“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. John 21:14  

You see Jesus knew that Peter loved Him but He was seeking for something deeper – Greater commitment. In Peter’s response, there is a sense of guilt. He realised he has failed to truly follow Christ due to the fear inside him. But Jesus did not hold on to his past behaviour but called him to follow.

Similarly when Paul encountered Christ on the road to Damascus even though he used to be chain by anger and fear, but now his chains are off. He uses to oppose Jesus but now has an interest in the Saviour’s blood. This experience alongside the resurrection of Christ is considered as the great proof of the validity of the Christian religion.

There’s a hymn by Charles Wesley that perfectly captures this experience called: And can it be.

In verse 4 it says: Long my imprisoned spirit lay. Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

How should our life be in light of the resurrection of Christ? After Paul experienced the amazing love of God his life never remained the same – no longer chained by tradition and false doctrine or by the doubting Thomas syndrome. The reality is that we’re no better than Thomas – we all experience some doubt every now and then. The question is, are we going to allow our doubt/fear imprisons us or are we going to be the salt of the earth?