The two walked side by side down the street of a foreign city. One was a veteran of such affairs; for the other, this was only his second missionary journey. They moved slowly, exchanging words, as they approached the central marketplace.
“Simon, remember what I told you: if the crowd ahead becomes difficult, do not run. There attention will be on me, so move into the crowd slowly, discard your outer garment, and blend in with them. I repeat, do not confront them — be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.”
“Thomas, how can you be so calm?”
“Because I lived with him. Because I saw him perform miracles. Because these hands touched his wounds, his hands, his side. Because, my son, I’ve seen the life after death. I’m not afraid of death.”
“Sir, I’m not afraid to die.”
“I know you’re not, Simon. You’re afraid to live.”
As they entered the edge of the crowd, Simon heard his older companion begin to pray, “Lord, my master, my sovereign, please grant us success this day. These people — your creation — cannot understand my native tongue. Grant them understanding that they may hear of your son — my Lord, my God — let those that have not seen him see him in me.”
His prayer complete, Thomas touched a passer-by by the sleeve. “Friend, do you have a place where strangers can stay?”
Simon heard him speak—words he had never heard yet understood completely. The man looked at Thomas quizzically, then moved away.
Thomas moved on to the next. “Friend, can you help two travelers who are tired and hungry?”
This man stopped, returned the same quizzical look as the first, then nodded. “Come with me.”
The threesome moved down an alley way and Simon let loose an audible sigh of relief.
“Thomas, what is your plan now?”
“We’ll set up shop in this good samaritan’s home and begin to teach daily in the market —”
Their guide quickly turned on them in the alley, brandishing a knife. He growled, “My guests, hand over your wealth.” A half dozen other men appeared from the shadows, all carrying weapons.
“Sir,” Thomas began, “we’re servants of the most high God. We have no wealth other than the good news of Jesus Christ.”
“Then you’ll die.” He struck swiftly, his blade buried in Thomas’s belly.
Simon, frozen by the ferocity of the moment, could see Thomas look his attacker in the eye. There was no anger in his gaze, no malice for the man who took his life. Thomas began as he had heard him before in the synagogue and in the market place: “There was a man sent from God. His name was John. He was God’s prophet and he foretold of another who was to come. His name was Jesus and he is the savior….”
The attackers were distracted by Thomas’s dying words. With the sounds of the gospel ringing in his ears, Simon ran for his life.
Text 1 John 4:13–21
By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. We know and have believed the love which God has for us.
God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us. If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.
For Thought
- The disciple often referred to as “doubting Thomas” was a brave man (John 11:16). Later, we find Thomas very much in doubt (John 20:24–30). What happened in between these two events? Do you think fear was behind Thomas’s doubt?
- It’s been said that love, in its truest sense, can best be found at the intersection of fear and faith. Agree or disagree?
- “Do not fear.” That command from God can be found over 300 times in the scripture — more than any other command. Let’s look at some of those fearful souls:
- Abram (Genesis 15:1). Interestingly enough, God tells Abram not to fear right after Abram had experienced a huge military victory (Genesis 14).
- Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1–8). Joshua takes the “CEO” position of Israel — a people banished by God to the wilderness for 40 years because of their disobedience. Joshua was to take these people and turn them into a military power. What could Joshua possibly be afraid of? What was the one source he could turn to to draw strength and courage?
- David (I Samuel 23). Chased by Saul for years, David is told by his best friend and heir to the kingdom to “fear not” (v.17). Could there have been doubt in David’s mind?
Water to Wine
The wise king Solomon sums up his view on life with the last two verses of Ecclesiastes: Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:?Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
The path between Solomon’s words and John’s explanation of perfect love is the path we walk as Christ followers. This week and in the weeks to come, pray to the Lord that he reveal his plan for perfect love in your life and those lives that you touch.
