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Cross to Pentecost

Rev. Tyronda Burgess

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came
John 20: 24 (NIV)

It is interesting that Thomas was not with the others when Jesus first appeared to them. Why not? Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Where was he? John doesn’t tell us.

Maybe Thomas just didn’t know where the disciples had gathered. They were scattered after the arrest and were in hiding. It is easy to imagine that Thomas had gone off on his own and had not found his way to the rest of the group. Thomas was probably Galilean. I would not be surprised if he left the city entirely, maybe he even went home, and did not come back until he realized that none of the others had left. Maybe he was with the group, but had left on some errand. The disciples were in hiding. Maybe Thomas refused to hide. We don’t know.

I do know one thing. When we separate ourselves from the community of faith, it is not unusual for us to miss some shared experience. We talk about finding God when we are alone with nature, but the reality is that we are more likely to encounter God when we are in the midst of other believers.

Do not forsake the fellowship of believers. This is an opportunity to mature our faith and grow in our relationship with God and others.

Think About This:
44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:44-47 (NIV)

Reverend Tyronda Howse Burgess
Pastor, Jones Chapel A.M.E. Church
Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee
www.SpiritMatters2009.blogspot.com