John 1:1-5 English Standard Version

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Footnotes

1. John 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him

I cannot speak for anyone else. My witness is mine alone.

God revealed Himself to be God to me one Sunday in the Cape Neddick Baptist Church.

I did not know there were other denominations.

I didn’t know about footnotes.

I didn’t know what I did not know.

All I knew was that I had been changed by God and that I did not change on my own.

I believe that God exists but I did not know what that meant for me in this new life. I did not know this “new life” was in Christ Jesus.

My parents did not teach me anything spiritual. They let me choose what I wanted to believe even though I had no idea what to believe.

Decades later, after a life of sin, my father died. In my grief I repented of the life I lived away from him because I was ashamed

The moment I did God spoke to me for the first time. He said “What is stopping you from starting over right now?”

I knew this was God and I knew the answer. “Nothing.”

So I went home, picked up my bible and began reading the gospel of John. Why?

I remembered that John wrote that Jesus loved him best.

I did not know the Holy Spirit had brought that remembrance of scripture to my mind.

I don’t expect anyone else to have my experience. I just hope you believe in my sincerity in sharing my journey that began decades before I repented of the life I lived without God’s direction. That began with repentance. Does that sound familiar?

John 20:24-29 English Standard Version

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.”

26 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.” 27 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Is there a lesson to be gained here?

What was the cause of Thomas’s unbelief?

Perhaps it was his relationship with the other disciples because he did not accept their testimony. He had walked with Jesus and was one of the twelve given power to heal the sick and cast out demons, so I am not sure his unbelief had anything to do with his faith in Jesus.

We are witnesses of the goodness, blessings, and power of the Holy Spirit and the gospel of Christ. We should remember that trust has to be established before anything we say to the lost carries any weight.

I am reminded at this moment about Jesus walking on the water and calling Peter to come out to him. Peter began to walk on the water by faith but fear caused him to doubt and he began to sink.

We cannot be afraid to test the waters. We need to establish firm footing with people to gain their trust. That can only be done with those who welcome us into their lives.

Matthew 10:14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.