Sometimes we come to Jesus with certainty. Sometimes with questions, confusion or a longing to see for ourselves. John 20 shows us there is room for each of these journeys, but ultimately each one leads to the same question: do we believe?
This week, Pastor Rowe took us into the resurrection story in John 20. Mary came to the empty tomb grieving and confused. John saw the evidence and believed. The disciples encountered the risen Jesus behind locked doors, while Thomas needed to see and touch for himself. Jesus met each of them where they were and led them towards belief. And for those of us who have not seen Him with our own eyes, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”
But belief was never meant to stop with us. Jesus stood among His disciples and said, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then He breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. Just as God breathed life into Adam in Genesis 2, and into the dry bones of Ezekiel 37, Jesus breathes new life into His followers and sends them out to carry His forgiveness and good news into the world.
Pastor Rowe reminded us that believing in Jesus is more than something we say or think. Belief changes the way we live. It means following Jesus, allowing His ways to reshape our own, and putting into action the new life He has breathed into us.
We have been given new life, filled with the Holy Spirit and sent into the world as living, speaking, walking and acting followers of Jesus. The invitation is to take what we believe and live it.
