The Lord always looks for the isolated

The Lord always looks for the isolated

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19-20)

Isolation takes different forms. It can be felt by us personally, in our families, as the people of God, and in the world. It comes through persecution, illness, and the multitude of life’s trials. This morning it is felt across the globe, separating nations, communities, generations, and families.

The Lord always looked for those who were isolated. He looked for the broken-hearted, the sick, the captives, and the lost and lonely. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, was told by his fellow disciples that they had seen the Lord in resurrection. But Thomas replied, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Thomas isolated himself through wilful unbelief. But this does not stop the Lord from seeking him out. Jesus did not want Thomas to be separated from blessing. After eight days, Jesus revisited the disciples, and this time Thomas was there. The Lord immediately speaks to him, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas responds to the Lord in worship, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28). He was no longer isolated.

Peter’s self-confidence led him into isolation. As Jesus was led away to the High Priest’s house, Peter followed at a distance. He found himself sitting amongst those who waited outside the house, and warmed himself at the fire. Three people identified him as a disciple, and three times he denied his Saviour. The cock crowed, as Jesus had foretold. It was then that Jesus, in the midst of His suffering, turned to look at Peter. His dear disciple was devastated and went out and wept bitterly. He must have felt so profoundly isolated in the bitterness of that moment. But the Lord’s look was not a look of judgement. Jesus had told Peter He had prayed for Him. In the last chapter of John’s Gospel, the Lord deals with Peter’s self-confidence and the isolation it had taken him into. Peter’s final response to the Lord’s question, “Do you love Me?”, was “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (John 21:17). Jesus called Peter to be a shepherd and to feed His lambs and tend and feed His sheep. Later Peter would exhort elders to “Shepherd the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:2). His ministry ensured the people of God were not isolated.

The Lord Jesus taught Thomas to believe in Him and Peter to follow Him. In doing so, He ensured they were free from isolation to live in the reality of the love and grace of God. And the Lord wants this to be our experience.