Fred Craddock, preaching professor at...
Illustration
Fred Craddock, preaching professor at Candler Seminary, tells the story of the group of professors touring the Holy Land. At the traditional site of the Upper Room, their tour group had to wait for a group of more conservative Christians to finish their looking.
The guide for this group did not scrutinize the site as an archaeologist. Instead he treated it as a holy shrine. "Can you believe it? We are in the actual room where Jesus consecrated the cup and bread." With tears on his cheeks, he went on to recount the events of that night.
When finished, that group, now deeply moved by the visit, left and the group of scholars entered the room. "As you can tell by the design," their guide began, "this room did not exist at the time of Christ. It is Byzantine in architecture and is less than a thousand years old." He continued to give an accurate, although not particularly inspiring, history of the site.
As their group was leaving, one professor was heard to whisper to another. "Frankly, I wish I was with that other group."
In many ways, Thomas represents our modern mentality. He wanted some solid, scientific data before he would believe. In doing so, he missed an important element of faith. As the Master put it, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
--Cueni
The guide for this group did not scrutinize the site as an archaeologist. Instead he treated it as a holy shrine. "Can you believe it? We are in the actual room where Jesus consecrated the cup and bread." With tears on his cheeks, he went on to recount the events of that night.
When finished, that group, now deeply moved by the visit, left and the group of scholars entered the room. "As you can tell by the design," their guide began, "this room did not exist at the time of Christ. It is Byzantine in architecture and is less than a thousand years old." He continued to give an accurate, although not particularly inspiring, history of the site.
As their group was leaving, one professor was heard to whisper to another. "Frankly, I wish I was with that other group."
In many ways, Thomas represents our modern mentality. He wanted some solid, scientific data before he would believe. In doing so, he missed an important element of faith. As the Master put it, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
--Cueni
