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John 20:24-29
Jesus and Thomas 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.” |
If only God would...
“Why doesn’t God just reveal Himself clearly to me? If He made it obvious, I would definitely believe!”
Have you ever set God criteria for how and when you will believe? “If only He would speak to me clearly, if only He would reveal Himself in a way that would leave me without any doubt – that would make all this so much easier!”
Thomas was doing just that in our passage today. The disciples had told him that they had seen the Lord, but Thomas did not believe them.
“Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails and place my fingers into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe”.
It’s interesting that the passage does not state that Thomas actually placed his hand on the nail marks. The Lord graciously offers this opportunity to Thomas, but despite his previous protestation that only the physical touch would convince him he immediately believes. “My Lord and My God”.
We can set all the criteria we want, but ultimately, and thankfully, it is the Lord in His grace that reveals Himself to us.
“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.
Unlike Thomas, we don’t have the benefit of seeing the Lord in person, but He can and does reveal Himself to us. When He does, may we too respond like Thomas and surrender our stubborn criteria (whatever that may be for each one of us) and declare “My Lord and my God!”.
Kenneth D