Reflection
Like many
Churches that follow the RCL (Revised Common Lectionary) at St Oswald’s we
engaged with the story from John 20 about Thomas, ‘doubting’ Thomas.
When reading
this account, the first important thing to do is to put it into its context.
Chapter 20
reads like a conclusion and chapter 21 as a kind of postscript. Chapter 21 is a
lovely story but sits oddly next to chapter 20. Its purpose appears to be
broadly two-fold. One, to stop a rumour about the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved’
that he would not die until Jesus had returned, verse 23, and secondly to give
affirmation of Peter’s restoration and therefore he could be accepted a leader
in the infant Jesus community. (And note
20.30-31, and 21. 25.)
Chapter
20.31 is the key verse that ends John’s Gospel.
‘But
these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.’
What the author wants us to do as we come to the end of the Gospel is to ask ourselves the question that Thomas faced. Can we, dare we, trust the evidence given by others about Jesus’ resurrection. Can we, dare we, then declare as Thomas did, (verse 28) ‘My Lord and my God.’ Sadly today, many people say ‘O my God’ with little thought or care of what they are saying (or whom they are offending!). Even our grandson William has picked this up from school friends and we are trying hard to get him to stop. (And it is worth pondering here that Thomas was as monotheistic Jew and therefore what had shifted for him to declare Jesus as God. Much in the same as Jesus is ‘worshipped’ – see Matthew 28.17)
The big
question then, as it is now, is what it means to believe in the resurrection
and what does it mean to declare Jesus as my Lord and God.
Well worth
pondering on that. And if I might point you hopefully in a useful direction,
consider the role of a rally co-driver.
Go and check that out. You will find that for the most part the driver
is utterly reliant on the co-driver for instructions about what’s ahead and how
to deal with it. Putting Jesus in the
driving seat takes you on a taxi ride! But go on a rally with you driving and
Jesus as your co-driver who has been there and knows the route – that’s bring a
whole different dynamic to the picture.
I could add more, but I will let you play with that image. Personally I find it so helpful and exciting,
even if a little scary at times not knowing what’s coming around the corner.
And should
you like to explore more about Thomas this article is brilliant.
https://www.journeywithjesus.net/essays/1745-for-those-who-yearn
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