What must this disciple have felt as he was finally before the risen Lord?
Earlier, the other disciples had told him, “We have seen the Lord”.
But what he had seen days earlier had made it hard for him to to comprehend this good news.
How can this thing be?
He had seen the Lord battered and hung on a cross.
His Lord–the one he believed to be the Messiah.
He was supposed to save them their oppressors, not die on the cross like a condemned criminal.
But Jesus had been crucified and buried.
And He had been dead three days already!
How can this thing be?
The mind by reasoning could not see, and it was hard for Thomas to believe.
So he told the disciples, “Except I shall see in His hands the print of nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe”. John 20:25.
Then the Lord came to His disciples again and said to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing”. John 20:27.
Now faith was born again.
Doubt and fear dissipated.
What must Thomas have felt as he found himself face to face with the risen Lord?
Jesus had told them earlier that He would rise from the dead.
How did he lose faith?
Why could he not believe his Lord?
What must he have felt as he was now before the risen Lord?
And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God. John 20:28.
What promise have you received from the Lord?
…be not faithless, but believing.
It may have been a while, and you’re still yet to see the manifestation of the promise.
Still–
…be not faithless, but believing.
Remember that we walk by faith, not by sight.
And–
…blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:29.
We have seen the Lord!
Can you believe?
This post may be linked up with these encouraging writers.
Our pastor reminded us on Sunday of the final lesson in John — the breakfast by the sea, cooked by Jesus’ own hands for his doubting disciples. There’s so much grace in this, and I am encouraged by His forgiveness and openness to their human frailty.
Yes Michele, grace that reaches us wherever we are. Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
I would add the words of Jesus to the father “fear not, only believe”…and as the father said, I say to the Lord “Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief!”
Good word!
~Christi
Yes Christi, like the father in that other story, we must always cry out to the Lord for help. Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
Be not faithless, but believing. A good phrase to bear in mind! Thank you!
Thanks for visiting, Bethany. Blessings to you.
One thing that has always stuck with me when I heard this section of Scripture taught, was that we all have varying measures of faith. Some believed immediately when they were told the Lord was risen, even without seeing. Some saw and believed. But Thomas had to see and touch to believe, but his belief was still credited to him as faith. I love that God is so generous and that it isn’t about the strength or measure of our faith, but the object of it!
Yes Stephanie, even faith as little as a mustard seed is enough to move mountains. Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
Just thinking about seeing Jesus make my heart soar. Great post.
Thanks for visiting, Maree Dee. Blessings to you.