Seeing is believing

Last week Thomas had to see it to believe it. This week we are invited to see him as well.

This week we do not here the mixed blessing - "blessed are those who do not see me and yet believe." This week there is an open invitation to touch, see, handle. Jesus eats before them. This is a time of experiencing - of witnessing the resurrected Lord.

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are
witnesses of these things.

Peter, in his sermon, does the same. He opens to the crowd the scriptures of the Old Testament. The meanings handed down to him by Jesus. He proclaims that he and the others are witnesses, and he preaches the message of Jesus: forgiveness of sins.

Luke isn't the only author to pick up the refrain. John tells us in believing, we see Christ. That is so powerful we are made new - children of God! He declares:

You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

What is our response? When he is hidden and obscure? When he is no where to be found, aloof in heaven? Not to shame His glory of seek false gods. We focus our gaze on him. We pray with the psalmist in desperation.

Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.