Lord, Increase My Faith

 

 John 20:19-31

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though 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; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

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

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We may be in the boat with Thomas, especially these days with senseless shootings multiplying randomly, the on-going wars in the Ukraine and Gaza, scandals exposed in governments and businesses, more and more churches closing and polls revealing increasing numbers of people with no faith or church affiliation..  Yet, even "Doubting Thomas" came to believe when challenged by a fearless, loving Jesus who did not want to lose this apostle with so much potential. Thomas believed and his unbelief opened the door to those on the threshold of similar doubts.  And amazingly, the numbers of people attending Holy Week and Easter Services were astoundingly high in many places this year..  It's not over yet, and, no doubt, Thomas who went on to be the Apostle of India is still at work helping doubters to find and accept the Truth, that Jesus is alive and ready to help us come out of our unbelief..

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, increase our faith and help us to confess, "My Lord and my God!" Amen.

 

 

It's Up To Us

 

  Mk 16:9-15

 Our Great Mission

⁹ When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

¹² Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. ¹³ These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

¹⁴ Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Mark's Gospel concludes with the command or commission to preach the Gospel to all nations and for two thousand years this has been done and is on-going today. It's a task that never ends, it seems, so this  final command is as relevant today as when Jesus first uttered it. How can I carry it out? I can try to live the teachings and example Jesus gave as much as possible, and in conversation, writing and teaching, pass the message on to others, beginning with our families, work places and church communities. It's amazing how powerful a word or action might be. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as he guided the apostles, our first teachers and preachers.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, guide and and teach us how to carry out the Great Commission in my circle of family friends and co-workers. Amen.

Jesus Feeds Us

  

Jn 21:1-14

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

In this third appearance after his resurrection Jesus again shows that he is alive and attentive to our needs. He knows we need convincing, nourishment and a strong faith to continue his work. As he provided these for them,  so does he for us today. Let's put ourselves on the shore with him and allow him to feed our hungry and maybe even doubting souls.  We need strong, unwavering faith in these days of so much "non-faith" and attempts from all sides to erode even what is there.  How many churches are closing and being turned into condos? How many people admit they have no faith. How many people are seeking psychological help?  How many people are committing suicide? Something, SOMEONE is missing, and Jesus is feeding us and asking us to feed others. Let's JUST DO IT!

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, as you fed your apostles, feed and strengthen us to be your Apostles today. Amen  

You Are Witnesses

 

Lk 24:35-48

³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

 It took awhile for the Apostles to fully realize that Jesus was alive again; he ate before them, showed them his wounds, shook off their unbelief and clearly explained his mission and theirs...and ours!  We are his witnesses, we are to bring the good news to our generation. As we take even a cursory look at our world, we see that all is not right. It's up to us to do something about it..to live our faith sincerely and without compromise, and share it with others. The WOW of the Resurrection is  2000 years old. The WORK of the Resurrection is NOW. It never ends.  Are we up for it?

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus help me to be a faithful witness of your Resurrection and bring this good news to others. Amen.

They Recognized Him

 

 Luke 24:13-35

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

How the presence of Jesus changed confusion, disappointment and sadness into joy! We can empathize with the disciples in their state of confusion after the crucifixion of Jesus, the disappearance of his body and rumors of his resurrection. A lot to assimilate, but Jesus, in his usual convincing and powerful way sets the record straight..How often do we walk in the state of mind of Cleopas and his friend, when we lose perspective?  Jesus does not want this confusion, and is always there to help us recognize him and find him again at our side.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to recognize you "in the breaking of the bread" when I think I've lost you. Amen. 

Called By Name

 

  Jn 20:11-18

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

What if I were weeping outside the empty tomb and heard Jesus call my name?  What would be my reaction? Joy? Relief, a heart bursting with love?  All of these? And would I not be so fortified, so strengthened in faith and love that nothing would ever discourage me again? That would be my hope, my goal. This Octave Week of the Resurrection challenges us to deepen our faith in the Risen Jesus and to joy in his victory over death and sin and his call to share that with me. He calls us each by name as he called Mary and invites us to believe with a rock-bottom, lasting faith and trust in his love, no matter how bleak the circumstances we face at this moment.  He is truly risen and shares that risen life with us. May we live each day with joy, fortified by the Risen Jesus.

Bro, Rene

Dear Jesus, you have truly risen from the dead. Why should I fear or be sad? Let me live joyfully in OUR new life! Amen.

 

Witnessing To The Truth

 

 Mt 28:8-15

 Do Not Be Afraid

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Can we imagine the joy in the hearts of the women the Risen Jesus greeted? Jesus gives them two orders: Do not be afraid and tell his brothers (the Apostles) to go to Galilee where they will see him. Jerusalem evidently was still in too much turmoil, and Galilee would afford the peace needed for the start of the next phase: life without the physical presence of Jesus. Already lies were being fabricated to "cover" the missing body of Jesus, so it was best to leave Jerusalem.. But, as we know, when they were gathered in the upper room, Jesus appeared to them to assure the that he had truly risen: a truth that could not be denied nor buried. May we joyfully and fearlessly give our lives over to the Risen Jesus and bear testimony to his resurrection by living our faith sincerely at all times and in all places.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to be a faithful witness to the truth of  your Resurrection. Amen.