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The Graciousness of Jesus

                  On one hand, he was just being honest.  He did not believe it and, regardless of how many people said that it was true, he was not going to change his mind.

                On the other hand, he had been with Jesus for almost three years.  He had seen the miracles.  He had heard the teaching.  He saw Jesus walking on the water.  He saw dead people raised to life.

                More than that, the news that he refused to believe was not just some wild rumour.  He heard it from his best and most trusted friends.  They claimed that they had seen it with their own eyes.

                Yet, Thomas did not believe.  He was not with the disciples when the resurrected Jesus first appeared to them.  He had given up all hope.  “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand in his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

                A week later, the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them.  Jesus appeared and said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side.  Stop doubting and believe”.  Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!” and from then on he was no longer “Doubting Thomas”.

                Had I been in Jesus’ place, I likely would have scolded Thomas for his unbelief, but that is not his nature.  Rather, Jesus is kind and patient.  He gives us what we need.  He allows us to grow at our own pace.  In other words, he is gracious with us.

                Sometimes people think that God is a mean taskmaster who only cares that we keep his rules.  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

                We need to understand the gracious, kind, and nurturing father that Jesus came to reveal.

                “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

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