The Comeback, part 1

Well, I love words, and after eight straight years of blogging, I have missed blogging for the last 11 months. So when I recently taught a sermon entitled "The Comeback," it felt like the right time to pick up my love of writing, too. I have missed you, my friends, and I hope that an occasional note dropped in your inbox will be a pleasant discovery. I will aim for a weekly deposit but don't hold me to it. My life is a little crazy these days.

"The Comeback" sermon came from my time spent in the last half of John 20, where we find the famous account of Jesus showing Himself to the disciples after his crucifixion. If you have spent time in the Bible, you probably have heard of "Doubting Thomas." Well, this guy was the only disciple who happened to be left out when Jesus made his miraculous appearance to His inner circle. What blew me away was how Jesus came back to the exact place eight days later and repeated his grand entrance step-by-step just for Thomas. 

Simply amazing.

It is incredible, especially if you remember how Thomas was so adamant that he would not believe, 

"Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." John 20:25

Here's the thing. Thomas made this declaration after the other eleven disciples and Mary each told Thomas they had seen Jesus and touched his hands and side. How many of your closest confidants would be necessary to convince you something happened? Maybe not one or two, but by 6 or 7, don't you think you would be convinced? For Thomas, it wasn't enough.

What does Jesus do?

Jesus gave Thomas everything he asked for… despite Thomas' snarky attitude. That blew me away. We serve the Comeback King. He comes back for us!

And He doesn't just come back in this one instance; the Old and New Testaments are sprinkled with accounts of comebacks, do-overs, and second chances. 

Over the next few weeks, I want to unpack some of the things the Lord showed me in this passage. I want to start with the fact that Christians often feel like Jesus might be merciful and offer the gift of salvation freely, but once we cross into a relationship with Jesus, He sees all our shortcomings and holds things against us.

This account is Jesus coming back to one of His disciples. One of the 12 He picked. We have the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin that talk about Jesus caring for those who do not yet believe. But believers, He still has compassion for us. Most of us could create a long list of reasons why God would not make that effort for us. We have messed up. We have not been a model Christian, father, mother, employee, person, tither, etc.

Here's the truth – God sees you as His son or daughter. And just like He won't leave Thomas out, He won't leave you out either. He is for you!

Where do you need to see the Lord show up in your life?

I dare you to ask Him.