• The ones sending this letter are Paul and Timothy. There is a good reason why Paul mentioned Timothy. Just as Paul was Timothy’s Father in the Lord, the one that led him to Jesus, so is Paul to Onesimus as
well. Paul, was a prisoner in two ways, as prisoner to the system of a Roman prison, but also a prisoner to Christ. Of course, used in this implication,  there is a good fruitful position. Paul considers himself bound to Christ, the Church, and His work…can you say the same? 

I. Christ is our appeal towards love and faith: Phm 1:4  I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, Phm 1:5  because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, Phm 1:6  and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Phm 1:7  For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

• Because Jesus is part of a person’s life, I mean one that is sold out to the Lord, it does not take much work to show love and to exercise faith. Paul thanking God for his remembrance of them in his prayers is liken to us saying to one another, “praying for you today” and really doing it. Not just a little saying we throw around, but a genuine time we take and intercede for our fellow believers. The love and strong faith found in Philemon has been an encouragement to Paul. In fact, the report he received, had been well received and a spiritual boost. Let me ask you this, “are you an encouragement to other believers or do you hamper growth?” I want to be an encouragement I want to be the kind of Christian that not only testifies about the Lord but lives out my faith. 

• Verse 6 expresses that very idea. Remember, Paul Is receiving word back to him while he is on lock down. He is excited because God’s people are sharing their faith in word and in deed, but mostly deeds, so that others may…not only hear about Jesus, but also see how a follower exercises their faith in the real world. I can talk about forgiving those that wronged me, but talk is as cheap as a family dollar rug when it comes to it being lived out.

Verse 7 says Paul is overjoyed because they are living out their faith to such a degree, that others in the home church are being refreshed.  Last Sunday, we spent some time reflecting on some things we are thankful for. We went around to different tables and many expressed their love for family, their love and appreciation for the church family. Many expressed their thankfulness for their salvation in Jesus and through Jesus. As each person shared, it brought many people to a place of encouragement and appreciation, but that kind of testimony cannot end or stop there. Our witness and testimony must continue, even when we step off of church grounds. In fact, these times when we encourage one another should be fuel for the rest of the week and fuel or power to share with the rest of the world. When was the last time, someone came up to you and said, “your faith encourages me?” Better yet, “when was the last time you went to someone and encouraged them because of their faith?”
  It was important to the apostle Paul to see faith and love lived out, and it is important still today. 

II. “We are all like Onesimus”:   believers in the Lord Jesus and are being changed into His likeness, we all have something to compare with Onesimus. We all have notes to compare and many of them written in life’s journal are the similar. Here is where Paul lays out his petition to Philemon. Note, Paul butters him up with true words of encouragement, then gives him the truth. Its better and more tactful to find positive and  encouraging things first when dealing with a conflict. Phm 1:8  Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, Phm 1:9  yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you— I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—Phm 1:10  I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. Phm 1:11  (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) Phm 1:12  I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. Phm 1:13  I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, Phm 1:14  but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. Phm 1:15  For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, Phm 1:16  no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.  Phm 1:17  So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. Phm 1:18  If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything,
charge that to my account. Phm 1:19  I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. Phm 1:20  Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. Phm 1:21  Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. Phm 1:22  At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

• Paul is no lightweight when it comes to correct argumentation, notice the shorts stroke of the sentence structure throughout. Paul is weaving a compelling argument for the sake of Onesimus’ freedom. He first implies, even though I could flex my apostolic muscles and authority, I will appeal to you first. Onesimus would do more good with Philemon as a free man that one that is bound as a servant. Paul makes an appeal, saying, as the one the led Onesimus to the Lord, now that he was one time a thief and totally useless to you, but know because of Jesus, he has been changed. Paul is such a master of argumentation. He actually uses a play on words here to help build his case. Onesimus’s name actually means
“profitable,” and Paul is saying, because Jesus came into his life, he actually is profitable to the kingdom of God. Alex Mclarean said it clear, “Christianity knows nothing of hopeless cases. It professes its ability to take the most crooked stick and bring it straight, to flash a new power into the blackest carbon, which will turn it into a diamond.” We are like Onesimus, we found worth only in Christ, we were crooked and had the blackest hearts, but Jesus. 

