Without a Doubt, Thomas

 ”So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”" - ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭25‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

What is it that you knew 

about the risen Iesous of Nazara 

the wholly human one 

that His risen body

would choose 

to bear the wounds

that rescued us from our slow, irredeemable undoing  

Little did the rest of us know 

that He would choose to keep 

the wounds of our murdering 

Entering into and absorbing 

the consequences of 

our deep failures and wrongs 

our painful betrayals of trust 

The nails through the wrists 

of a body broken 

now restored 

Living and breathing

after mutilation and death

What was, remains

but is now renewed 

Wounds in a new creation 

like a living memory

in endessly loving remembrance of 

our rescue from death

through His death 

How deeply did you believe in 

His heart for us all? 

that His brokenness would be 

that which sustains us

A symbol of undying life 

for us to behold 

for us to touch

for us to partake

You put your hands in His 

and saw and felt for yourself  

before anyone of us could 

before anyone of us knew 

what to look for.

Help me to believe the wounding

Help me to believe the breaking

even when I can't see

*

Dear reader, this was first conceptualised a few years ago. I'd like to believe I'm not alone in thinking this way but I am yet to come across writings or teachings that don't just allude to and/or sympathise with his "doubt" or "unbelief", so please do let me know if you have.