A Lesson From Thomas

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Last time we met our topic was Jesus appearing to the disciples.  Today we’ll be discussing John 20:24-29.

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Turning to Scripture

Now Thomas hadn’t been with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them.  They told him all about it saying  “We have seen the Lord.”

But Thomas didn’t believe them.  His words: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Then it happened, eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them.

Again the doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  He did this before when he appeared to the disciples.  Saying to them “Peace be with you”.

Jesus said to Thomas: “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thomas’ belief

I know Jesus told Thomas to put his finger on J and Jesus hands, and to place his hand on Jesus’ side.  But scripture doesn’t tell us that Thomas actually did so.  It just says that Thomas responded with “My Lord and my God!”

I take that as a statement of belief because Jesus asked why he believed?  Was it because he saw Jesus? 

This section closes with a line I like: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Isn’t that a wonderful line?  Thomas knew Jesus, he spent three years living with him.  Listening to him, observing him in the day to day, seeing miraculous things happen and more.  Jesus told him to do something and he believed.  He saw Jesus and believed.

So here we are, some 2000 years later, believing in him.  One whom we haven’t actually seen, yet we know him to be true.  And Jesus calls us blessed. Knowing that makes my heart smile tonight.  It’s a word of comfort as well. 

A Comfort

Why is it a comfort?

There are times when I have doubt in my faith, and I’m certain that I am not the only one who has this struggle.  And yet Thomas, he was with the Lord all that time and yet, he had his moment of doubt.  Remember, we haven’t seen him, and yet we believe.  And the Lord God calls us blessed for doing so.  Hold on to that.