Did you know that 1 out of 42 babies born worldwide are twins? That’s just over 2%. That means that though the majority of us are NOT twins, we probably all at least KNOW a set of twins.
When I think of twins, I think back to my high school basketball team. Of the 15 or so varsity players on two state championship teams, we had TWO SETS of twins (4 out of 15!). What are the odds? (I know … 2.3%, but who’s counting!) On a (possibly) unrelated note, we also faced a steady diet of zone defenses. I think teams adopted that game plan for two reasons: (1) It was the best way to slow us down (2) who wanted to try to play man-to-man against a lineup with so many (nearly) identical parts!?
I write today about twins, because as we prepare for Easter Sunday at Wildwood, I have been studying John 20:24-31. These amazing verses detail the story of a man named Thomas. You probably know Thomas from his modern nickname, “Doubting Thomas.” His real name, however, in Hebrew meant “twin” (not “Doubter”) so his buddies nicknamed him Didymus, which means “twin” in Greek … creative, right? All this probably stemming from Thomas being born with a twin brother or sister.
Though Thomas probably had one biological twin, he has had millions of philosophical “twins” over the past 2,000 years. Our “twin” Thomas is relatable to anyone who has ever played on Team Doubt. Is the Bible accurate and authoritative to my life? Does God really exist? Is it reasonable to have faith in Jesus? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? These questions (and more) have been asked by Thomases for multi-millennia. Thomas became captain of Team Doubt by famously and honestly stating that first Easter Sunday night, “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” That is both honest and brash. What a high standard Thomas demanded for his belief!
So how does Jesus deal with Thomas (and all of his “twins”)? What does His response show us about God’s heart for “Team Doubt”? And how does the ACTUAL BODILY RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST relate to all this? Join us on Easter Sunday at 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 at Wildwood. Bring your friends and family. Bring your doubts. Let’s look to the resurrected Christ together. We hope to see you there.
P.S. On Friday night April 15, at 6:00 and 7:30 PM we will have our Good Friday services. These services are different and distinct from our Sunday services, and will focus on John 18-19 and Jesus’ death on the cross. We will remember His sacrifice for us in song, Scripture, and reflection. Please join us then as well!
P.S.S. Friday night’s service will be live-streamed at 6:00PM, and Sunday’s Easter service will be streamed at 9:45AM, both at wildwoodchurch.org/live