What Meeting?

Jesus Appears to Thomas, by Jacek Andrzej Rossakiewicz

I like the Quaker way of calling services ‘meetings.’  Somehow it seems more scheduled, more attentive.  Then I thought about those who miss meetings.  In our corporate world, missing a meeting moved us out of the picture for a while.  We didn’t see the facial expressions that accompanied the new ideas being thrown out for discussion.  We missed the discussions, too.

Then, I thought of Thomas.  He missed one important meeting! Perhaps he should be excused, it was a Sunday evening, and every knows that it’s only necessary to attend one service on Sunday.  I had one person ask me, “What do you do so bad on Sunday afternoons that you have to go back to church that night?”

I might miss something.  Thomas did.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. (John 20:24 KJV)

I wouldn’t want to miss a single meeting with Jesus.  But this one was momentous – it was Resurrection Sunday.  The doors were shut, the disciples had gathered in fear and Jesus appeared.  Thomas missed it.
And, he didn’t believe it happened when he was told!!  He demanded proof.

The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (John 20:25 KJV)

Seeing wouldn’t be believing, Thomas said.  He needed more proof than just that.

It took another week, the disciples are gathered again and the doors once again closed against outsiders. Thomas is with them.  This time he’s the center of attention:

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (John 20:27 KJV)

Please note that we are NOT told he did so.  There is no description telling how Thomas reached out and touched those wounds.  Instead, he speaks:

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:28 KJV)

The next verse speaks of us – those who have not heard Jesus’ spoken words, have not seen the resurrected Lord, were not given the Great Commission in person.  The ones who have also said “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29 KJV)

I have not seen Him except as a reflection with those who love and serve Him, yet I have believed.  Yes, I am blessed.  And, the day will come when I do meet Him.