Easter part 1

MAIN IDEA: The cross provides clarity so the Lord can reinforce his invitation to you and me.

Let’s begin in Isaiah 53:3-6.

Today begins Holy Week. Jesus got on a donkey and rode into Jerusalem. The crowds shouted, Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

They expected royalty that day. They expected Israel might be restored. In a few short days, all of Jesus’ followers would abandon him, even those who were determined to follow at all costs.

Jesus knew what he was doing. Not of it surprised him. Isaiah told us Jesus carried our burdens, our griefs, our sin ~ to bring us healing and peace.

Sometimes people get tired of waiting to feel peace. Sometimes, the scabs of life get torn wide open like the sorrow happened yesterday. Sometimes people get busy and walking with Jesus becomes less important. Sometimes, faithful followers of Jesus become faithful followers of fishing or golf or baseball or football or a career or a child’s dream or a number of different things. Jesus becomes distant sometimes. In those moments, life gets confusing and we wonder where to find the healing that Jesus promised. We wonder all sorts of things about the truth of Jesus and why that truth has seemed to escaped our life.

I want to spend some time this morning with a guy who started out strong for Jesus, appeared to be an influential person, but began to struggle with his faith and needed to be reminded about the invitation Jesus gave him.

Thomas was determined to follow Jesus, even if his journey didn’t end well.

John 11:16 ESV

16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Most Christians know Thomas as “doubting Thomas,” but there was much more to him. In John 11, his words here reflect love, devotion, courage, and negativity. He believed he would die if they went to Jerusalem. On the other hand, his love for Jesus was so strong that he was willing to die with him.

Jesus heard news that one of his friends was sick and eventually passed away, so he decided to go see the family. The disciples ~ you know the religious leaders want to kill you, right? We should think about avoiding that. Jesus told them he was going.

Thomas took the lead in following Jesus. Guys, we’re going. Even if we die, we’re doing this.

Thomas modeled courage and strength to the rest of the disciples. They had doubts, but followed his lead and went to Bethany with Jesus.

When people witness our walk with Jesus, do they see courage, strength, love, and devotion? Do they see negativity?

I pray that as I follow Jesus ~ courage, strength, love, devotion and compassion will be as obvious as a crucifixion in the Roman world.

Thomas was confused about his next steps, the Lord provided clarity.

John 14:5 ESV

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

John 13 records events that easily would have confused all of us if we were in the room. Jesus and his disciples are having dinner and Jesus decided to wash all the feet in the room. After walking around the temple area with animals being slaughtered and animals doing other things, their feet probably needed to be washed. The dinner table would have resembled a coffee table and they would have lounged around it. Feet were likely invading your space.

However, the leader would never wash a person’s feet. It was an entry-level servant duty.

Then Jesus said ~ one of you are going to betray me. Do it quickly.

Then Jesus said ~ You should love other people the same way that I have loved you.

Then Jesus said ~ Peter, you’re going to deny knowing me before tomorrow morning.

Then Jesus said ~ Hey guys, I’m leaving soon and you already know how to get there.

Again, Thomas took the lead. Look at verse 5. Lord, we don’t know what’s happening right now. Could you help us out?

Jesus answers the question over the next four chapters.

Anybody been there? Lord, what is happening right now? I could use your help. We think Jesus took eternity to answer the question. We tempted ~ Jesus, would you land the plane already?

When I’m least expecting it, clarity slaps me in the face and I know exactly what is suppose to come next. This is a good place to remind us that heart transformation takes time. The preparation to receive the clarity has the same of level of importance as the clarity itself.

The Lord doesn’t hold back from us, he just understands the soil of our heart better than we do.

Thomas was distant from the Lord’s presence, the Lord met him without condemning his doubt.

John 20:24–28 ESV

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, 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; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

This event is how Thomas is widely known for among Christians. Thomas was absent from this gathering of the disciples. The Bible doesn’t tell us where he was. It could be he was busy doing other things that he thought were more important at the time. His absence revealed the doubts he had about Jesus and how the past three years fit into his future. He was vulnerable to his emotions and the circumstances around him.

Jesus didn’t immediately rescue Thomas. Thomas didn’t quit the disciples either. There were eight days that Thomas was struggling with his faith, but kept being with other believers. During those eight days, Jesus was working his plan for Thomas’ life. I find it extremely encouraging that Jesus didn’t condemn Thomas, but invited him to take a closer look.

When the struggle is real and there is no end in sight, eight days can last forever. Some of you have been struggling for much longer than 8 days. If you are vulnerable to your emotions or the circumstances around you, Thomas has some advice for us.

Keep gathering with the believers. Don’t skip ever. Don’t get busy doing less important things. Remember that Jesus invites us to take a closer look. He IS working his plan that will be revealed according to his purposes and for his glory.

Thomas followed the influence his friends, the Lord reinforced his original invitation.

John 21:1–12 ESV

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

This wasn’t afternoon on the boat. Peter’s intention was a career change back to what made money. It didn’t work. They fished all night and didn’t catch anything. In verse 12, Jesus said, “come…”. This is the same invitation he gave them when he invited them to be his disciples in the early chapters of the gospel.

UPS STORY???

Present the path to salvation concisely and clearly!!! Today can be your day to know Jesus personally.