Believe In The Light

John 20:19-31

Yesterday, as a colleague and I were waiting for a friend of the church to pick up a file cabinet, a conversation ensued on what we believe to be our favorite Gospel. We talked about the similarities and differences between the four official ones, and decided they were all good in their own way. To be honest I had never really given any thought to what my "favorite" Gospel is, but given the time which has passed after that conversation I do have to admit I'm leaning towards John.

I am understanding the Gospel of John to be something completely different than how it was taught to me in my early years. I had always been told that John is the Gospel we most use to defend the fact that Jesus is the one and only way. I had been asked to memorize the fact that if I don't believe in Jesus my life will perish. I have always thought the "light" spoken about in John is a good thing, a light we should seek to live under.

In the past year I have seen John in a different light; one which is meant to expose those who do not believe as opposed to a light that is inviting and all-encompassing. I am beginning to understand that John is written by a Jewish Synagogue who thought their small community to be threatened by outsiders intent on out-casting them from the rest of society simply because of their belief that Jesus Christ is the messiah.

Today's passage asks us to be among the believers. We may have doubts and require proof in order to believe, but there's nothing wrong with that. In my opinion, questioning your belief is good. You see, in the example from John we read today we see that all of the disciples who were there, or already a part of the community, believed as soon as they saw Jesus. It is the one, the outsider, who didn't believe what he was told, but did believe as soon as he saw Jesus as well.

The all-exposing light of John takes one last shine on the unbeliever and as Thomas is exposed to the light so does he come to understand. The light will shine on all of us and all of our doubts will be shown for all to see. That's okay, because you are part of a community that welcomes you; a community of people who always lives in the light and in the understanding that in this light we find the love of God shown to us through the life of Jesus Christ.