The Party Crasher

John 20:19-31:

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 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.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to 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 into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Blog:

Jesus was The Perfect Party Crasher. Throughout Scripture and His-story, Jesus just keeps showing-up – often when folks least expect Him. Whether it was at the Nativity, the Temple, or the Upper Room, Jesus has a way of “crashing the party”. And, even when He does crash a party or two, we also often find that many of us still don’t Listen to, Trust in, and/or Obey Him and His Word(s). It’s almost like we’re Spiritually-blind, deaf, and ignorant at times to what God is telling us in our lives – even when it’s incredibly obvious and audibly-loud. That’s pride – it’s what got satan “booted” from the Eternal Party in Heaven and it’s what could get us exiled to hell forever. So, if we find Jesus “crashing” one of our own, worldly parties, we must be strong and mature enough Spiritually to at least stop and Listen to Him. For by hearing His Words, we will find that His Truths hold the Mysteries to Eternal Life. The hardest step in our earthly walk is Obeying what He’s telling us – as it often goes against what the world is telling us. But, this world is not our Home and we can Trust Him when He says, “you don’t want to miss My Party in Heaven”.