Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” (John 20:1–2, NIV 1984).
My Musings – In a state of intense grief and anxiety, this is understandable response. But later that day, “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with [this] news: ‘I have seen the Lord!'” (John 20:18, NIV 1984). Not a corpse in a different tomb, but the risen Lord. And still later on the same day He appeared to the disciples, all but Thomas who was not there.
When Thomas was told, he had strong doubts. “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 it.” (John 20:25, NIV 1984). When Jesus finally appeared to Thomas, His reaction was simply, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28, NIV 1984).
My Advice – “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, NIV 1984). Today, to those who have not seen, the Lord calls out, “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1, NIV 1984). The message has been revealed to us through the New Testament writings, which record in precise detail the prophecies in Isaiah 53, nearly 750 years prior to their fulfillment. Be wise enough to believe, and in so doing, be blessed with eternal life.
The Brew Is A Musing 