Our scripture this morning is John 20:26-29.
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
I think Thomas gets a bad rap in this story. The others got to see Jesus and told him about it, he missed it for whatever reason. (I used to tell people “if you miss church, you miss stuff!”). Thomas only wants and needs what the other disciples experienced.
Jesus appears again, perhaps for Thomas’ benefit but the lesson is amazing. It must have been important for those who knew Jesus as a living human, those who knew He had died physically, to see Him risen. Jesus knows Thomas has doubts and He speaks to confirm the truth of His resurrection, again showing His followers He is alive.
Christ’s statement “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” isn’t so much a rebuke to Thomas as a prelude to our mission statement to “make disciples of all nations”. Those who believe without seeing include all of us who didn’t know Jesus as a human, but know Him as our savior through the faithful witness of those who share His love.
Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Your son to save us. Bless us to carry Your love to everyone. Amen.
