What Does It Take For You To Believe?- John 20

I understand that some of the claims of Christ can be challenging to believe...the virgin birth, the sinless Christ, Jesus' resurrection, even OUR resurrection. Jesus doesn't want to leave us faithless, but wants us to believe, to the point that He has done everything possible to prove Himself to us. Not because He HAS to do that, but because He WANTS to.

"Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” -John 20:24-29

All of the other disciples had already seen Jesus, come to grips with their unbelief, and were confident that Jesus had risen, but Thomas hadn't been with them then. When they told him about their encounter, Thomas refused to believe. Jesus then makes a special appearance just for him! I love the way Jesus reaches out to Thomas, giving him the exact opportunity he asked for. However, don't forget that Thomas STILL HAS A CHOICE TO MAKE! Will he believe?

"Of course he will!", you say. "Jesus has just proven Himself to Thomas!" The question on the table now is, "How many times has He proven Himself to us?" Look at all of the times He has revealed Himself in His Word to us. The miraculous things that have happened to us. The times we have sensed His presence when we needed Him the most. The times His arms have wrapped around us in divine protection.

Let's be smart like Thomas. Let's BELIEVE.

Comments

[Kim Parrott]

You have to admire Thomas because he wanted to know for Himself and not base his belief on what someone else said. Another little nugget we can get from that passage.

Thanks for diligently posting during the fast. As always, your insights help, motivate and encourage us to go deeper in the Word and apply it to our everyday lives.