In a few weeks I have been invited to speak at a church. It’s after Easter so the passages they have given me are about what happens after Jesus has risen. There is the story of Jesus appearing to his disciples in a locked room on the evening of Easter Day (or its equivalent 2000 years ago) and then a bit of Peter’s first sermon after receiving the Holy Spirit and speaking in a different language. Because I’ve got some time to prepare, I looked up some commentaries to help me. In one of them I found an interesting point.
The point is how those who encounter Jesus stay the same and yet are changed. Thomas isn’t with the disciples when Jesus first appears and doesn’t believe so is sometimes nicknamed ‘Doubting Thomas’. Jesus appears again a week later and this time Thomas is with them. Jesus doesn’t tell Thimas off for not believing but gives him a chance to believe. Thomas sees Jesus and says, “My Lord and my God!” That is a old confession of faith. Today that may seem a typical address of Jesus, but back then he wasn’t often called that. So Thomas does from Doubter to Believer (with a capital B!) He looks the same and yet is different.
Next comes Peter. He is always passionate and outspoken. And yet, he also denies knowing Jesus out of fear for his life when questioned in the night of Jesus’ trial. So in the second passage, when he is faced with a crowd who could beat him up, who are accusing him of being drunk, he could repeat his actions. Instead, he doesn’t hesitate but begins to explain to the crowd what has happened and preach that Jesus is alive and is offering peace and forgiveness. The same passionate Peter, and yet different.
The final person to look at (although by no means are these the only three in the bible changed by Jesus) we come to Paul/Saul. To begin with he is well-read and very determined to persecute Christians. Then he meets Jesus and is thrown from his horse and blinded. When his sight is restored he begins to travel around preaching the gospel to non-Jewish people. He became one of the most influential early Christians. Still the same well-read and determined Paul, and yet different.
It got me thinking. What about us? Where have we been changed by Jesus? Or where will we be changed? Will people notice the change? And perhaps more importantly, what will stay the same? Peter’s passion is a big part of who he is. Paul’s determination is a key part of his character. What parts of our characters are essential ingredients that God can and will use? And how will he use them? What stays the same and what becomes different? I guess only God knows and when the time is right we will see.
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