The person who seems to get most of our attention is Thomas . . . He is absent . . . Thomas is present “Doubting” Thomas touches the hands and side of Christ; only then does he believe.
As front and center as Thomas is, because the Gospel is so familiar, we overlook what Jesus is saying and doing. We need to move the spotlight bask to the one person who should really be the focus – the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. His words and deeds are amazing . . . The key point is this – JESUS CAME BACK!
Jesus came back to the very ones who disappointed Him – denied Him – deserted Him. The very fellows who were hand picked by Him! Why did He do it? Would it have been better for Christ to say, “They blew it. I thought they loved Me. All they did was run and hide behind locked doors.”
But Jesus came back! Locked doors were no problem for Him. He came back because he said, “I have come not to call the righteous but sinners. And what does He say when he returns? He did not say, “Why did you this?” The first thing he said was, “Peace be with you.” The disciples breathed a sigh of relief.
“Peace be with you” is still Jesus’ Easter greeting. It has not changed over the centuries. “Peace be with you.” This is how He guides us today/tomorrow/every day. Try as we will to lock doors, He will still come and say, “Peace be with you.” Jesus will not let locked doors or closed minds keep Him away. He will come and say, “Peace be with you.” When he does, our response should be like Thomas, “My Lord and my God.”
This Easter, despite our sins, we remember to come back to Jesus – to calm ourselves down . . . as scripture promises, “Come to Me all ye who are weak and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”