“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29
Let’s rewind to a previous incident, when Lazarus had just died. Jesus had delayed visiting him in Bethany and even told the disciples twice that Lazarus wasn’t gone for good (John 11:4, 11). Once again, they didn’t seem to grasp what came out of their Teacher’s mouth. Instead they worried about going to Bethany. The last time Jesus was there, the people attempted to stone Him to death (11:8).
Now you’re probably wondering, what does this have to do with today’s topic, which happens to be our dearly beloved “Doubting Thomas”? Perhaps you’re not aware that one of two other occasions in the Gospels where Thomas clearly spoke was here, concerning their impending travel to Bethany (the other is in John 14:5–7).
After Jesus made it clear that they would still go to Lazarus’ home, Thomas said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (11:16). Thomas assumed the people would try to stone them again. What a statement this is about Thomas. His personal courage and devotion to Jesus shone through in this one sentence.
What a contrast, then, to revisit Thomas after Jesus was resurrected. John records this key moment in Thomas’ life (20:24–29). For some reason, Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus first appeared to them. “Peace be with you,” He said twice to the disciples. The word for peace here is “shalom,” which means not just peace as we know it, but the pronouncement of a blessing on them for well-being and prosperity.
Thomas wasn’t there, so he had doubt, not peace. He wanted visual proof. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (verse 25). There’s the contrast: from brave disciple to doubting dude.
Jesus showed up right then—not knocking on the front door, but appearing inside their locked room. He once again pronounced the blessing, “Peace be with you.” Thomas got his wish, getting visual and tactile confirmation. His teacher was alive!
Let’s focus on what Jesus said in today’s verse to those present at that moment: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Guess what? He’s talking about you and me! We have not been given the privilege of seeing the risen Savior face to face. “For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
When I think of Thomas—and us in times of weak faith—two separate verses come to mind. Sometimes we are like the dad in Mark 9 who asked Jesus to heal his demon-possessed son. Part of him knew Jesus could heal his son, and yet he struggled. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (verse 24).
Sometimes we are like the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:5. A warning is given because their passion had faded. “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” We need to confess our fading faith and press forward with the same vigor we had when Christ first saved us. So keep the faith, saints!