Creator, Father, King #246

You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.

THE DISCIPLES WERE EXPLODING with excitement. They had seen the risen Lord! On the evening of Jesus’ resurrection, he miraculously appeared to them in a locked room in Jerusalem.

But Thomas wasn’t with them. Was he out repairing a chariot? Was he dining at Jerusalem’s finest fish-and-unleavened bread restaurant? Was he at home watching VeggieTales?

The Bible doesn’t say where he was.

But when Thomas later rejoined the disciples, they exclaimed, “We have seen the Lord!”

Thomas wasn’t convinced. “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail scars in his hands and place my hand in the wound in his side,” he said.

Eight days later, Jesus appeared to all the disciples, including Thomas. The risen Lord exhorted his doubting friend, “Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

Thomas’ disbelief immediately transformed into saving faith. “My Lord and my God!” he exclaimed.

“You believe because you have seen me,” Jesus replied. “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:19-29).

What’s It Mean?

The last five days, we’ve discussed many things about Jesus’ resurrection. Hopefully, you believe!

But if any doubts still linger, take heart: Thomas struggled to believe too. Then Jesus powerfully confronted him and transformed his skepticism to saving faith.

“Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” (Check out the account in John 20:19-29.)

Today, the risen Son of God still powerfully confronts lingering doubts about him head-on—not in person, but through the testimony in God’s Word. But he doesn’t expect any less faith from you just because you can’t see him. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. You cannot be reconciled to God without faith in the risen Christ (Romans 10:9-10).

Amazingly, though, Jesus promises to bless you for faith without sight! Look at the wonderful promise of today’s verse. Believers are blessed beyond the original disciples because we live after Jesus’ return to heaven. The risen, ascended Savior delights in your faith!

Now consider the words of 1 Peter 1:8-9. The apostle Peter, who was in the room that night to witness Thomas’s transformation, wrote this three decades later to encourage persecuted Christians in Asia Minor: “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”

Amen!

Now What?

Today, ask God to strengthen your faith in his Son’s resurrection.

Did You Know?

The Bible seems to indicate that Thomas had a twin (John 20:24).