• Paul says, I am sending him back to you, I want you to think of Him as you would think about me. I wanted to keep him here to serve with me, but didn’t want to take him without your permission. Plus, it helps to demonstrate the power of Jesus to transform a person. Dear Philemon, he left your home as a fugitive, but is returning as a brother in Christ, and if he has accrued any debt, any charges, put them on my tab. Put them on my tab, I will pay it in full. Paul is expressing a gospel centered intent. Paul is not likening himself to Jesus, but I can almost hear the savior say, when he is talking to the Father about my sins, “put it on my tab, put it on me, I will take care of it.” See, Paul was demonstrating the very thing we ought to be demonstrating, the grace of the Lord Jesus to save, and the power he gives everyone of us to live a life consecrated and set apart for Jesus. We were all like Onesimus, bound by sins, bound and dead in our sins, but Jesus saved and made us new. Now, even though we are can identify with Onesimus, we also identify with Paul, we intercede for others. Paul knew Philemon well, he knew that he would do what he asked and even more. I almost wish there was a sequel to this letter. Like, a telling of what transpired when Onesimus returned, but the lack of response might be a reason to rejoice, Philemon, we like to imply, followed the instruction of the Apostle Paul, so that Jesus Christ would be lifted up. Look at these final words to Philemon as an encouragement to him, Phm 1:23  Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in the Messiah Jesus, sends you greetings, Phm 1:24  as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. Phm 1:25  May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with your spirit! Amen. Faith and love in Jesus changes a person, turns them around and points in a direction that will honor Christ. 

 Are you exhibiting love and faith to others? Can you say you have genuinely intercede for another, be it by prayer of by testimony of character? The more grace we realize has been given to us, the more grace we will exhibit to others. Could Philemon be justified in jailing or bounding Onesimus for his offenses, sure. Was the state justified by imprisoning him, more than likely, but yet, he was pardoned first by Jesus, then asked to be pardon by his people back home. When we actually realize “what grace is mine,” we give grace and mercy to others. Before we crucify each other over small things, reflect on grace, before we belittle each other over small and frivolous things, think of God’s grace, before we tear down a brother or sister over some mistake, think of God’s grace. 

Today, I will ask you to bear with me and let the Word of God speak. Whether it is a literary device used by John under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, or just how the narrative flows, there is right in the middle of this narrative a very intimate time between Peter and Jesus. This is the meat of the narrative and we will stream line and focus most of our time on this area in the scriptures. It’s like a nicely packaged theological and missiological sandwich, it speaks to a Theology of vocation and much as it does missions.

*prayer*

Let us set this background:

Joh 21:1  After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Joh 21:2  Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

There at Tiberias, the capital city of Galilee, Jesus gave further revelation of Himself to seven of the disciples. Jesus life on earth was to constantly give God’s special revelation to humanity. He is God in flesh. This portion of the narrative is John’s way of showing the apostles have been collected together, and called for the mission ahead. It shows that the core group of disciples have genuinely seen and believed in the Lord, but there is much work still to be done. We find that Peter is a major player in the role of the church. Now that Peter is restored he is at least ready and willing to begin. That speaks volumes to many of us today. We come from all kinds of backgrounds, all of us entrenched in sin before the Lord changed us and begin to change us into His image, but He has even used many of us to proclaim His gospel. This is an encounter that moves the apostles into, believing without seeing, because Jesus is not always going to physically be with them. To the seven disciples, Jesus revealed Himself once again. To one that was a doubter, one was from Cana there at the miracle of Cana, one James who would be killed under Herod, the beloved apostle John, and two of the disciples that were there from the beginning, Andrew and Phillip.

