Devotion Title: If We Have Died with Him, We Shall Also Live with Him

5 days ago

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Text: John 11:16
“Then Thomas (also called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’”

Introduction – A Legacy That Still Walks

This week, I’ve been deeply honored to host esteemed bishops of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church—leaders whose spiritual lineage traces directly back to St. Thomas the Apostle. Yes, the same Thomas we read about in today’s Scripture.

More than a courtesy visit, it was a moment of sacred connection. A glimpse into the continuity of faith, stretching from the hot sands of India, where Thomas shed tears and laid the foundation of a Church, to this very day—when his spiritual descendants stood among us in fellowship and purpose.

Centuries may pass, but the testimony of true faith remains ever alive.

Reflection – Faith That Walks Into the Storm

In John 11:16, Jesus had just declared His intention to return to Bethany—a place where His life was in danger. The disciples were uneasy. The air, tense. Then, Thomas speaks:

“Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

What kind of man says this?
Not a reckless man. Not a blind follower. But a devoted disciple, who had come to the end of his own understanding—and found Christ still worth following.

This wasn’t the confidence of clarity—it was the conviction of love.
A trembling voice that chose presence over certainty, obedience over understanding.

The Twin Within Us All

Thomas is called Didymus—meaning “twin.” And truly, we are all his twin. Torn between faith and fear. Between following and fleeing.
One foot on the shore of safety, the other in the sea of surrender.

But Thomas shows us this:

Courage is not the absence of doubt, but obedience in the midst of it.

When he finally touched the wounds of Christ, he declared:

“My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

And then—he went.
From Jerusalem to Persia, then India. Tradition says he was pierced with spears in Mylapore, having preached Christ with fire in his bones.

A Modern Parallel – Faith That Still Bears Fruit

As I welcomed the bishops of the Mar Thoma Church this week, my heart whispered: “This moment was paid for by blood.”

These gentle, dignified men came as ambassadors of a martyr’s legacy. What began as a trembling voice—“Let us also go, that we may die with Him”—has become a global echo of mission.

In our conversations, we affirmed a shared desire to deepen our partnership in mission, continuing the apostolic work that unites us across nations, cultures, and centuries.

Personal Application – Your Bethany Moments

Beloved, the road ahead may feel uncertain. Your “Bethany” may look like a difficult calling, a heavy task, or a painful obedience.

But hear this:
You are not called to understand every twist.
You are called to walk with Christ through it.

The call is not always “Be fearless.”
More often, it is “Be faithful.”

Even in your quiet sacrifices, your unseen service, your private pain—Christ sees.
And He walks with you.

Personal Prayer

O Lord who called Thomas to walk where others feared,
Give me such a heart—torn but obedient,
Doubting but drawn to You.
Let my fears not silence me,
But deepen my longing for Your presence.
And when the hour calls me to take the hard road,
May I say as he did:
“Let us go, that we may die with Him.”
For there, in surrender, is life eternal.

Benediction

May the Lord strengthen your faith, even in the shadows of uncertainty.
May you walk with courage, as Thomas did,
Choosing to follow Christ—whatever the cost.
And may the example of those who have gone before remind you:
God builds His Church through obedience, not perfection.
Go in peace, trusting that: