no commentsI’m always amazed how kind and gentle Jesus is to his friends on this particular morning — the same friends who fell asleep, cowered, ran away, denied him in his darkest hour. These men, like me, were weak and unworthy disciples. But Jesus doesn’t scold them, guilt them, or abandon them, although their sins and…
1 comment“Do not disbelieve, but believe.” The words that the risen Christ spoke to Thomas so often speak to me — the simplicity, the truth, the conviction, the encouragement. Yesterday was a day when everything I did seemed to be born from disbelief, a lack of faith. Jesus’ words helped me to confess and seek reconciliation…
no commentsIt’s always painful to read the story of Pilate, who knows and publicly proclaims Christ’s innocence, and still approves of him being flogged and crucified. Yet this is exactly what we believe as Christians: that he who knew no sin was punished on our behalf. Pilate’s motives were evil and cowardly; but “God the just”…
2 commentsI’ve often identified with Peter, who denied the very man he said he would die for. I know the pain of being unfaithful to my dearest friend. I know the feeling of going from devotee to deserter, sometimes within minutes. It’s a strange sort of comfort, this solidarity with Peter. The failure itself doesn’t comfort…
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1 comment“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (v. 33) I love how forthright Christ is when he promises trouble. Ease will be the exception. Peace, an anomaly. But then, there’s a glorious juxtaposition: he has overcome it. In fact, Jesus experienced it firsthand, as God in the…
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