Daily Devotions

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Our friend Frederick Beuchner used to speak about the ‘seeing heart’ He also shared that there was a great teacher of the Old Testament at the seminary where he studied for the ministry years ago. He recalls, “One thing he told us that I have always remembered is that we really can't hear what the stories of the Bible are saying until we hear them as stories about ourselves we have to imagine our way into them, he said. 

We have to imagine ourselves the prodigal son coming home terrified that the door will be slammed in his face when he gets there. 

We need to experience having the breath all but knocked out of him by the great bear hug his father greets him with before he can choke out so much as the first word of the speech he has prepared about how sorry he is and how he will never do it again.  This kind of regret is unlike the way Sunday after Sunday you and I say in our prayers how sorry we are and how we will never do it again. 

We have to put ourselves in the place of the good thief spread-eagled in the merciless sun saying to the one who is dying beside him, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power," the way at the heart of every prayer we have ever prayed or will ever pray, you and I are also saying it in one form or another.”

As in our text, unbelief colours many of the resurrection encounters. Fear and shame fill the disciples. They cling to one another behind locked doors. The risen Lord comes bearing his wounds, in his side, in his hands and feet. He does not blame or chide. Instead he speaks words of peace, and gives them his best gift, his Holy Spirit.

Jesus, 

We dare to believe in the things we cannot see: 

In your love for us 

In your love for those around us 

In the hope of eternity. 

We dare to believe that another world is possible 

That suffering can end 

That we can play a part 

In the kingdom to come. 

We dare to believe in heaven on earth 

In the light breaking through 

In justice made new 

In the blessing that you love for us. Amen