John 20: 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put~~ your finger here, and examine*~ my hands. Extend~~ your hand and put*~ it into my side. Do not continue~| in your unbelief, but believe."
It is hard to understand how many of his disciples still did not “believe in Him” though they followed Jesus and heard all His teachings. Thomas remained skeptical until given irrefutable proofs that Jesus had arisen from the dead. He saw Him die. It had been 8 days and he had heard the testimonies. But Thomas was never there when Jesus appeared. This moment was planned specifically for Thomas. Jesus gives him a series of commands concluding with a command for all time and all people.
When Thomas saw Jesus, he recognized that He was very different from Lazarus when Jesus restored him to life. His was not a physical body subject to physical limitation, nor was he an apparition of a spirit, because he could be touched. Jesus also ate with them. Here was a person with an entirely different form; a resurrected form that Jesus promised to all who believe in Him. Thomas became convinced by seeing and touching Him, and Jesus accepted his firm belief. Then Jesus promised that “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (20:29).
Thomas could have taken the word of his cohorts who had witnessed the resurrection appearance of Jesus, but he wanted concrete evidence. In mercy, Jesus gave Thomas all that he needed and more. “Put your finger here…extend your hand and put it into my side.” How foolish were his doubts that Jesus was truly alive, which could only mean one thing: Jesus was, and had been, God incarnate in human form all these past three years. How foolish he must have felt for his past doubts, yet now how enlightened and convinced he felt. He was standing in the presence of God.
In humble submission and conviction Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God!” You really are who You said You were. As far as we know his life was never the same. Tradition says that Thomas would carry the news of Jesus life and resurrection to the shores of India.
Jesus was and is remarkably patient with His followers, but at some point we must cross the line: “Do not be continuing in your unbelief, but believe.” We can trust the record of Scripture that He is real and alive today. “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). Sufficient evidence has been recorded for all time in God’s Word. We must decide to trust it (all of it) without doubting, then rely on His living presence, His perpetual power and His soon return. Do you need more proof than the written Word of God to trust Him and obey Him?
Psalms 73:28, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
It is hard to understand how many of his disciples still did not “believe in Him” though they followed Jesus and heard all His teachings. Thomas remained skeptical until given irrefutable proofs that Jesus had arisen from the dead. He saw Him die. It had been 8 days and he had heard the testimonies. But Thomas was never there when Jesus appeared. This moment was planned specifically for Thomas. Jesus gives him a series of commands concluding with a command for all time and all people.
When Thomas saw Jesus, he recognized that He was very different from Lazarus when Jesus restored him to life. His was not a physical body subject to physical limitation, nor was he an apparition of a spirit, because he could be touched. Jesus also ate with them. Here was a person with an entirely different form; a resurrected form that Jesus promised to all who believe in Him. Thomas became convinced by seeing and touching Him, and Jesus accepted his firm belief. Then Jesus promised that “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (20:29).
Thomas could have taken the word of his cohorts who had witnessed the resurrection appearance of Jesus, but he wanted concrete evidence. In mercy, Jesus gave Thomas all that he needed and more. “Put your finger here…extend your hand and put it into my side.” How foolish were his doubts that Jesus was truly alive, which could only mean one thing: Jesus was, and had been, God incarnate in human form all these past three years. How foolish he must have felt for his past doubts, yet now how enlightened and convinced he felt. He was standing in the presence of God.
In humble submission and conviction Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God!” You really are who You said You were. As far as we know his life was never the same. Tradition says that Thomas would carry the news of Jesus life and resurrection to the shores of India.
Jesus was and is remarkably patient with His followers, but at some point we must cross the line: “Do not be continuing in your unbelief, but believe.” We can trust the record of Scripture that He is real and alive today. “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). Sufficient evidence has been recorded for all time in God’s Word. We must decide to trust it (all of it) without doubting, then rely on His living presence, His perpetual power and His soon return. Do you need more proof than the written Word of God to trust Him and obey Him?
Psalms 73:28, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
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