Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” John 20:29 NABRE
Jesus in the verse above is responding to the apostle Thomas, who was told Jesus is alive but declares doubt and non-belief until he sees Jesus. Jesus appears and He knows of Thomas’ doubt, Thomas believes immediately, seeing Jesus is enough. Jesus uses this moment to speak to us who live years after the events the scriptures capture. Thomas believes because he sees, but we who believe without seeing are blessed. It is faith that has us accept the resurrection of Jesus, the single event that proves Jesus is the Son of God. As @andy_stanley often says, anyone who can predict their own death and resurrection then pull it off, they’re someone to follow and trust. Thomas doesn’t make this connection until he is in the room and Jesus appears after the resurrection. These are stories that are written by eye witnesses to give us information to uphold our faith. We believe because we read the stories of people present, who have come to believe. We have this cultural saying that comes from this event, we call it “doubting Thomas.” Jesus doesn’t scold Thomas for his unbelief, instead Jesus makes Himself available so that Thomas may believe. Jesus is OK with our doubt, as He is OK with Thomas’ doubt. But let us be blessed by coming to believe without seeing.
We must be open to knowing that Jesus had us in mind when He expressed this thought about those coming to believe without seeing. Jesus knew the movement would expand and grow across the entire world, millions of people coming to Jesus because of the stories these gospel writers captured for us to read. It is a blessing that Jesus is speaking to me and you; future disciples.
Do you believe? Would you believe more if you could see?
We must be open to knowing that Jesus had us in mind when He expressed this thought about those coming to believe without seeing. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #belief #life #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways