When we are struggling with our faith, we might be tempted to think that as long as we are ‘good people’ that will suffice. But what sets those who are simply ‘good people’ and ‘Christians’ apart?

The other disciples were really not so very different from Doubting Thomas. When they saw Jesus in their midst, they took some convincing that it really was Jesus and not a ghost that had come to visit them. The gospel outlines three pieces of proof that Jesus uses to convince them that he really has risen from the dead. He shows them the marks on his hands and feet, he invites them to touch and check that he is flesh and blood, and he shares a meal with them. But it is only when Jesus opens their minds to understanding the scriptures that they come to believe in him. By interpreting what has happened, the risen Christ draws the disciples out of their confusion. Amongst some of his famous last words to them, were words of encouragement to go and preach his message and a reminder of prophecies fulfilled and promises made.

Being a Christian today isn’t easy, and simply accepting the Jesus we have grown up with sometimes isn’t enough to sustain us.   Perhaps we have given up believing and think that being a good person will be good enough. Understanding the difference between living life simply as a good person, and living life as a Christian comes of believing in the risen Jesus. As Christians we are        continually striving to follow Christ’s example. Today, through prayer, scripture debate, and putting faith into action, we continually work for the same enlightenment and understanding that Jesus gave his early disciples. To find that enlightenment we need to look to scripture as the disciples did. We need to look at the authors of the books within the Bible and understand who they were, something of the times they lived in, and who their audience was. There are commentaries to read and videos to watch, and of course, the Bible itself. We don’t need to be great scholars. The original disciples weren’t. All we need is the desire for enlightenment.