. . .Maybe doubting isn’t all that bad.
When Jesus was talking to his disciples, his friends, he was trying to prepare them for his departure. They were bewildered and there was one among them that just couldn’t refrain from speaking up when something wasn’t what it seemed or something did not make sense.
Thomas was far too honest and far too much in earnest to be satisfied with any ambiguity or vague pious expressions. So he expressed his doubts and his failure to understand.
The wonderful part of that is that it provoked one of the greatest things Jesus ever said.
That tells us that we don’t need to be ashamed of our doubts because ultimately, those who seek will in the end find.
When Jesus says, “I am the Way . . .” that’s amazing to us but it is even more amazing to a Jewish person with their context of understanding.
The Jews talked a ton about the way that people should walk and the ways of God. They knew of their patriarchs Moses and Isaiah teaching of and talking about “the way.” So when Jesus said, “I am the Way” – it was eye-opening.
Think about it for a second. If you are in a strange place and you need to find a certain location and you ask someone, more often than not it is easier if they just “show” you instead of say, “go 3 blocks, turn left, then turn right, etc.” We’d probably end up getting halfway there and then getting lost again.
The better offer would be if they said, “Hey! Come with me, I’ll take you there.”
And that is what Jesus does. He doesn’t give advice and directions. Instead, he takes us by the hand and leads us; strengthening us and guiding us personally every day. He doesn’t TELL us about the way, he is the Way.
How can we go with him today?