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.”

Do you find it easy or hard to admit when you don’t know something? Many of us have a hard time admitting we don’t understand.

Thomas can get a bad rap for doubting, but what was really impressive about Thomas was that he wasn’t afraid to admit he didn’t know something. Thomas didn’t know how it was possible for Jesus to come back from the dead, so instead of keeping it to himself, Thomas asked for proof.

And what did Jesus do? He showed up and patiently gave Thomas the proof he was looking for! He held out His hands, and He showed Thomas where the sword had pierced His side.

Jesus’ response to Thomas shows us that it’s okay to have questions— questions about life, questions about God. We are only human, and we have a lot of questions. But God knows everything! God knows how many stars are in the sky. God knows how many hairs are on your head. God is bigger than all your questions, and He wants you to ask them!

Prayer:

Dear God, YOU are there for us when we have doubt.  YOU are our strength and our rock. YOU help us when we have doubt.  Thank you for giving us the Bible so we can find some answers to life’s hard questions. Amen