December 2, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?  

“Does the Bible say why Thomas missed the first resurrection appearance of Jesus?”

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:19-29

Where was Thomas? Where was Thomas? The other disciples got the memo that they were gathering in the Upper Room that evening – the pressure was mounting – people were beginning to make accusations against them. They needed to continue to meet, to pray, to wait. Most importantly, they needed to stay together. It is for all of these reasons they gathered in the Upper Room – and were praying. But someone had to notice that they were short one person. Where was Thomas?

Perhaps Thomas couldn’t get past the horrors of the cross. He and the other disciples were devastated by the death of Christ. We know they were all afraid. So maybe Thomas was more afraid than the others. As such, perhaps he just didn’t believe Jesus was coming back. After all if Thomas believed Christ was going to show up that evening he would have been there.

We know that grief can cause us to lose hope. And when we lose hope, we lose faith – and when we lose faith, we lose mission. Watching Jesus die on the cross could have convinced him that Jesus’ mission and ministry died with him.

So we just do not know why Thomas was not there. But we do know he did not miss the next opportunity to see the risen Christ.

Pastor Dave

December 1, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?             

“Does the Bible say Peter could raise the dead?”

 “Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.” Acts 9:36-43

She is simply there. Tabitha was trying to love G-d and follow G-d. Perhaps she was a good wife, perhaps a good mother, perhaps a good friend – we do not know. She was living her life and trying to be a good person. The widows felt compelled to point out to Peter all of her charity. So what could Peter do?

We know so little about Tabitha except what the biblical witness tells us. We don’t know if she was a young woman, married and with children to raise, or living with her family. We don’t know if she’d been disowned from a pagan family because she was Christian. Maybe she was old, and all by herself, so she dwelt with the other widows of the community. We just don’t know. But there she is – a simple story of faith and a miracle – and from the response of the women following her death, she obviously meant a lot to so many people. I wonder if this is why Peter was moved to act – and act he did.

Tabitha will be the only person Peter will raise from the dead. But Peter will also heal many throughout the book of Acts. But notice he does not do it on his own. The text tells us: “Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.”

Peter prays before he raises Tabitha. Peter turns to Jesus for the power and the presence to do the miraculous. This is why we need to turn to Jesus in prayer often. No, we will not be able to raise the dead. But we can do powerful things through the Holy Spirit and prayer.

Pastor Dave