Gregg's Rest Stop (Honest Thomas)

Published: Mon, 09/26/11

              GREGG'S REST STOP    September 26, 2011

Honest Thomas
    
Thomas, called the Twin, was not with the disciples
when the resurrected Lord Jesus came to them.
 
Thomas later said,
"Unless I see in His hands the nail prints I will not believe."
 
Jesus then came to Thomas and said,
"Look at My hands...touch My wounds."
And Thomas replied, "My Lord and my God!"
 JOHN 20:24-28
 
Jesus' disciple Thomas has been labeled "doubting Thomas" as a result of these Scriptures.  However, I believe God wants us to more profoundly understand "honest Thomas."  
 
OUR ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
Because the other disciples had already seen the risen Christ, Thomas could have taken their word for it.  However, I believe Thomas had a deep desire to also personally see Jesus.
 
And when Thomas encountered Jesus, he did not say, "Ok then, I see the nail prints.  Now I believe."  No, Thomas not only saw Jesus' nail prints in His hands, Thomas saw Jesus' hands...His beautiful hands...His living hands!  Thomas responded by worshiping Jesus very personally, "My Lord and my God!"
 
Until a person personally encounters the risen Christ, there can be no salvation and no transformation.  Christianity is not believing certain beliefs...Christianity is believing Christ Himself!
 
OUR RESURRECTION STORY
Jennifer Kennedy Dean has greatly helped me further see the beauty of Christ in you and me (refer to right column for details). 
 
We no longer have to be ashamed of emotional and/or physical wounds and scars in our lives.  Because we are united with the risen Christ, we can testify, as He did to Thomas, that our scars tell His resurrection story in each of our lives! 
 
People cannot hear our message of hope and resurrection if we are not open with them and do not entrust our hearts to them. People encounter Christ Himself through our hearts genuinely expressed by faith.
 
CLOSING
We can stand tall as trophies of God's grace with our scars out in the open.  We've been entrusted with the greatest story ever told, and with a very personal story -- Jesus' resurrection story uniquely expressed through each of our lives!
 
 
 
PS, I don't know who Thomas' twin was, but I know who my twin is.  Below is me and my twin sister Susan just a few years ago.  :)
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 >> About
GREGG GIBBONS
PASTORAL DIRECTOR
 
DISCIPLESHIP COUNSELING
TEACHING AND TRAINING
 
 Please contact me if you'd like to know more about partnering with me.  I'd love to hear from you!

BEAUTIFUL WOUNDS
Excerpt from her book
He Restores My Soul:  A 40-day Journey Toward Personal Renewal
by Jennifer Kennedy Dean
 
Out of our brokenness comes the powerful overflow of Christ's life -- the God of all comfort comforts others through us (2 Corinthians 1:3).
 
Jesus' physical crucifixion is the death into which we enter.  And His resurrection is the resurrection that is manifested in us.  His perfect, resurrection body retained its scars.
 
How often our pride causes us to think of our wounds and our scars as something to hide.  Something ugly.
 
But look at Jesus.  Look what Jesus thought of His wounds.  "Here Thomas.  Look at My wounds.  Touch My scars.  These are the proof of resurrection.  I bear the marks of death, but I am alive." 
 
Jesus knew His wounds were beautiful. 
 
I have had a hard time sharing experiences.  I have disliked the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable.  God seemed to say to me, "Jennifer, I am not asking you to tell your story.  I am asking you to tell My story in its Jennifer-edition.  You are not your own." 
 
At the places where I am broken, the power of Christ is authenticated in me.  I can say to others, "Look at my wounds.  Touch my scars.  I have death-wounds, but I am alive." 
 
People cannot trust my message of hope and resurrection unless they see my scars.  I can wear my wounds without shame. They tell a resurrection story.
 
 Hand sketch by a boy at the
Boys Home of the South in 2004.
 
 

 
Click above for testimonies by friends, including Bobby Richardson.
 
 
Click above for weekly Rest Stops since August 2010.
 
JOURNEY IN CHRIST, INC.
926 N.E. Main Street   Suite F-155
Simpsonville, SC  29681
(864) 228-HOPE (ministry)     (864) 483-3201 (Gregg cell)