Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” (Luke 24:38)
We can have doubts when we rely more on our senses than we rely on God. That’s the lesson of a story from the 1800’s. A skeptic stood on a street corner spouting his contempt for Christ. He said, “People tell me that God exists, but I can’t see Him. People tell me there is a judgment to come, but I can’t see it. People tell me that Jesus has died and risen for me, but I can’t see Him.” He stepped down to a smattering of applause. Then another man stepped to speak: “People tell me there is green grass all around, but I can’t see it. People tell me there is blue sky above, but I can’t see it. People tell me there are trees nearby, but I can’t see them because I am blind.” Actually, both men were blind. One was blind physically. The other was blind spiritually.
On Good Friday, there were many who stood before the cross blinded by their doubts. The Pharisees and priests were blinded by their hatred for this new Messiah and their fear that this crucifixion might not silence His message of salvation by grace. Jesus’ disciples might also have been blinded, believing that His death would be the end of the hope He had given. Today we sometimes stand before the cross and cannot see the Lamb of God who has died so that we might live. We are blinded by our doubts and troubles. “Can God really help me?” we ask. “Does He really have the answers that I need?” How wonderful it would be if our eyes were always open to see that Jesus died for me! For my sins. For my troubles. For my doubts. For my fears.
Holy Spirit, open our eyes and hearts to proclaim with the centurion, “Surely He was the Son of God!”
In Christ,
Pastor