The Resurrected Jesus Meets 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.” - John 20:24-29

Devotion:

There is one in every crowd.  The doubter, the realist, the one who rains on everyone else’s celebration.  Thomas was that guy.  He saw Jesus on the cross and knew the one he hoped was the Messiah had died.  What kind of delusional fantasy did these other guys have saying Jesus had appeared to them?  He wasn’t up to being duped by some deep seated desire for Jesus to be alive.  “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and the place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” John 20:25  Nope, he wasn’t going to believe the testimony of the other disciples and the women.  No way!

He had to wait eight days with the others who had seen Jesus before he too will get a visit from the living Christ!  Just as before, the doors were locked and Jesus came with the greeting, “Peace be with you”.  Then the God of the Universe who died a criminals death did the most shocking, kind thing.  He met Thomas just where he was at.  He took Thomas’s own words and provided what his friend needed.  “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side.  Do not disbelieve, but believe.” John 20:28

Thomas did not deserve Jesus grace, it was a gift.  He gives us that same grace.

Questions:

Today think about the promises of Jesus that are hard for you to accept or believe.  Ask Him to help your unbelief (Mark 9:23-24). Is a sin that you struggle to overcome? (1 Corinthians 10:13)   Have you lost hope that a difficult relationship will ever be healed?  Do you doubt that a friend or family member can ever be drawn to God? Jesus is big enough for any of these.  Ask Him to work and then trust that His ways are better and He is in charge. Lay your doubts at his feet.  

When was there a time in your life where Jesus showed up when you had lost hope?