Friday 03 July 2009
- Bible Book:
- John
"Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'" (v.16)
Background
We take a break from our covenant theme today to think aboutanother saint and Apostle - Thomas: the world's most famousdoubter! Thomas is a relatively minor character in the NewTestament, rarely mentioned among the disciples, but John's Gospelgives him a number of important lines.
Our passage today takes us into a time of heated controversy forJesus, and finds him acting very strangely. In the previouschapter, Jesus has attended a festival in Jerusalem and faced thosewho wanted some plain answers about his identity. He survived anassassination attempt as those who heard him prepared to stone himfor blasphemy. He escaped to the wilderness, but the heat was stillon (John10:22-42).
Today's passage introduces us to a family who were evidently veryclose to Jesus and the disciples. News reaches Jesus that hisfriend Lazarus is ill. We might expect Jesus to do one of twothings: either rush off to Bethany immediately or send a messageback saying it was too dangerous for him to appear in public.Instead, he does neither. He waits.
Jesus' waiting is apparently for the glory of God. As his riddleabout walking in the daylight (verse 9) implies, he is still seeingthe way of God's will clearly. No darkness has overtaken him. Somesuggest that Lazarus had already died by the time the messagereached Jesus, or that (even if he left immediately) he would nothave made it in time to save him. But whatever the travel details,the purpose of the delay was so that God could be glorified: firstin the raising of Lazarus, which was to follow, and most supremelyin the death and resurrection of Jesus, which John insists resultedfrom this very public miracle.
As one commentator, Professor Kenneth Grayston (a Methodistpreacher and New Testament scholar), says, "Death must take place -but death is not to be seen as the final indignity that deprivespeople of the love and presence of God. It is the means by whichhis glory is displayed."
But how are we to read Thomas' remark? As a faithful declaration ofsupport? As a sigh of resignation about what was to come? With atinge of sarcasm? A prophecy of doom? Or a genuine summons to allwho call themselves 'disciples'? Whatever his tone of voice, we canbe sure Thomas was under no illusions about the risks that Jesuswas taking in going to the grave of his friend Lazarus. There wasno optimistic 'everything will be OK'. The stakes were too high atthat point. There may be miracles along the way, but Thomas knewthere would be trouble ahead.
Discipleship is not easy, but, for those who trust him with theirlives, resurrection must follow. In the next few verses Jesusstates this emphatically (
And so we get an insight into one of the turning points of Jesus'earthly life, and also an insight into the character of Thomas. Farfrom being a doubter, he was a man who accepted that followingChrist would have its consequences: a man of faith and also, arealist.
To Ponder
Read the other important Thomas passagesin John14:5-6and
How often do we assume that faith and realismcan't mix?
Do you sometimes get annoyed by those who askawkward questions or say the things no one else dares? Thomas knewthe score, and when he didn't he wasn't afraid to ask. How often dowe really appreciate the ones in our churches who insist on'keeping our feet on the ground'?
Jesus makes it clear that following him is oftencostly. But is there any way that Christians can be accused ofmaking discipleship appear too easy? What can we do about this?