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.”
—John 20:24-29
Many can identify with Thomas’ skepticism. Their perspective is grounded in the tourism that to see is to believe. Furthermore, the followers of Jesus were in shock. Everything they hoped for seemed to have gone up in smoke. So, when Thomas heard that Jesus had risen and had been with the disciples, he must have concluded that they were blinded by grief and wishful thinking. When Jesus cam to Thomas, however, he did not rebuke him. Instead, he said: Touch my hands and feel the wound in my side. Thomas responded instantly, moving from doubt to belief, and saying, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus then reminded Thomas and the disciples that they would soon face a doubting world and that their mission was to overcome that doubt by believing steadfast in their own belief: “Because yo have seen me and you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
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