“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – John 20:29
Urban legend says that in the ancient Roman world, civil engineers, after building a bridge, would stand under it with their entire family in order to demonstrate that they believed in the integrity of their work. In Abraham’s hometown (Sumerian culture 1750 B.C.E.), the builder could be put to death if the house he erected collapsed and killed the homeowner. Nowadays, we may also use another expression, “You sleep in the bed you have made.” You eat the food you have grown; you reap what you have sown. Choices have consequences.
The day after his resurrection, Jesus reassured his disciples of his victory and blessings even as his disciples came to grips with the cost of following him. Following Jesus may lead to a cross before it leads to a resurrection. Persecution and harassment are the consequences of promoting this rabbi (Matthew 10:22). Disciples may become targets of other people’s prejudice or resentment; there is no promise of being shielded from pain and difficulty in this life. “Believing” is not cheap, trite, or one-dimensional. To believe in Jesus and his resurrection is to “stand under the bridge” of his teaching, to trust in his truth claims and Lordship fully, and to order our entire life according to his ways, assuming all of the corresponding consequences.
Yet, in John 20:29, Jesus offers an encouraging promise to Thomas and all who would follow him: Believing results in blessings. Despite the hard things, the joy you reap will be greater than the pain you sow.
Jesus reuses the standard covenant equation found in the Mosaic Law: Demonstrating trust in God by following his instructions will result in God’s blessing (Deut 28:1-2). This covenant promise is poetically employed in Proverb 8:32-33 when [Wisdom] says, “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.” The responsibility is to keep Wisdom’s ways. The blessing is that it will go well with you (v.35). Jesus uses this standard equation nine times in the Sermon on the Mount’s opening salvo, “Happy/blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:10).
People in this world may lure you towards an easier path, but they only know restless anxiety, expensive hobbies, binging on screens, or finding approval through bosses and boyfriends. Jesus brings a sabbath rest to a weary soul. The world advertises pride, preferences, and prejudices, but these reap the tart fruits of offense, discord, and division. Jesus’ path may be lowly, even persecuted. Still, if we serve others and consider others better than ourselves, we will reap the blessing of humility and freedom from envy and resentment.
The Jesus path is not easy, but it produces “life in his name” (John 20:31). That is an abundant life radically redefined from the world’s calculations. The joy, peace, friendship with God, and unity with others will long outlast any cross you endure today.
Tags: easter, persecution, trust, joy, life, pain, peace, hardship, promise, surrender, covenant, endurance, blessing, harassment
