Optimist’s Roundtable

By Martha Sykes

It was a week after Jesus had risen and His disciples were behind locked doors in the Upper Room. They were hiding from the authorities because they were full of fear that they would be treated the same as Jesus was treated.

All of a sudden, Jesus appeared to them and said “Peace be with you!” Only Jesus could get through a locked door. Jesus showed them His hands and His side, and then He breathed on them so they would receive the Holy Spirit. In the gospel of John, chapter 20 you can read the story. When Jesus appeared the first time, Thomas was not there so he would not believe the other followers unless he saw his nail scarred hands.

So Jesus returned the next week and once again said “Peace be with you!” This time Thomas was there and Jesus told him to see His hands and told home to put his hand in His side.

Thomas then said, “My Lord and my God.”

Then Jesus told him that because he seen Him then he believed. Jesus left him with these words: “Blessed are those who have not seen me but still believe!”

Reading this scripture has so many messages for us. The disciples were living in fear of what was going to happen to them. After walking with Jesus for so long and then He left them, but suddenly He appears again with those words of peace. Before He was crucified and spent time with the disciples, He made a promise that He would send the Holy Spirit and not to let their hearts be troubled, but to believe.

Jesus kept His promise and as He proved to Thomas that He truly was the risen Christ. Faith guides us when we cannot see, but we will see Him some day.