Dear Friends,

Today I am reading John 20:19-31:

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.’

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.But these are written so that you may come to believethat Jesus is the Messiah,the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Maybe some of you were like me and interested in the Boston marathon this year. There were lots of human interest stories: the winner was an American for the first time in 30 plus years, a man who lost both legs at the Boston marathon last year is engaged to the woman who was waiting for him at the finish line, a man from Knoxville ran the race backwards in honor of folks injured last year, and then turned around and ran it the right way with the rest of the racers. Survivors from last year's bombing came to the race again this year, openly sharing about their injuries, recoveries, scars, and even prostheses. And even though this is a race for the strong and fit, many people who had been wounded and even lost limbs came this year, scars and all. And what a blessing!

All those scars reminded me of Jesus and the scars he had. And when Thomas didn't recognize him, Jesus identified himself BY his scars... And I can't imagine that the disciples didn't carry a few scars of their own--maybe spiritual scars, but scars nonetheless. They were so wounded that all they knew to do was hide in fear of the people who put Jesus to death. Maybe they were afraid to see Jesus--they had abandoned him, failed him. Peter denied him, most of the rest of them were nowhere to be found whileJesus was onethe cross. Maybe Jesus was the person they were hiding from. Maybe they thought Jesus would chastise them for their failures. So they locked the door and weren't going to answer it. But this newJesus could travel through locked doors. And instead of fussing atthem, he says, "Peace be with you." Everything is all right!Jesus has come and visited the disciples to heal the brokenness in them and make them whole. Just another paradox in the life and ministry of Jesus-- the one with scars brings peace. And its as if the wounds he bears give him more authority in speaking that peace. And its not just once Jesus shows up. He came back to see Thomas, he came in the word, in the water, in the bread, he did not want anyone to miss out on what he gives after theresurrection. And he gives us the same today. Jesus sends us out of our safe locked rooms (or our safe sanctuaries) , into a world that desperately needs the gifts he offers of life and peace. How could we not love him! And Jesus has healing balm for our scars too-- grace.! The Boston marathon bombing survivors have drawn encouragement and support from each other and from others who have been wounded through violence in our world. In that same way, we draw grace from our wounded, yet miraculously risen, Savior. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Please pray:

  • Evelyn Williams is at JCMC room 4317
  • Carrie Denny is at Franklin Woods Community Hospital, supposed to go home today
  • Guy Jacobs had emergency surgery last week
  • Elizabeth Bailey is at home and recovering well.
  • Scott Huff's aunt is coming to the end of her journey in this life. Please remember Scott and his family in these days of impending grief.
  • Jane Eddy
  • Please pray for our church, that we follow the guidance of our Lord, and that we respond faithfully to the mission in which we are called.

CALENDAR/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Sunday April 27 1 service Rev Walter Weikel, DistrictSuperintendent of the JC district, preaching
  • Outreach 5 pm April 27
  • Connections 5:30 pm April 27
  • Downton JC study: 4:30 Sunday April 27
  • April 29, 6:30 Leadership Pillar

"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

St Francis of Assisi
Blessings,
Jane Taylor
First United Methodist Church

Johnson City TN