Life-Spark: God moves toward honest doubt with evidence. (John 20:26-31)
Most of the twelve disciples had seen Jesus since His resurrection. It had been eight days since He suddenly appeared among a group of them. When told of the encounter, Thomas responded with doubt. He didn’t buy into their excited account. He said he wouldn’t believe until he saw, heard, and touched Jesus. He needed tangible evidence. His faith had been weak for a week.
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” (John 20:26-27, NLT)
Instantly, faithless Thomas became a believer. He fell at Jesus’ feet and cried out, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28, NLT) Those five words had historical significance. During the writing of John, the Roman Emperor Domitian was requiring the Roman Empire to refer to him as “Dominus et Dues” (Lord and God), the exact phrase that Thomas used to define Jesus.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29, NLT)
The Bible says more than five hundred people saw tangible Jesus after He rose from the dead. Perhaps more than five hundred million people have since used their spiritual eyes to see Him. One day, each of us will stand before Him as Thomas did on that day. Until then, we can encounter Him and experience Him by means of our quickened spiritual senses.
I haven’t seen what Thomas saw. I haven’t heard or touched Jesus in the flesh. But I have believed. I will be among the millions who will one day stand before Him, in the flesh, as Thomas did. I know He will treat me like one-in-a-million.
Life-question: Aren’t you glad that God moves toward good-hearted doubt, and not away? If so, tell Him.