Joh 21:3  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Joh 21:4  Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Peter, the fisherman, said “I’m Going Fishing.” They have been waiting on the Lord, or they have pondered returning to their former occupation until the Lord returned with further revelation. It is evident that Peter was a leader for the others followed into the waters to fish yet again. There have been a few liberal theologians over the years that have stated the apostles turned their backs on Jesus and went back to their roles outside of ministry. There is something more going on, in fact, there is what I call a theology of vocation seen right here in the words before us. What we see is working until the Lord returns. God has called us to work for Him until He returns or calls us home. Christ has not called us to lock ourselves in our homes with our eyes on the eastern sky. He has called us to be like Peter, work until we see the Lord. What Peter teaches us is to not set idle, use your occupation, your vocation for the Lord. He also teaches us to have faith in the Lord that He will provide, but food isn’t going to fall out of the sky into your lap as if it is manna. They had to eat!! Work in this world for the glory of God. These apostles fished all night long and caught nothing. As a fisherman, I know that they best time to catch fish is either early morning, or late in the evening. Some of the best fishing can be in the late night hours as well. So they were out at a prime time to catch fish. I firmly believe, the Lord over the elements, set this up as a way to further reveal himself to them. The disciples did not know it was Him, and as we keep that in mind, it makes the miracle of the congregating of fish, that much more meaningful as a revelation of the character of God. The distance from the shore to the boat kept them from realizing it was the Risen Jesus.

These few verses teach us something about work and the value of working to the glory of God, and teaches of its necessity. We can thank the early and significant reformer Martin Luther for a resurgence in a work ethic within the body of Christ. The early reformer resurrected or initiated a Biblical doctrine of work. He wrote much on Domestic duties, civil duties, and vocations. Luther wrote, “…the works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they may be, do not differ on whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks…all works are measured before God by faith alone.” Jesus, as He summed up the commandments of God said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luther in exposition of this command states, “we respond to the call to love our neighbor by fulfilling the duties associated with our everyday work.” We get off our butts and work for the Lord and do so for His glory, and as we go, we lift up the gospel of Jesus.

Joh 21:5  Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No."

Of course Jesus knew they had no fish. Remember, they still had no idea it was the Lord.

Joh 21:6  He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

This had happened once before if you recall. (Luke 5: 4-7), Peter has seen this before. To add to the miracle, these men knew how to fish, they hardly need advice from a stranger on the shore. As you can imagine, what happens next has been reframed through the eyes of liberal theologians who say Jesus saw a school of fish on the right side. Now, if Jesus had control over life and death, could He also have control over a school of fish? Could He command that school of fish to come right under the nets that were about to be thrown? The cast it out and caught so many that the net could hardly hold them, the net was dragging down the boat. They caught so many, under the direction of the Lord, that not even the seven in the boat could haul them without a struggle. Joh 21:7  That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. Peter and John recognized the miracle from before, they recognized God’s handiwork. Peter tied up his garment for he was naked or with very little covering him. Peter could have jumped in with hardly anything on, but for him to greet the Lord in such a way would be disrespectful. Out of reverence, Peter dressed himself appropriately, even if is awkward to swim in. There is much that can be said about reverence, and how we approach the Lord. When we approach God in prayer, we don’t come flippantly, we don’t come as if God is some elderly father figure in the great blue yonder, we approach Him with reverence and Hollow His name. Peter jumps out the boat once he realizes it is Jesus.

Joh 21:8  The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

Joh 21:9  When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

Joh 21:10  Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."

The Lord had prepared a place to cook the meal. Jesus made these appearances to His apostles to show He is genuinely alive, these are not hallucinations you are having, I am not a phantom or ghost, something the Gnostics would propose in a few short years from the events surrounding Jesus’ life. Ghost don’t eat meals, phantoms don’t build fires, Jesus is alive. Jesus instructs them to add some fish to the ones He already had laid out. Simon Peter goes back and positions the nets so he can count them…

Joh 21:11  So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

This was a miracle, 153 fish Peter hauled in. Where it took seven to haul to the boat would only take one person whose feet were on land, he pulls them onto the shore and before them is another work from the Lord.

Joh 21:12  Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

Joh 21:13  Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

Joh 21:14  This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

They was no doubting, they knew this was Jesus. The disciples can certainly teach us to look for the work of the Lord in everyday life. In everything we do and go through in life, look for those divine Godly appointments. Even in the simplest of things, such as breakfast, the Lord is there. Many times, our lives are so complicated that we can’t even commune with the Lord over a meal, we can hardly even chew our food good enough before we are up at our next task for the day. Maybe there is a dichotomy of sorts concerning fast food, it is convenient when we are on the run but is a hindrance when we need to slow down and have a meal, and think about how the Lord has blessed. Jesus said, come and dine.

We enter into that more personal time with Simon Peter, the time when Jesus will press Peters motives. This is actually what one might consider Peter’s re-installment as apostle.

