When I was growing up there was a common phrase I often heard when someone expressed doubt. It went like this, “Don’t be a doubting Thomas.” For quite a while as I grew up, I didn’t know, perhaps like many others, that this phrase came right out of scripture.

Some of the toughest things we encounter as human beings occur when our reality fails to meet our expectations.  This may have to do with a friendship that only goes one way, a pregnancy that does not reach full term, or a marriage that fails to deliver on much “bliss”. We can feel discouraged, disoriented and at times deeply hurt. But what about those times when reality is so much better than our expectation?

Have you ever gone through your darkest moment that has caused you great suffering? This may be the death of a loved one, an illness that has stricken you or a family member, a betrayal of a friend or your spouse, a loss of a job and the inability to find another one, the list can go on and on. Through that darkest moment of suffering, have you ever felt abandoned by God? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is someone who can relate to many of us when we are going through our darkest trials. Leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross, he dealt with some intense physical and mental sufferings, but Jesus knew what his mission was as he hung on the cross.

What love extends forgiveness, redemption, and righteousness to those who have mocked, beaten and hung the savior of the world on a cross? The Sunday School answer, right? Jesus does! Chances are if you answer most questions that you receive in church this week with the name of Jesus you will be correct… I am glad that we know the answer to this question. It also saddens me that we can declare the name of Jesus so easily without taking a moment to pause and truly consider what Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness from the cross means for our lives today.