John 20-21--Doubting Jesus

As we read John's account of Jesus' resurrection and the days following it, we see a common belief/attitude in Jesus' followers. In each of them, there is some level of doubt of Jesus' resurrection. The immediate question then centers around why Jesus' most devoted followers seemed to doubt the fact that Jesus was alive. Surely, they all realized what kind of power Jesus had; many had seen Jesus restore life in a number of dead persons. If Jesus is the Son of God, then nothing would be impossible for him. We can ask a number of questions about the disciples' doubt. At the same time, though, we must ask if we still doubt Jesus. Do we doubt that Jesus is who he says he is? Did Jesus really rise from the grave? Do we doubt what Jesus can do in our life and in the life of our family, our church, or our world? Simply having faith opens the door for us to be able to see what Jesus is doing. Doubting, though, limits to what we can see. Like the disciples, though, Jesus meets each of us where we are, and encourages into a deeper level of faith and trust in him and in God.