After learning about an amazing appearance of Jesus to His disciples after He had been raised from the dead (see John 20:19-23), the account from the gospel of John takes an interesting turn:
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:24-25 NIV
Do you ever wonder why Thomas wasn’t in the room during Jesus’ appearance on Resurrection Sunday (see John 20:19-23)? Maybe he was out getting something to eat, or was hiding out with others. The Lookout suggests that he could have been with his twin, given the meaning of his name. Maybe he just needed to go for a walk because one of the other disciples was getting on his nerves. It apparently wasn’t important enough to record here, but what is recorded here is his doubt.
I know that we tend to pick on Thomas for not believing the other disciples, but that might be a little unfair. After all, I think that the other disciples probably had similar doubts before they saw Jesus, despite things like, 1) having followed Jesus and heard Him speak, 2) having seen people raised from the dead, 3) having witnessed the empty tomb, and 4) having the testimony of Mary Magdalene.
Said simply, I’m not sure that the other disciples were any different from Thomas, prior to seeing Jesus.
And, to be fair to Thomas, he might not be placing conditions on his belief (like Gideon did) when he describes needing to observe Jesus’ wounds. He might just be saying that he wanted the same sort of evidence that the other disciples had gotten. And, by touching the wounds directly, Thomas could confirm for himself that he wasn’t seeing things, and that the other disciples hadn’t just seen a ghost.
Depending on the translation here, the next events of John 20: 26-28 might be Sunday or Monday of the next week. (One day would start and the next would begin at sundown in that culture, also, making the exact timing less clear. I don’t think that it’s necessary that we know for sure, though.) Again, the doors are shut (although perhaps there were reasons other than the abject fear and confusion that must have gripped the disciples previously), and again Jesus appears to His disciples. Again, Jesus blesses them with a word of peace. However, this time, Thomas is with the other disciples.
Do you remember when Jesus said that He had seen Nathanael under the fig tree? (John 1:43-51) Here again, we find confirmation that Jesus knows what we say and do, even when we don’t see Him in person. He knows what Thomas has said, and – rather than condemning Thomas for a lack of faith – offers Thomas the chance to see for himself that He – Jesus – is alive.
Thomas believes, just as the other disciples had believed when they saw Jesus. John doesn’t record that Thomas actually reached out and confirmed Jesus’ wounds, which Thomas had probably seen inflicted upon Jesus at his crucifixion. Seeing Jesus in person may have been enough for Thomas.
Here’s a key fact that this account has been leading up to.
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29 NIV
Thomas believes because he saw with his own eyes. This is something that he can now testify to, when others ask questions about the risen Lord and Savior.
However, not everyone needs to see Jesus in person in order to believe. I don’t know about you, but I don’t recall Jesus ever appearing to me in person. There are those who have seen visions or dreams, where I believe that Jesus spoke to them directly. However, my faith is not based on seeing Jesus tangibly in my own era.
So, if we are blessed when we believe without seeing, what is that sort of belief – our faith – based upon? I propose at least three ways that allow us to believe in what we haven’t seen first-hand.
- Experience – talking with God (and hearing back from Him), seeing His work in our lives, answers to prayers
- Evidence – history, archaeology, science, fulfilled prophecies and promises from the Bible
- Testimony – hearing from others (those who we trust) about their relationship and walk with God
If your faith in Jesus needs a little boost, consider His faithfulness in the three areas described above. And, if your faith is also reinforced through other things, it would be great if you could let me (and the other readers of this site) know in the comments.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for February 25, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, February 25, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – John, by Beauford H. Bryant and Mark S. Krause. © 1998 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 