Waiting To See

Not too long ago I had some serious computer problems. I took my printer in to be repaired only to be told that it was a software problem. So I downloaded new installation software off of the Internet only to find that in doing so I had messed up my operating system. I tried to reinstall the operating system but only made things worse. In desperation, I took both the printer and the central processing unit off to Best Buy. The next week they let me know that it was fixed, and I could come pick it up.

Only the seriously computer addicted can understand the relief I felt. Do you know, I have never, ever, even tried to write a sermon in longhand? I’m not sure my brain works unless it’s attached to a keyboard and a monitor.

So I went to the shop to pick it up and was about to pull out my credit card and take off with my prize when the technician suggested that they hook it up and demonstrate to me that everything was working properly. So we did. And guess what?

The printer still didn’t work. It had worked only an hour before, when they had called me. They showed me the test printout, I saw it. So, I sat there and watched them for the next two hours re-checking absolutely everything.

Well, I know you’re all dying to know what happened, because obviously if they hadn’t fixed my computer and printer, I wouldn’t be here about to preach a sermon, would I....

The problem was a defective printer cable. It cost $17.99.

Which it just goes to show you that sometimes it pays to check things out before you accept someone else’s word for something. Sometimes it’s a good idea to insist on seeing things for yourself, to stick to your guns and demand proof. Not always, of course; the hard part is figuring out which is which.

Imagine what it must have been like for Thomas. He was as loyal a follower as Jesus had, willing to go to Jerusalem with Jesus even if it meant his death, too. It took him a while to make up his mind about things, but once he did, there was no moving him. But Thomas didn’t understand half of what Jesus said, and he wasn’t about to pretend he did. When they had eaten together that last night before Jesus was killed, and Jesus said all those really confusing things like “My father’s house has many mansions,” and “I go to prepare a place for you,“ and “you know the place where I am going," Thomas didn’t have a clue what Jesus meant. But he knew Jesus wouldn’t laugh at him for not understanding. So, he asked him straight out, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” He didn’t understand the answer, either. Jesus has said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” Well, that had been 10 days ago, and Thomas still didn’t know what Jesus meant, and considering the other disciples’ record he didn’t have any reason to believe that they knew any better than he did.

Philip had been asking questions, too, that night. And since then, well, they all knew that John had run away when Jesus was arrested, and that Peter had claimed not to know Jesus when the high priest’s servants asked him. And now there were all these wild stories running around, Mary and the other women said they’d seen him, too, and the brothers who had come back from Emmaus going on about the man they’d talked to on the road and had even eaten with whom they claimed was Jesus. And of course that didn’t make any sense, Jesus in Emmaus and in Jerusalem at the same time? And besides, it had been a whole week since they had seen him, and nothing had changed, except that everybody seemed awfully cheerful, considering. But they were all still huddled in the upper room in Jerusalem with the door locked for fear of being arrested. So why should Thomas believe a word they said?

Of course, it would be wonderful if it were true, if Jesus really were alive, but of course that made it even more important not to get taken in. Thomas might be a bit slow, but he wasn’t gullible. He’d learned not to bite at every fish that swam by.

No, the stories about having seen Jesus didn’t make any sense. But then, nothing that had happened made any sense. But Thomas knew one thing for sure. If it was true, Jesus wouldn’t laugh at him or call him stupid for asking for proof. Jesus was always patient. Well, almost always. But he never stayed mad or held it against you for not getting it the first time. So Thomas would just wait, wait and see what happened.