John 20:26-29 26And after eight days, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors had been locked, Jesus came and stood in the midst 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, and do not be unbelieving but believe.” 28Thomas answered and said to 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.”
Verse 26 indicates that Thomas lived in his doubt for a week. We have to give the disciples credit for sticking together during this time. John does not indicate what they did or what they thought that week. It was the next Sunday when the disciples were together. Sunday had become a special day even within the first few days post-resurrection. Christians have continued this practice of gathering on Sunday in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection ever since. The situation was similar to the week before, with the disciples behind locked doors. John does not note that the disciples were afraid, but there stills seems to be a sense of fear with the locked doors. They needed the full empowerment of the Holy Spirit that would come on Pentecost to change them from fearful to courageous.
Thomas had joined the rest of the group on this day. His assertive proclamation of denial from the week before still echoes in the minds of readers and likely had occupied his own thinking all week. Into the midst of this fear and doubt came Jesus, once again mysteriously able to appear amongst them in the locked room. Jesus’ words were just what the disciples needed: Peace. It was like putting water on a burning fire. At first, it does not quench the flames, but over time, the fire and smoke will be stopped. Peace can overcome doubt and fear, but it may take time for peace to work into our minds and hearts.
It seems that Jesus specifically showed up for the sake of Thomas. Jesus would leave no apostle behind. He challenged Thomas to touch his hands and side. John does not specifically say that Thomas actually did that. It may have been enough for Thomas simply to see and hear Jesus. Jesus’ simple statement gets to the heart of John’s Gospel: Do not be unbelieving. Believing in Jesus is the primary goal for why John wrote this Gospel, as the following verses indicate.
Thomas’ response is significant. Of the many options of how to interpret it, the simplest and most obvious is as a direct address to Jesus. Thomas jumped from doubt to total commitment. The ferver to follow Jesus he had before the crucifixion came roaring back. His faith had found a resting place in the person of Jesus. Jesus was Lord, the only God in human form. Thomas put the pieces of the puzzle together faster than any other disciple. He only needed to see to believe.
Amazing as this is, Jesus’ statement at the end of verse 29 is even more significant. Very few people ever saw the risen Jesus; as Paul writes, around five hundred. That generation died, leaving no more eyewitnesses. Every other generation up until ours has had to believe without seeing. We are participants in the short beatitude of this verse. The blessing comes in the form of a strong faith and the assurance provided by the Holy Spirit. We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Peter wrote a similar thought in 1 Peter 1:8-9. The world cannot comprehend how Christians believe in something we cannot see. Faith can be difficult, but God comes to us in different ways, offering us the confidence to trust in him. The greatest witness we have is the Bible. God also gives us one another, the church, to build one another up in our faith. Although Thomas struggled for a week, he became steadfast and strong the moment he recognized Jesus.
For older posts, click here.
