Jesus Appears to Thomas

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “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.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though 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; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  John 20:24-29

Thomas gets a bad rap, and that's not fair.  He's known as "Doubting Thomas" or the "Doubting Disciple," but in reality, all the disciples doubted.  They didn't believe that Jesus was going to be resurrected.  When Peter and John saw the grave clothes, they didn't immediately understand.  When Mary Magdalene saw the empty tomb, she didn't know what was going on.  She didn't even recognize Jesus when she saw Him!

Thomas should be known for his words in the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  The other disciples were trying to talk Jesus out of going to Judea, where Lazarus was, because the chief officials were plotting to kill him.  It was Thomas who said, in John 11:16:  "Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'”  

That doesn't show doubt, that shows bravery.  That shows a man who fully believed in Jesus - to the point of death!

I guess it seems like that is where Thomas is right now - the point of death.  We don't know why Thomas wasn't with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared to them.  But when they tell him what has happened, of course he doesn't believe - who would?  The others didn't! 

What a merciful God, what a wonderful Savior.  Jesus didn't ridicule Thomas.  He appeared and invited him to freely look, and touch, and see, and believe. 

And then Jesus talks about you and me.  Did you know that you are in the Bible?  You are, and so am I:  "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  That's us.  Jesus knew that we would not see Him in the way the disciples and followers were.  Yet we have a special blessing from Him, because we believe!

What a merciful God.  What a wonderful Savior.