Decembers are tough on many people.
We come to the end of the year and tend reflect on everything we didn’t achieve (instead of marvelling at the amazing things God did in our lives over the last year) and sometimes, our Faith is a bit shook, because we look at the “perfect” lives of other on Instagram, and Facebook and TikTok and wonder at their success… (even if we deep down know its probably just for the camera.)
So I think it is on purpose that my reading of the Gospel of John took me deep into December this year, because God had something to show me.
In Chapter 20 of The Gospel of John, we meet a few versions of Faith and Belief.
First, we come across Mary of Magdala, so stuck in the events of the day that she did not recognise Jesus. She was chosen as the first person that Jesus would appear to, but she neither recognised the angel messengers nor Jesus, thinking he is hired help.
How did Jesus respond to Mary? He called her name:
”Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
(John 20:16 NIV)
And that was enough for her. The way Jesus spoke her name was instant recognition!
Then you have Simon Peter and John, racing to the tomb after Mary’s report of the disappearance of the body of Christ. Both saw the empty tomb and the linens Jesus was wrapped in, lying in the tomb, but with the same evidence, two responses.
John believed:
“He saw and Believed”
(John 20:8 NIV)
But we don’t know about Peter… All the bible says is that they were both still confused, puzzelde and didn’t fully understand…
Then we got the group together, and Jesus appeared in a locked room. The disciples, even with testimony from three of their number, still lived in fear. But Jesus appeared, and showed them His hands and his side… and they believed.
And last we have good old “doubting Thomas” – How he ever got this name, I am not sure, because all of them doubted… Anyhoo Jesus again appeared in a closed off room, but this time specifically answering Thomas’s fears.
“So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
(John 20:25 NIV)
So Jesus obliged…
“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.””
(John 20:25–27 NIV)
This is just absolutely, mind bendingly amazing… Jesus did not condemn anyone for their unbelief. He came to them on their level.
Whether caught up in the events of the day, fearing for the future, stuck in the past or needing evidence that all is as it should be. Even the one who believed but confused… Jesus met them where they were.
There is a story of a Christian, sitting on a plane between a Hindu and a Buddhist, and the small talk turns to religion. Both the Buddhist and the Hindu describes their lives as a walk and climb up a mountain to reach their god. Sometimes falling, sometimes sliding back, but slowly progressing up. When they turn to the Christian and ask “Don’t you agree that all paths lead to God, we just take different roads to get there?” And he responded… “that may be, I don’t know… but what I do know is that my God came down to me and walks the path with me”
Jesus meets us where we are… He is not waiting there, where He wants us to be. He is HERE… already next to you, still with you, never leaving you. So if you have doubts this Christmas, or not so happy with the year that is passed… or walking into the new year with trepidation. Jesus Christ is walking with you wherever you might find yourself.
Just stretch out your hand and take His.
