Person, last week you told me that after Jesus disappeared from his tomb He kept popping up here and there.

Sometimes He’d show up and sometimes He’d disappear.

So now you’re telling me He’s still popping up?

I like to jump up and down a lot, but I’m not sure I can keep up with Jesus’ popping up.

Okay, I’ll listen.

***

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

***

Wait a minute!

This is too much.

You mean Jesus popped right through that locked door?

Are you sure He didn’t knock first and one of the disciples let Him in?

Yes, I’m listening.

***

After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

***

So you mean, if Jesus’ hands and side were all healed the disciples wouldn’t know it was Him?

How come He didn’t show His hands and side to those other disciples?

You know, the two that He walked along the road with.

I am listening.

***

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

***

Where is Jesus sending them?

Maybe He’s sending them to walk on my trails with me.

That would be cool!

I’m listening. But wouldn’t it be better if the disciples were here and I could listen to them?

I bet they’d have some pretty good stories to tell.

***

And with that Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

***

I guess those disciples need to go to someone else.

I don’t have any sins to forgive.

***

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.”

***

I sure hope Jesus pops in again when Thomas is around.

Otherwise Thomas will be a doubter forever.

Maybe if he makes Jesus some popcorn…