Jesus and Peter

Joh 21:15  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

There are some slight nuances that occur in the language that need to be brought out. It appears that Peter would now follow Jesus even till death, right? If Peter is to be instrumental in the early church, Jesus must expose his motives to him. Jesus askes Peter if He loves Him (agape) and Peter says, I love (phileo) you like a brother. Peter does not even use Christ’s word agapaō for high and devoted love, but the humbler word phileō for love as a friend.

Joh 21:16  He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

He askes Him a second time. Same scenario, now using the words for sheep. Feed my people in short, those in Israel and Gentiles alike, feed all my people, disciple them. It will take more than a superficial response to please the Lord. You say you love me, act like it, prove it.

Joh 21:17  He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

Now Jesus flips the words and uses the term love in reference to brotherly or friendly love. As if to say, “do you love me more than a brother, do you love me as Lord?” Upon hearing this, Peter was grieved or disheartened. It is no mistake or coincidence that Jesus addressed Peter three times, as a reminder or his past denial, in order to reveal Peter’s deepest motives. We say we are a Christ follower and yet disobey the simplest commands, maybe our devotion isn’t as true as we think. We say we trust Christ and yet worshipping Him takes second place to everything else in life, maybe we are not as committed to Jesus as we think. This doesn’t speak to salvation but to our servitude and motives.

Joh 21:18  Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."

Joh 21:19  (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."

This is a foreshadowing or pointing to Peter’s denial. Jesus, speaking an emphatic truth, informs Peter there will come a time when he will be stretched out and tied to a cross. Traditionally, Peter’s died about 40 plus years after Jesus spoke to him. Traditionally, When Peter was put to death, we are told that he requested that he might be crucified with his head downward, saying that he who had denied his Lord as he had done was not worthy to die as he did. Jesus informs Peter to feed His people and follow Him.

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

Joh 21:20  Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"

Joh 21:21  When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"

Joh 21:22  Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"

Joh 21:23  So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"

Peter was curious about the beloved apostle following behind them and what might happen to him. Peter does what many of us do, we worry about someone else. Jesus in short says, “you let me worry about him, you follow me.” We, often times, get jealous over people in ministry, where we think we can do better. It is good to have a vibrant and healthy church or community of believers, but you must answer for yourself.

Joh 21:24  This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

Joh 21:25  Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Much has been discovered as we worked through this gospel together, but two words can be the applicable take away, “follow me.” Now that you know “I Am He who has come to dwell among you and to redeem you,” follow me.

That being said, I want to spend a few moments in the Gospel of John, we will finish out these last few verses. Last time, we saw Jesus making the first post resurrection appearance to His disciples. The disciples were in fear of losing their lives, and Jesus appeared to them out of nowhere: Joh 20:19  On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."Joh 20:20  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  At the arrest of Jesus, the disciples were shattered, scared, doubtful, uncertain of the future, and Jesus appears to them and offers them peace. He spent time with them, offering them peace and enabling them to go forward with the mission set before them. Jesus gave them some marching orders, Joh 20:21  Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. Jesus was preparing them to go out into the world, but they still were not ready. They still harbored fear, and in order to begin to prepare them for the mission, Jesus breathes on them the Spirit of God. The Spirit that destroys fear, dissolves uncertainty, and gives them boldness, as apostles, to carry out the establishing of the early church of the Lord Jesus. If these men were to set the foundation and make disciples of the nations, then they were going to need a supernatural makeover and help. If the disciples were to be fruitful in making other disciples, if they were to be faith to preach, teach, lead, and plant the early church, they need empowerment from the Holy Spirit, and the need to start off with the right motives, “peace.†Joh 20:22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Behind closed doors, Jesus invaded their fear and confusion with His peace and empowerment for the Holy Spirit. With you Bibles before you, turn to chapter 20: 24-31, I have entitled this message, “doubting and delivery.â€

Be Faithful In Your Witness: Do you have that one stubborn friend or family member that will just not budge on the things of God. They have their ideas about the Christian faith and they are not about to budge. Let me challenge you to be faithful in your witness, even when it looks futile. If God is the giver of salvation, all we can do Is point to Him and let Him do the rest. This is exactly what the disciples demonstrate for Thomas. Joh 20:24  Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. Joh 20:25  So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."

I am convinced, sometimes we need to be a little like Thomas in our thinking about God. Why? Because Christianity can hold up to the most strenuous scrutiny. Jesus Christ over the years has held up to scrutiny and has proven that He changes lives. So, be like Thomas a little, ask the hard questions and see that the Lord is faithful. Thomas in the Hebrew and Didymus in the Greek, has been marred for centuries as “doubting Thomas.†He has been forever memorialized as a person that lacks appropriate belief in Christ. Thomas was not with the disciples when they encountered Jesus in the locked room. In a way, the disciples are like many of us, and Thomas is like those in the world that had not yet been changed by the risen Lord. We take the good news to them and they say, “I need to see in order to believe.†A faithful witness will take the Lord at His Word, but in order to further their witness and knowledge of God, will desire to dig deeper in His Word. One might learn from Thomas, not to doubt, but to seek the answers of the hard questions. Thomas meant business, for he uses a double negative as to say, “I will in no wise believe.† Have you ever said something similar and the Lord changed your MIND? Very similar to Peter who said, “I will never deny you Lord,†to denying him three times. So Thomas will be shown the truth, beauty, and power of a living God who is active and alive in our lives. Remember, the Lord is preparing them to set the foundation for the early church, so these interactions with them are crucial in setting the tone throughout church history. We were all doubters at one time, inquisitors even, until the Lord showed is His salvation.

We all have that one stubborn friend who refuses to listen to anyone or take advice. The type of person who doesn’t like to be corrected and thinks themselves tough enough to handle anything without community or help. I can honestly say, some of my own family members were like this. We might be that stubborn person. Thomas was the doubter, the analytical disciple of sorts. Thomas turned out to be a vital part of the early church. Thomas was not there with the others, so he didn’t get to see Jesus first post resurrection appearance. The disciples,  who were so pumped for they saw Jesus alive, ran into the heavy wall of skeptism.  Tradition and history placing Thomas as an integral part of the early church in India, and it is also in India, December 21st around 72 ad, when Thomas was martyred and stabbed for the Lord Jesus. Thomas is much like many of us, we want to believe in all the Lord has to offer, in terms of faith, but we want a reasonable and viable faith, and serving the Lord Jesus delivers when challenged. If it were not for the other disciples, being faithful to testify of the risen Lord, Thomas may not have even stayed long enough to see Jesus. Let us be like the disciples in two ways, like Thomas, seeking truth, and like the other disciples being faithful to exclaim the Lord.

“Stop Doubting and Believe:† Joh 20:26  A week later his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were shut, Jesus came, stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." Joh 20:27  Then he told Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, but believe." Joh 20:28  Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

Jesus once again appeared behind closed and locked doors. Much like Jesus immediately appeared in response to the disciples fear, so now Jesus appears in response to Thomas’ doubts. Jesus once again used the word “peace.†As if Jesus heard the conversation, he instructs Thomas to place his hands in the wounds. It shows us that we serve a risen Lord who wants to answer our concerns. What one must make note of, is the response from Thomas. This is a confession and profession towards the deity and Lordship of Jesus. Notice Jesus response, He didn’t say get up, or only worship God, He allowed Thomas to worship Him, which means, Jesus was either God or a devil because only a devil would allow worship if he wasn’t God. We can talk about the grammar in and language that Thomas uses, but it all makes sense in the response of Jesus. Joh 20:29  Jesus told him, "Is it because you have seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!" BLESSED are those who have faith and are not discouraged when they can’t always see the end result, or who cannot see immediate evidence. In preparing all the apostles for ministry, this needed to happen in the life of Thomas,  in the same way that Saul needed a Damascus road encounter.

I read an article from the Huffington post of all places… “I grew up deeply entrenched in Evangelicalism. So much so, that I made it my career. I went to Bible College to become a pastor. And I worked in the church full-time for about ten years. I was good at drawing a crowd — I’m a performer, so “preaching†was my strong suit. (I eventually left full-time vocational ministry to become an actor and movie producer.)

My big problem with faith was that I was and continue to be a profound skeptic. I was much better at saying things in ways to help others along than I was sorting through the questions in my own head. I found myself on the verge of giving up altogether on Christianity. Then I met Jesus. It may seem a strange thing to say that a kid who grew up in the church, graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies and worked as a pastor for a decade didn’t know Jesus, but that’s the way my story unfolded.

