Daily Devotion for July 17, 2024

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read John 11:1-16.

This scripture is usually read during the Season of Lent just before Palm Sunday. The emphasis for the reading during Lent is on Jesus’ courageous return to Jerusalem and Jesus’ power over life and death. But for this week’s emphasis which is “sometimes following God’s will can be difficult,” we will focus on Thomas’ courageous role in speaking out for their return to Jerusalem. (vs.16).

Jesus and the apostles had escaped to safety across the Jordan River. When Mary and Martha send for Jesus to return to Judea, going would place them again in harm’s way. Thomas is ready to go, even if it means dying with Christ. We usually remember Thomas for his doubting, but here we see his devotion and courage.

William Barclay titles his devotion on John 11:11-16, “The Man Who Would Not Quit.” Barclay writes, “They (the apostles) were all feeling that to go to Jerusalem was to go to their deaths, and they were hanging back. Then came the voice of Thomas: ‘Let us, too, go that we may die with him.’”

Barclay continues, “Real courage does not mean not being afraid. Courage is being aware of the worst which can happen and yet doing the right thing.” Thomas led the others with this kind of courage.

Many Christian book titles have the words “Joy and Happiness” about living a life of faith in Christ. This is true. In John 15:11, Jesus tells his disciples, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” And also, a life of faith following in the footsteps of Christ sometimes requires courage, sacrifice and suffering for the sake of others to know God’s love through Christ.

To me, Christ’s joy being present even during times of suffering for the sake of others is part of the holy mystery which Christ speaks of in John 12:25, Matthew 10:39 and Luke 9:24. Eugene Peterson in The Message says it this way in Matthew’s gospel. “If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me [Jesus], you’ll find both yourself and me.”

Personal Worship Option:

You may know of some with this kind of faithful courage. Let us let Thomas and their lives inspire us and lead us to be more courageous in our witness and faithfulness unto Christ. Let us be willing to walk both the difficult paths as well as the joyful paths in the footsteps of Jesus.