Doubting Thomas

John 20:24-29 "Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.  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.”  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.” 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.” 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.”

The first line says, ‘Thomas... was not with them when Jesus came’. 

We often focus on Thomas not having faith.  He needed to see with his own eyes.  However, have you even stopped to think of how Thomas must have felt.  Did he feel overlooked? Bypassed? Rejected? Does this explain the defiance and hardness in his response? ‘Unless… I place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’ Maybe, like so many sceptics, Thomas’ objections are less rational than emotional.

Sometimes we all feel like Thomas when Jesus shows up for others, when he blesses others, and speaks to others in ways He hasn’t or doesn’t speak to us. When Jesus calls Thomas out, he quotes Thomas’ own words to him. When he does this, he is saying, ‘I heard you when you thought I didn’t. I was present when you thought I was absent.’ 

Scripture does not say Thomas touches Christ’s wounds. It is when Jesus repeats Thomas’ words that Thomas cries out, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas believes not just because he now sees, but because he now knows that he was seen when he didn’t see, and he was heard when he didn’t hear, and he was known when he felt forgotten. 

Take a few minutes and look back on your seasons of life, can you now see how the Lord was present in those moments instead of being absent? When you felt forgotten He was saying, I see you when you can’t see Me; I hear you when you can’t hear Me; I believe in you way more than you believe in either of us!’ 

Lord, thank You for saying, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

That’s me! I claim it today! I receive Your blessing now!