John 20:24-29
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 print of the nails, and place my finger in
the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with
them. The doors were shut, but 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
be faithless, but believing." 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 believe."
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What can give us
unshakeable hope and confidence in the face of defeat and death? The apostles
had abandoned Jesus in his hour of trial when he was betrayed in the Garden of
Gethsemani by Judas and arrested by the Jewish authorities. Their fear turned
to despair when Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, sentenced Jesus to death by
crucifixion for his claim to be the King of the Jews. In that hour of darkness
on "Good Friday" the apostles saw Jesus' death as defeat rather than
victory. On Sunday morning when they heard the reports from the women who saw
the empty tomb, they were slow to believe that Jesus had risen as he prophesied
to them previously. Their despair turn to joy when the Risen Lord at last
appeared to them and showed them the scars of his victory – his pierced hands,
feet, and side. Jesus had indeed triumphed over the enemies which held the
human race in slavery to sin, Satan, and death.
The last apostle
to meet the resurrected Lord was the first to go with him to Jerusalem at
Passover time. The apostle Thomas was a natural pessimist. When Jesus proposed
that they visit Lazarus after receiving news of his illness, Thomas said to the
disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him." While
Thomas deeply loved the Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his
passion and crucifixion. After Jesus' death, Thomas made the mistake of
withdrawing from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than
fellowship in his time of sorrow and adversity. He doubted the women who saw
the resurrected Jesus and he doubted his own fellow apostles who also testified
that Jesus had risen. When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other
apostles eight days later, the Lord Jesus made his presence known to him and
reassured him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas
recognized his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and
truly God!
Through the gift of
faith we, too, are able to recognize the presence of the risen Lord in our
personal lives. The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord Jesus to us and helps us to
grow in knowledge and understanding of God and his ways. Through the gift of
faith we are able to proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and our God. He
died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him. The Lord offers each of
us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in this
new way of life through the power of his resurrection. Do you believe in God's
word and in the power of the Holy Spirit?
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"Lord Jesus
Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have overcome all the
powers of darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to trust in your
life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith in your
promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection."
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