John 20:24-29 TPT
One of the twelve wasn’t present when Jesus appeared to them—it was Thomas, whose nickname was “the Twin.”
[25] So the disciples informed him, “We have seen the Lord with our own eyes!” Still unconvinced, Thomas replied, “There’s no way I’m going to believe this unless I personally see the wounds of the nails in his hands, touch them with my finger, and put my hand into the wound of his side where he was pierced!”
[26] Then eight days later, Thomas and all the others were in the house together. And even though all the doors were locked, Jesus suddenly stood before them! “Peace to you,” he said.
[27] Then, looking into Thomas’ eyes, he said, “Put your finger here in the wounds of my hands. Here— put your hand into my wounded side and see for yourself. Thomas, don’t give in to your doubts any longer, just believe!”
[28] Then the words spilled out of his heart—“You are my Lord, and you are my God!”
[29] Jesus responded, “Thomas, now that you’ve seen me, you believe. But there are those who have never seen me with their eyes but have believed in me with their hearts, and they will be blessed even more!”
A doubting Thomas is a sceptic who refuses to believe without direct personal experience—a reference to the Apostle Thomas, who refused to believe that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other apostles until he could see and feel the wounds received by Jesus on the cross. Hence the “believing to seeing.” Are you doubting Thomas?
There are so many doubting Thomas in the world, even among believers. We have all heard or probably said things like “seeing is believing,” “I will believe it when I see it,” and “I can’t believe this/that is not possible.” Well, great news, because according to Matthew 19:26, all things are possible with God.
We have all acted like Thomas at some point or know someone like him; someone difficult to convince of anything without proof and doubts everything they hear.
Verse 25 says “if I don’t see the mark of nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of nails and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” This was Thomas’ response to being told that they’d seen the Lord.
How about you? What is your reaction to something the Lord has or is doing around you? Are you one of those whose motto is seeing is believing?
Unbelievers can exercise their unbelief because that’s what they are; “unbelievers” and unbelief is a huge issue in the lives of many believers.
The Christian walk is one of FAITH and the only means by which we enter God’s will but how can you enter His will if you don’t believe in who He is, what He’s done and how He loves you?
We all struggle with doubts sometimes, but we must overcome them as quickly, believing that God is all good; and that He is ever ready to impart to us whatever we need but only if there is no doubt, that is we don’t weaver in our faith, not doubt the truth of the grand and fundamental principles of God, and that when we ask sincerely and fervently without hesitating, we receive so much good from God according to James 1:6.
We miss out on a lot of God’s blessings and favour for us when we chose to see His mighty power at work before believing in His faithfulness. Our need to see before believing is offensive to the Father because it shows how much we doubt His love and grace.
Doubt offends God according to Psalm 95:9-11.
Doubt closes doors of blessings.
Doubt stops our prayers from being answered says James 1:8.
Doubt causes stagnation.
Doubt closes the door to healing, favour, and miracle.
Don’t allow doubts and unbelief to stop you from enjoying all that Christ died to give you. You didn’t need a sign to accept Christ as your saviour, don’t ask for one to prove that He can and will do what He says He will.
Christ is asking and encouraging you to believe in Him without physical evidence but to have faith to see His glory.
Learn to ask the Father to grant you the grace to believe without physical evidence in Jesus’ name.
Don’t be a doubting Thomas, believing is seeing and not seeing is believing.
Shalom