On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

(John 20:19-29 ESV)

From Doubt to Belief

This passage reminds us that Jesus will break through all of our locked doors of fear and unbelief. The disciples were hiding in fear, locking the rest of the world out, and concerned that Jesus’ mission had failed. They didn’t fully understand the meaning of the resurrection and how that would change their lives.

Then Jesus showed up, somehow penetrating their “safe” fortress. I can’t begin to count the number of times Jesus has penetrated my safe theology. He will always confront our fears, our unbelief, and our spiritual inhibitions, no matter how much we seek to insulate ourselves in these rooms of doubt.

The disciples had a world to change. They had a mission to accomplish. Locking themselves in a room and hiding from the world wasn’t going to accomplish that mission. But Jesus is always faithful. He gets by their security measures. He penetrates their fortress of isolation. He empowers them to get beyond their fears, doubts, and uncertainties, and compels them to go into the world and change it.

Be free beloved. Accept today that God is going to penetrate your walls of doubt over and over again until you finally surrender to His life-giving power and freedom. The resurrection was for you. The same power that rose Jesus from the grave now lives in you. It empowers you to live the missional adventure and share God’s love with the world around you. Go forth mightily in His Name!