April 14th, 2026
Good morning, church family & friends!
Being left out stinks. No matter how you spin it, it still stinks. I remember when my circle of friends in Junior High formed a new club and I was the only one not invited to join. In the long-range scheme of things, did it matter? No, not at all. But at the moment, it hurt. And evidently being left out left some kind of mark on me because I still remember it! It's not fun to be on the outside looking in.
Welcome to the world of the disciple Thomas. For reasons we do not know, he was not with the Twelve on the first Easter (John 20:24). Though hiding behind locked doors, “Jesus came and stood among them” (v. 19). I can’t even imagine the thrill, the excitement, along with some healthy fear, of that moment. Jesus spoke peace to calm them and showed his hands and side to convince them. Joy abounded!
For everyone but Thomas, who was left out of that incredible moment. Try as they might, the Disciples could not relay what they had experienced to Thomas in a way that removed his doubt. He declared, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hand and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (v. 25). For that one statement, he has forever been saddled with the moniker of “Doubting Thomas.”
I feel for Thomas! Earlier he was willing to accompany Jesus back to Bethany even if it meant dying with Jesus (Jn. 11:16). He had enough courage to ask Jesus how they could follow if they don’t know the way (Jn. 14:5). Besides, all Thomas asked for was what the Disciples had already experienced. Jesus had showed them his hands and side. Thomas desperately wanted that, to move from being left out to included in.
A week later, the Twelve gathered and Thomas was with them (v. 26). Jesus came and again stood among them. Turning to Thomas he said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side” (v. 27). There is no indication Thomas acted on Jesus' offer. He simply declared, “My Lord and my God” (v. 28)! How good it must have felt to have moved from being left out to being included in.
Being left out stinks; being let in rocks! Especially when being let in means your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and you can live forever in Jesus’ presence. That’s the only “club” that really matters. He is risen! Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Pastor David
Being left out stinks. No matter how you spin it, it still stinks. I remember when my circle of friends in Junior High formed a new club and I was the only one not invited to join. In the long-range scheme of things, did it matter? No, not at all. But at the moment, it hurt. And evidently being left out left some kind of mark on me because I still remember it! It's not fun to be on the outside looking in.
Welcome to the world of the disciple Thomas. For reasons we do not know, he was not with the Twelve on the first Easter (John 20:24). Though hiding behind locked doors, “Jesus came and stood among them” (v. 19). I can’t even imagine the thrill, the excitement, along with some healthy fear, of that moment. Jesus spoke peace to calm them and showed his hands and side to convince them. Joy abounded!
For everyone but Thomas, who was left out of that incredible moment. Try as they might, the Disciples could not relay what they had experienced to Thomas in a way that removed his doubt. He declared, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hand and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (v. 25). For that one statement, he has forever been saddled with the moniker of “Doubting Thomas.”
I feel for Thomas! Earlier he was willing to accompany Jesus back to Bethany even if it meant dying with Jesus (Jn. 11:16). He had enough courage to ask Jesus how they could follow if they don’t know the way (Jn. 14:5). Besides, all Thomas asked for was what the Disciples had already experienced. Jesus had showed them his hands and side. Thomas desperately wanted that, to move from being left out to included in.
A week later, the Twelve gathered and Thomas was with them (v. 26). Jesus came and again stood among them. Turning to Thomas he said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side” (v. 27). There is no indication Thomas acted on Jesus' offer. He simply declared, “My Lord and my God” (v. 28)! How good it must have felt to have moved from being left out to being included in.
Being left out stinks; being let in rocks! Especially when being let in means your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and you can live forever in Jesus’ presence. That’s the only “club” that really matters. He is risen! Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Pastor David
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