Have you ever tried to share your vision with someone who just doesn’t ‘get it’? How do you feel? Consider today’s Holy Nougat
““No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”” John 14:5 NLT
So Jesus has been ministering with His inner circle for a while and was preparing them for the glorious fulfillment of His work. Knowing the impact that it will have on the disciples, and, given that the mantle was being passed to them, Jesus sought to prepare them for the inevitable – His death. Beginning with an assurance that the disciples ought not be disquieted by the pending events, Jesus spoke about His resurrection plans in a somewhat coded manner.
But His disciples did NOT get it. Maybe their heads were in the clouds, trying to discern who was the greatest. Or they saw what was happening, and were trying to make sense of it all. Or perhaps they just didn’t understand when Jesus spoke or acted. (You know how it goes, when you are in school or elsewhere and no one ‘gets’ the lesson or instruction but only one person is brave enough to admit that it’s gone over everyone’s heads).
Thomas finally spoke up.
His question might have frustrated Jesus to no end. It was almost a direct message that Thomas didn’t ‘get’ Jesus. And of course, us who are situated on this side of the resurrection scoff at Thomas’ query and his doubts; but do we always ‘get’ Jesus? Do we understand His ministry and message? Do we believe Him, given the proofs we have at our disposal?
When I step away from marveling about his doubts, I can’t help but notice that the relationship between Thomas and Jesus is real. Despite the potential implications of his question, Thomas evidently *knew* that he could ask Jesus about anything. There was no stupid question for the inner circle. And that’s good news for us. We can bring anything to Jesus, even when it means that we don’t ‘get’ Him.
And, we also realize that it’s not too late to get Jesus or to choose to be a disciple. For Jesus has not changed. He is still open to our ‘stupid questions’. He is still waiting for us to join Him in the Place He has prepared for us in His “Father’s house”. Moreover, He’s sent God’s Spirit to confirm all our questions.
When faced with our own Thomases, I pray we can recall our own moments, or focus on the fact that Jesus did not shut him down. Rather may we relish the opportunity to be like Jesus by engaging instead of rejecting. Of course, if it is a ‘Jesus question’, take the opportunity to point them to Our Way, Jesus Christ.