Evidence
John 20:1-31 (June 1)
Josh Baldwin has a song that plays frequently on Christian radio called Evidence.
I see the evidence of your goodness all over my life, all over my life.
As Jesus was taken to the tomb, I have to think that all who loved him mourned not only for his life that was given, but for all the goodness he had brought to them.
Mary Magdalene seemed to really be missing him and went to the tomb early the morning after his death. Imagine her surprise when she saw that the stone had been rolled away!
She ran off to tell the disciples, and found a couple of them along the way. “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
I guess these two disciples needed to see the evidence for themselves, so they ran off to the tomb. Sure enough, all that remained were the linen cloths his body had been wrapped in.
And finally...they understood what Jesus had meant about rising from the dead. They understood now that the evidence was clear.
Mary is crying outside the tomb when two angels appear to her and ask her why she is crying. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “ and I don’t know where they have put him.”
At that moment, Jesus appeared beside her, though she didn’t immediately recognize him. It wasn’t until Jesus spoke her name, “Mary” that she turned to him and cried out “Rabboni!” Once again, nothing until the evidence was made clear.
Jesus gives her a message to give to the disciples. She runs to tell them who she has seen and what he has said.
That evening they are all still in hiding, fearing the Jewish leaders. Suddenly Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. He showed them the wounds in his hands and side. (Once again,evidence.)They were so happy to see him!
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” He spoke and then breathed on them and said, “ Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
How filled with joy they were, and how excited they were to tell Thomas when he arrived. But of course, he doubted (hence the name Doubting Thomas).he wanted to see the evidence before he would believe their story.
Eight days later, Jesus reappeared and offered Thomas the evidence he needed to believe. When Thomas touched his wounds,he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him,”You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
What about you? How strong is your faith? Do you believe without seeing, or are you like Thomas, needing the evidence before you can believe?
Faith is such a beautiful thing...that ability to believe what we cannot see. It is the foundation of our relationship with Christ. Faith is that solid rock we stand on when the world seems too crazy to endure.
I think of recent tragedies and I praise God for faith...the faith of innocent children, the faith of their parents, and the faith of all who stand beside them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The next verse in Josh Baldwin’s song says, “I see your promises and fulfillment all over my life, all over my life.”
The disciples could see the promises Jesus had made to them being fulfilled. Can you?
Sit for a moment and thank Him for all that he has fulfilled in your life, and thank him, in faith, for all he has yet to do.
Our lives are the EVIDENCE of his great love.