Recently, I wrote about what my family’s Sabbath day looks like. I mentioned that we begin our set apart day of delight with a Sabbath devotional that I’ve written. I wanted to share one of them with you in hopes that it might bless you!

I’ve designed it to be read around a table with those in your household, though it could certainly be a reflective devotional for just one person.

A brief notes of explanation: I’ve included three prompts (Reflection Question, Application, and Family Story) to discuss as a family or reflect on yourself. Towards the end is blessing over a Sabbath candle, so you might want to pull out a candle beginning. The reason I conclude the devotional with a family story is because (as is mentioned in Bruce Feiler’s book The Secrets of Happy Families) knowing our family stories is one of the best ways to increase our family bonds and enhance our family identity.

Blessings on you and yours as you enter into your Sabbath rest!

Introduction

Can you imagine how shocked you would be to learn that, though you had seen Him brutally murdered just a couple days prior, Jesus is alive? Now, can you imagine the kind of disappointment you would feel if all of your friends saw Jesus alive but you weren’t there?

That’s the situation the disciple, Thomas, finds himself in. For whatever reason–maybe to get food, or water, or to check in on family–Thomas wasn’t with the other disciples when Jesus appeared. And when he found out what he missed, he blurted out his disappointment: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe,” earning him the nickname “Doubting Thomas.”

Scripture

John 20:19-28

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt 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 come to believe.”

Reflection Question

If you were one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, how would you react to hearing that Jesus was alive?

Reflection

In his book After Doubt, A.J. Swoboda says, “To struggle with one’s faith is often the surest sign we actually have one.” In a moment of shock and disappointment, recorded for all of humanity to read, Thomas makes a statement that haunts him to this day. However, it must be noted that Thomas’ “doubt” wasn’t the only thing he said in this story. No, when Jesus shows back up for Thomas, Thomas replies with one of the simplest and yet most profound affirmations of who Jesus is: “My Lord and my God.” In fact, this “Doubting Thomas” also holds another title: according to the Gospel of John, he was the first person to call Jesus “God.”

Those who knew Jesus before His death called Him a lot of things: Messiah, Rabbi, Son of God, the Christ. But nobody had the gall to call Jesus “God.” Nobody, that is, until Thomas. By claiming that Jesus is God, Thomas was putting to question the central tenet of Judaism, known as the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Thomas, before anyone else, recognized that Jesus and the Father are One, that Jesus is co-equal to the Father. This profound affirmation comes a mere week after the quip that earned him the name “Doubting Thomas.” It’s as if our doubts can lead us to moments of true revealing of who Jesus is. We just need to engage those doubts well, surrounding ourselves with those who have experienced the risen Christ and holding onto the hope that Jesus will show up to meet us, when He deems it the right time.

Application

At the end of your life, how do you want to be remembered as a follower of Jesus?

Blessing Over the Candles

Risen Christ, we light this candle knowing that you are the light that can never go out. As we journey through life, though, there are times when we struggle to see You, the Light of the World. In those times, would you meet us in surprising ways so that we may walk out of our times of doubt and questions with greater clarity and knowledge of who You are? Through the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of the Father we pray. Amen.

Shabbat Shalom

Family Story

When was a time in your life that you were especially scared?