John 20 - Thursday 14th November

Like the smell of freshly baked cookies this chapter is delicious to me. It reminds me of deep delight in the past. It excites me about pleasures yet to come. It wafts out of what happened in the gap between chapters 19 and 20; Jesus raised from the dead. I might have exploited the marvel of that a little longer, but John focuses on the cocktail of responses of the disciples - and how Jesus in sweet grace - leads each responder into life. First there is Mary who - in mourning and loss - has become an unnamed and confused woman. Jesus doesn’t approach her directly. He comes from the side with gentleness. And then, with one word, he re-names her. With one word he turns her life. The word was only her name - nothing clever - but somehow the way Jesus uses it - the context into which he sets it - eclipses her dread with joy, swallows up her death with life. I’ve had those “unclever and yet life-shifting” encounters with Jesus. Have you? Oh they are so delicious. Next there is Thomas. Hurting. Isolated. Cynicism creeping into his considerations. Forever called “doubting” by the church. But not by Jesus. Jesus does not despise his agonised thoughts. Jesus doesn’t directly deal with the response; he leaves Thomas a week to be haunted by his hurt (isn’t that so much like Jesus...). But then he comes. He comes as one uninvited and unexpected. There is nothing “unclever” about this encounter; he offers Thomas very few words but a touch that goes beyond knowledge - to put your hands in a dead man who has come back to life. And Thomas - whether he manages the touch or not - is wrecked. And re-made. All in that moment. To him This Is Enough. And again, I remember those moments when Jesus’ “Enough” has exploded into my dejected soul. But it is the central encounter and response that excites me the most - the breathing of the Spirit onto the disciples - the sending as the Father has sent. I’ve enjoyed receiving the Spirit. It’s the greatest pleasure of my life to have Spirit living in me, whispering to me, encouraging me. He delights me. And yet I detect in this story untapped delights in the Spirit’s desires for me. To be empowered to be sent as Jesus was sent. Oh Wow. I know it and yet I know there is more still to be enjoyed. Are you on the same page as me in this? Is this what you yearn for also? Why don’t we eat these cookies together?

Question for reflection

What experiences have you had with the resurrected Jesus?