UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

John 21:1-6

21 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

 

          Both Matthew and Luke end their gospel with Jesus giving his Great Commission. Go ye into all the world was the final command and it has not been rescinded. John, however, personalizes it with this story. Simon Peter, who denied that he knew the Lord three times was the first to express the thought. Thomas, who first doubted but was then given amazing personal evidence of Christ’s resurrection was there. Nathanael, who wondered if anything good could come out of Nazareth was present along with the Sons of Thunder. These all decided to go fishing.

 

          Little is known and much is speculated about their motive for fishing on this day. We can imagine that even after all they had witnessed, they still had no direction. We could compare it to a graduate who clutches his diploma or degree and says: “Ok, now what!” But a lack of clear direction never kept Peter from leading. He says: “I go a fishing.” The others agree to follow.

 

          Now that Jesus has died and rose again just what are you going to do with all that you have learned and experienced? Christianity was in danger of dying before it ever became a movement because the followers did not know how to transform experience into a lifestyle. Indeed, many today leave a wonderful experience only to look for another experience. Their lives have not changed. They return to fishing, but it is not the same. They catch nothing.

 

          For Peter, there was some unfinished business. His denial must be dealt with and Jesus dealt with Peter in the most tender yet forceful way. Three times he denied, and three times Jesus urges him to “feed my sheep; feed my lambs; feed my sheep.” This was based upon Peter’s crippled love.

 

          The ship represented the division between the old life and the new. “Cast your nets on the other side!” The result was that they caught many fish. The point is obvious. Without Christ life is fruitless. With Him things are much different. Now that Easter is over, and as the experience begins to fade, let us live like a transformed people.

 

Dear Lord, Peter’s life would never be normal again. Let it not be normal for me either. AMEN

 

WHAT THOMAS MISSED!

 

Monday, April 6, 2026

 

WHAT THOMAS MISSED!

 

John 20:18-28

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

 

          For whatever reason, Thomas was not present with the others at the first appearance of Jesus. Jesus showed up quite unexpectedly, so no announcement had been made. This, I think, points out the fact that the most common church service can turn to tremendous an unexpected blessing and when we choose to miss church, we chance the possibility of missing something wonderful.

 

          Thomas missed the fellowship of the other disciples. The disciples were assembled behind closed doors. Each one expressing his own fear of the Jews. Each one drawing strength from others who thought they had none. Thomas might have been encouraged by his friends, but he missed it.

 

          Thomas missed the first amazing appearance of Jesus. The doors were closed but Jesus came through doors and walls. He missed the first pronouncement of peace. Because of this he endured eight more days of indecision, doubt, and turmoil.

 

          Thomas missed the first presentation of Jesus’ hands and side. The very thing that Thomas demanded was given eight days before. Was Thomas really more doubtful than the rest? No, but the others had the advantage of a previous encounter with Jesus.

 

          Thomas missed receiving the Holy Spirit. Eight days earlier Jesus had breathed on the others and had given them the Holy Spirit. He also missed the commission; the “so send I you.” Thomas missed the clarification by Jesus of the importance of their mission. “Whosesoever sins you remit [to send forth] they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain [to hold fast] they are retained.” Thomas missed the overwhelming responsibility of mission.

 

          Thomas was given another opportunity. He was singled out personally and invited to thrust his finger into the nail holes, but for Thomas it was no longer necessary. He knew who addressed him and he said: “My Lord and my God.”  By our casual and careless attendance to important things we miss very much. Today has its own store of blessings. Don’t miss it!

 

Dear Lord, thank you for extending to us second and even third opportunities for blessing. AMEN

 

VERY EARLY!

 

Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026

 

VERY EARLY!

 

Mark 16:1-6

16 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

 

          It was early dawn when Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome and Joanna came to the tomb. They four carried with them additional spices to anoint the hastily prepared body of their loved one and friend. They came early before the harsh Jerusalem heat made the job not only difficult but futile. Their greatest concern was how they would roll away the great stone from the sepulcher.

 

          The small Roman watch had made the tomb as secure as humanly possible. But the guards were now gone because they could not seal the tomb against the heavenly invasion. When the women arrived there was just one young man dressed in white. Who had rolled the stone away? Was it this youth? His clothing and appearance certainly did not betray the effort for he was not soiled and sweaty.

 

          The young man’s message was that Jesus was not there. He had not been rescued or removed but risen as He said. The stone was rolled away to reveal Jesus’ absence and not to release a captive. “Come see the place where they laid him.” Come and see the emptiness of his tomb.

 

          Paul informed the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:3-6) that Jesus appeared to as many as five hundred at once. His resurrection was not a secret affair. He walked the earth forty days before His ascension. He interacted with people. He ate food and drank liquids. He was not a ghost! Now, after so long a time, we are left simply to believe or not. But if Christ did not raise from the dead we are of all men most miserable (1 Cor. 15:19).

 

Dear Lord, your resurrection proved your victory over death. I thank you that because you live, we may live also. AMEN