In one of the most well known post resurrection stories in the gospels, Jesus appears to the disciples when Thomas, one of the twelve, is absent. Upon returning, Thomas doubts the disciples' claim that Jesus appeared to the disciples, leading to the phrase "doubting Thomas"
We typically assume that what Thomas doubted was the fact that someone could rise from the dead. This is most likely an incorrect assumption. In ancient times, most cultures believed that people could rise from the dead. Thomas himself had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
What Thomas doubted was how Jesus could have been raised after suffering death on the cross. That is, if God truly was revealed in Jesus, it didn't seem to make sense why Jesus would not have revealed his power and glory at the cross, when all of Jerusalem could have witnessed it. Instead, Jesus' resurrection was witnessed by very few while the crucifixion was a public event.
The fact that the power of God was revealed in the cross is a holy mystery. The Church is called to live in this mystery and celebrate this mystery. What appeared to the world to be powerlessness was actually the glory of the God of eternity, who lives only to serve and to die for our salvation and redemption.
Supporting the work and mission of Caney Spring United Methodist Church and Berlin United Methodist Church, two churches partnered in the ministry of making disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world, located in Marshall County, Tennessee.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
What Holy Week Reveals About Human Nature
During the season of Lent, I have emphasized that in order to truly understand the wonder of God's redemptive work revealed in Jesus and the resurrection, we first have to understand and face ourselves, our nature, and our sin, both individual and collective.
Holy Week begins with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and ends with the empty tomb and the resurrection. From the beginning of Holy Week until the end, the nature of human culture is painfully evident. The crowds that welcome Jesus at the beginning of the week are manipulated by the powers that be and turn against Jesus by the end of the week. The encounter with the money changers reveals how the worship of God had become an instrument for greed and monetary gain. Peter's denial of Jesus reveals our cowardice. Judas' betrayal. The crucifixion. The list of acts and omissions during Holy Week that reveal our darkness and sin goes on and on.
We must understand who we truly are in order to understand who God truly is. God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness has no limits. We know this because despite what human nature is, revealed before Holy Week, evident during Holy Week, and revealed in every generation, God is preoccupied with nothing but our redemption and salvation.
Holy Week begins with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and ends with the empty tomb and the resurrection. From the beginning of Holy Week until the end, the nature of human culture is painfully evident. The crowds that welcome Jesus at the beginning of the week are manipulated by the powers that be and turn against Jesus by the end of the week. The encounter with the money changers reveals how the worship of God had become an instrument for greed and monetary gain. Peter's denial of Jesus reveals our cowardice. Judas' betrayal. The crucifixion. The list of acts and omissions during Holy Week that reveal our darkness and sin goes on and on.
We must understand who we truly are in order to understand who God truly is. God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness has no limits. We know this because despite what human nature is, revealed before Holy Week, evident during Holy Week, and revealed in every generation, God is preoccupied with nothing but our redemption and salvation.
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