April 30, 2016
We are in the season of counting the omer, a celebration of the barley harvest, and it is significant to note that Yeshua’s resurrection is Day 1 of the count. On Day 7 (see John 20:26), His disciples were gathered together in a locked room, and Yeshua showed up in the midst of them without coming through the door. Imagine what that experience was like!
Yeshua extended his hands to Thomas (who missed Yeshua’s previous visit), and told Thomas to look at the evidence of where the nails had pierced his wrists. He challenged Thomas to look at the wound in his side, so Thomas would believe that it really was Yeshua, resurrected from the dead.
Thomas was embarrassed that he had not believed the other disciples’ reports of Yeshua’s resurrection. Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!” (John 20:29)
Today is Day 7 of the counting of the omer, the anniversary of this event, and I’m challenged to ask myself, are there different ways in my own life that I don’t believe Yeshua is present, because I don’t see him? Will I be embarrassed of my doubts when I have the opportunity to see Yeshua face to face? What blessings will I have missed because I chose doubt rather than trust?
This is only Day 7! There is more to come! Shabbat Shalom!