You Don't Have the Full Story

There is More Than Can Be Seen!

At the end of the Gospel of John, after the resurrection, there is a strange passage that we usually read over quickly. It goes like this: Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. It is almost as if the writer is saying, “you don’t have the entire story, there are other things happening, things you may not be aware of, but know that God is working … and you will have life in his name”. 

This is a very important point. There is a part of God that is unknown to us. There are things God is doing that we don’t have a clue about. The resurrection stories in the Gospels really point this out. On the road to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke, the two travelers had no idea who this stranger walking among them was until the risen Jesus revealed himself later in the day by breaking bread (Luke 24:14-35).  In the Gospel of John, Mary, one of Jesus’ closest friends and followers, had no idea that she was talking to the risen Jesus. She thought that he was the gardener until Jesus revealed himself by calling out her name (John 20:11-18). God is working beyond our knowledge and experience. Consequently, we often don’t have the full story … at least until God is ready to reveal it to us.

This is such a hopeful reality about God. There are many times in life when we do not feel or sense God’s presence. There are times we get discouraged about loved ones, friends or ourselves. We limit people (including ourselves) by what we already know about them. There are times we may want to give up on Church and faith, times when we live with such fear that the future becomes a scary and uncomfortable place, rather than the canvass of God’s art. There are times we see so much evil in the world that we are ready to write it all off. Yet, we don’t have the full story. That is one of God’s promises of resurrection. We may be walking and talking with the risen Jesus and not even realize it. 

So before we give up on ourselves or someone else, or the Church or even the world, we must remember that above all we are an Easter people! We must trust that we don’t have the full picture and that part of God remains unknown to us. Then we must wait with anticipation for God’s work and presence to be revealed. 

Together we are the hands and feet of Christ,

Brett