I should clarify. I knew a version of Jesus. The Jesus who lived a perfect life, died on a cross for my sins and gave me a ticket to Heaven. I knew that one well, but the more I told that story to others, the less true it seemed to me. It rang hollow.

Then I decided to take the risk of taking seriously the early Christian accounts of Jesus and his message. What I discovered embedded in the ancient texts commonly called The Gospels shocked me. The Jesus portrayed in Matthew seemed convinced that Heaven had already come to earth. The Jesus in Luke demanded counter-cultural active alignment with the poor. The Jesus of John promised eternal (ultimate) life — but demanded that it begin now, not in the afterlife.

In all the early accounts, Jesus was a threat to the establishment. A rebel. A revolutionary. He was extreme and dangerous. He told the clergy that they were con artists headed to hell. He claimed that he himself was the unique way to God.

No matter what I want to tell myself, I would have rejected him had I been given the chance. If we could step away from what we think we know about Jesus and see what the records show... I think we’d agree that he probably came off, at best, as a well-intentioned delusional cult leader. At worst he’s a crazed maniacal egomaniac. Or, I suppose, he could have been sent to us from God with good news. That’s the third option.

I decided to gamble the rest of my life on the latter. I could be wrong, but so far submitting to this radical, unpredictable, iconoclastic Jesus has been worth it. I might have even felt a few passing moments of Heaven and eternal life through the process... and at least on those days, it all rings true to me. Serving Jesus, is worth it all. Proclaiming Jesus, is worth it all, serving Him is worth it all, being saved by Him is worth it all.

Joh 20:30  Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not recorded in this book. There were many other signs that Jesus performed in front of them to prepare them for disciple making.

Joh 20:31  But these have been recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that through believing you may have life in his name.

Be Faithful In Your Witness “Stop Doubting and Believeâ€Â 

I remember reading of such a man, whose life was so hide in Christ, that it even helped him fall out of being a suspect to a crime. Being a young man that loved to tinker with things, Charles worked with his uncle during the summer months in his shop.  Each morning they stopped to pick up the newspaper at a small grocery store and read it together. Shifting through the headlines was a highlight of both of their mornings together.

One morning, when they got to the shop, Donald had found, that by mistake, he had accidently grabbed two papers. At first, he wanted to just wait until the next morning when they went to the store, then pay for the extra paper, but his conscience got the best of him and he said, “Hop in Charles, I need to go to the store and pay for this paper before the man thinks that I stole it.†He got in his Ford truck, drove back to the store, and returned the paper.

A week or so went by, and someone stole money from that little country store. When the Sherriff pinpointed the time, it happened, the owner remembered only two people had been in the store that day—and one was my uncle. The owner of that store dismissed my uncle as a suspect, saying, “Donald is really honest. He came all the way back here just to return a newspaper he took by mistake.†It didn’t take much deduction to find the other man, who after confronted made a full-on confession.  Donald’s honesty made a big impression on the owner of the storeowner, and on Charles.

Does your Christian walk square with your Christian witness? When you speak of Jesus, if you speak of Him, does your witness line up with your character? Would people dismiss you automatically, like they did with Donald, because they know you would never do such a thing?

Most importantly, Jesus wants us to “go,†even if we are frightened, like these early disciples, He even wants us to be willing to go. Can you pray that today, “Lord make me willing to be a better witness for you?†We live in such a time, that puts on display the depravity of man, it calls of demands we become the boots on the ground of the Lord Jesus. For many of us, that means we have some cleaning up of our own yard. Here is the thing, don’t dwell in your yard and continue to say, “I can’t be a witness unless I get my life right first. Lean on Christ, He will help you clean up your garbage in life, and be on mission for Him. As the author of Hebrews instructs, Heb 3:1  Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, Heb 3:2  who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.  He has called us all, who identify with the risen Lord, are to be faith to consider and share of His saving grace.

Jesus Unlocks Doors and Tears Down Fear: Joh 20:19  On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."Joh 20:20  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

It is amazing, even in the event of His death and resurrection, Jesus is still the master teacher. Just moments before, the disciples were scattered, crushed from despair, and without hope, but Jesus will make them see that what He said of Himself is true and coming to pass before their eyes