itsawonderfilledlife

Which way? A common human question. When there are options of which way to go (or what decision to make) we want to make the best decision, the right decision, the decision which will incur the least harm, the most joy.

Prior to the death of Jesus, he is readying the disciples for his death at every opportunity. They had lived life together. Jesus, knowing that his time with them was coming to an end seemed to be ramping up his lessons on life without him, on how to continue his work.

After they had enjoyed the meal of the last supper, Jesus is trying to prepare them, to give confidence in the process to come. Unfortunately he makes the common error (yes, I just said that Jesus made an error … give me a moment to explain).

“Do not let your hearts be troubled”

There is nothing like one putting their hand up in a “just a minute” gesture, then saying “now, don’t worry” to cause we mere mortals to begin to worry. Saying the words almost always secures that that the hearer will do the absolute opposite of what is being said.

(don’t worry … I really don’t think Jesus made a mistake … I think he, who was a question asker to answer questions, was baiting his eleven (Judas had already left) to keep the conversation going).

He then goes on to speak of preparing a place for them. That they know the way …

Then Thomas … I just love Thomas. He is the most human of those disciples. He asks the questions that the others want to, but they just do not have the pure-hearted curiosity to actually speak them. He asks :

“Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Can’t you just see his face? Can’t you imagine the face of Jesus in hearing the question. There’s gentleness written all over the face of his Saviour, in my imagination.

I think Thomas was chosen to be part of the group as a kindness to Jesus, as a kindness to us. He reminds us that curiosity, that asking the obvious questions is good, normal, real. He reminds us that there are no wrong questions. And I think that maybe, he reminds Jesus of who the human race was created to be like … not that Thomas does not carry the weight of human sin, but that he also carries the reflection of Adam, prior to his choice to eat of the fruit.

You just know that he is the guy in the crowd who everyone rolls their eyes in response to pretty much every time he opens his mouth. But, you also know that they would all die for him, for he is harmless to anyone or anything around him. He is pure of heart.

Maybe, just maybe when we are confronted with the question, when we, like Thomas, have the guts to ask … which way? Then we can be reminded that the answer is not us, but Him. Then we have opened the door to his response that we also need to be reminded of daily.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:1-6