Despite his great learning from the Old Testament Scriptures, Nicodemus still had trouble acknowledging the divinity of the One those Scriptures had foretold. His was a struggle that has been repeated from his time till now.

Jesus loved him. Jesus called him. We can say both are true for us, too.

We can identify with the generosity reported in this passage because we’re still seeing it in the church today.

The passage has just one message, and it is a truth for every person in any situation.

Even with many legitimate criticisms and concerns for the church today, we read today’s passage and see that the church came from God.

They could have left to pursue their own devices. But instead they gathered and prayed and watched and waited. And in their wait, they set an example for each of us.

This account of breakfast with Jesus is one of the most compelling in Scripture. Let’s think about the simple meal Jesus himself fixed for his amazed disciples.

We often hear “doubting Thomas” said with a sneer, as if it’s wrong to think twice before deciding to believe something fantastic. But maybe we need to give Thomas a break.

We can imagine the words meant more to the disciples that day than ever before. They had likely never felt less at peace.

I wonder how often God has shown up in my life and I haven’t noticed.

Long after the hoorays and hallelujahs and happiness of Easter, it’s good for us to ponder the resurrection.

Jesus, God himself made flesh, came to earth not just to speak or heal or surprise. He came to suffer. That means something to us caregivers.

If I were concocting a story about a new savior of the world, this is not at all how I would have written it.

Isn’t it encouraging to believe God has a mission for each of us, despite how often we don’t live up to our good intentions?

Why did Judas betray Jesus? And why do we insist on taking actions to prod God to do things our way?

Like the disciples, we were experiencing life much as we expected until everything changed in the space of a very short time.

They were as shocked to see his humble service as we may be by the necessity that we do something similar.

We’ve used up all the physical strength and spiritual sustenance afforded to us yesterday. We need resources just to get through today.

Any of us might have pride fed by our self-derision of others. Today’s story helps us resist the tendency.

We can identify with the suffering of this widow, and that makes her example all the more compelling.