Day 170
John 20: 24-31
24Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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."
26Eight 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." 27Then 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." 28Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Thomas Believes (John 20: 24-31)
John notes, 'Thomas ... one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came' (verse 24). Without Judas there were only eleven and without Thomas there were only ten. But 'the Twelve' is the name of the group and it is retained as the group name even though they aren't all present. All four gospel writers describe the band of disciples in this way.
A week later Jesus 'came and stood among them'. He greets them in the Jewish way, 'Peace be with you!' (verse 26) and invites Thomas to see and touch the evidence. Even though Jesus hadn't been there, he knew exactly what the unbelieving Thomas had demanded. Thomas exclaims, 'My Lord and my God!' (verse 29). This is the first time that anyone in this gospel has acknowledged Jesus like this.
Jesus doesn't say that disciples in the future will be more blessed (verse 29). When Jesus was on earth it would have been difficult to believe without seeing, but in our day we don't have the opportunity to see and believe. If we believe, and that is the point, we will be blessed.
How can we use the example of Thomas to respond to the challenge that we believe in someone we cannot see?
