In Basic Christianity, by John Stott, he asks the question, “What is the Fascination with Jesus?” The following is a exert from the book:
“An appreciable number of people throughout the world are still brought up in Christian homes in which the truth of Christ and of Christianity is assumed. But when their critical faculties develop and they begin to think for themselves, they find it easier to discard the religion of their childhood than make the effort to investigate its credentials.
Very many others do not grow up in a Christian environment. Instead they absorb the teaching of Hinduism, Buddhism or Islam, or the ethos of secular humanism, communism or existentialism.
Yet both groups, if and when they read about Jesus, find that he holds for them a fascination they cannot easily escape.”
As I have been preparing for this Sunday’s teaching at youth group I was reminded of this thought of Stott’s. In John 20:24-29 John is talking about Thomas one of the Twelve disciples. Some of us know him for doubting the resurrection of Jesus. He wanted to see the scars and feel the wounds in his side. I find myself in his shoes often. I want to touch and have something tangible to believe in as God.
That is what makes Christianity so amazing and different from other religions. God doesn’t just sit on a throne on high and judge and rule from up there but the came humbly in the form of man to live, suffer, and die for us. He is tangible he took on flesh. Thomas could see him, talk to him, and touch him. He was even able to do this after Jesus had died and risen from the dead.
I feel that this is one of the reasons that other religions and people in general find the person of Jesus so fascinating. He actually was a person yet he was God. I am thankful that God uses Thomas to answer the questions so many people have, ” Did he really live, die, and RAISE from the dead, yet was human?” This part of the Gospel of John helps me to remember that there really were people there who saw Jesus live, die, and raise for the dead.
John 20:29 end with, ” Have you (Thomas) believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We aren’t able to physically see Jesus but God has given us his word, the Bible,that we may know him and we can share in the doubts of others and also in the celebration the answer to those doubts.
He has Risen Indeed!! Alleluia!!
