Don't Doubt His Love (John 20)

On Tuesday April 10th I subbed at Saint Boniface Catholic School. I was subbing for Mrs Gnan, the 4th and 5th Grade teacher.

What a wonderful class. There are normally only 7 students but two were sick so we were down to 5 kids for the day. They were well-behaved, studious, yet 10 years old.

This came truth came out when we arrived at Religion class. I love Religion because I love Jesus. I can't do powerless, "Jesus-less" religion. If my religion isn't changing me, I need it to change. And today's lesson was on the Resurrection! How cool!

In the guide I was given it said, "The Resurrection is the MOST Vital truth of the Catholic faith."

Woah! And Duh! Of course it is!

But when we think Catholic we think Praying to saints,  perpetual virginity of Mary, the Hail Mary, well I guess just a lot about Mary. 

 But The Resurrection is the Most Vital Truth! That is awesome. 

Anyhow the Gospel reading was John Chapter 20. This is the Chapter where 1) Mary Magdalene arrives at the empty tomb, 2) Jesus greets her but she thinks he is the gardener, 3) Jesus informs Mary that He is alive, 4) Mary preaches the Gospel to the other disciples who are hiding in fear, 5) Thomas doesn't believe and is forever known as "Doubting Thomas." 6) Finally Jesus shows up, walks through a door, and says, "Peace be with you."


Amazing Chapter of Scripture. Stop reading my blog and read it all. John Chapter 20. If you don't come back here I will not be offended. Read the Bible. It is good stuff! 

So back to School. In the Relgion assignment there was a play that the students had to read through. But since they were a fine class I asked them if instead they wanted to get up out of their seats and act it out. We drew names and off we went. Of course some of the gender roles were messed up but they could handle it. And Of course Jesus ended up being a girl. 

And She loved it. She was so excited and almost shouting her lines.  

But then we were done. We sat back in seats and discussed. 

We talked about the Resurrection. We talked about Mary finding the empty tomb. We talked about how she didn't recognize him there. We talked about why they thought the disciples were hiding in the upper room. And we talked about fear and doubt. 

Looking back we think the disciples are crazy for missing the Resurrection. Jesus said he was going to Raise from the dead, how could they not believe? How could they not remember?

Concluding thoughts 

1) Grief can cloud our memory. 

Mary thought Jesus was a gardener. The Bible doesn't say, but I believe Mary would have been so upset about Jesus dying still. Remember it was only Friday that they saw him get killed on a cross. She was overwhelmed that he wasn't with her. But much more.... She thought someone had stolen the body. Not only did they not have Jesus alive but they couldn't even come to grieve. 

You see through tear-filled eyes Mary couldn't see that Jesus was standing right in front of her the whole time. 

We need time to grieve when tragic events come our way but remember Jesus is always with you. He just might look like a gardener that day!

2) Fear and doubt can cloud our hope

It is hard to have hope for the future when we are doubting ourselves or fearful of what might happen. The disciples were fearful. They had not yet received the Holy Spirit promised to them by Jesus. They were hiding in fear of the Religious rulers. 

They had just killed their rabbi could they be next?

3) Jesus will walk through any door for you. 

Yet Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared to the disciples the first time. He didn't believe the women or the men that proclaim, "Dude! Jesus is alive!"

Hahahhaha April fools right?

No.

Yet in his unbelief Jesus walked through a door (because remember John said "He is the door (John 10)"

Literally? Probably not. Don't get hung up on the details. 

The Point? There is no obstacle too large to stop Jesus from loving you. There is no mountain high. No valley low. No river wide enough baby. (Now I want to go watch "Remember the Titans!!!")

In our unbelief Jesus walks up to us and says, "Here I am!" You needed proof! Touch my hands. See my scares. Get your hands dirty and bloody but feeling the wound in my side. I did this for you. I did this for love. 


 So what, now what?

Jesus' love for us this Easter Season should cause us to be 1) Confident in his love, 2) walk through walls in order to show love, grace, and forgiveness. 

After all- The Resurrection is the most vital truth of the Catholic Church. 

And if you're not Catholic like me. It is still vital. It is the the most vital truth of being a Christian. 
 Because when we follow Jesus to the cross (Deny ourselves) we follow him to the tomb (killing pride) and we follow him to the Resurrection (It is here that we live and have power to love).