Suggested reading: JOHN chapter 20 verses 24-29

Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, ‘If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved’, Romans chapter 10 verse 9. The DEATH AND RESURRECTION of Jesus are central to God’s message of salvation. If any person says, ‘I WILL NOT BELIEVE’ either of them, they cannot be saved!

Amazingly, THOMAS, one of the twelve disciples, did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus appeared alive in the midst of His disciples and showed them His hands and feet, as proof of His death on the cross. Sadly, Thomas was not with them; therefore, the disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord’, verse 24. Thomas’ defiant response was, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put (thrust forcibly) my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I WILL NOT BELIEVE’, verse 25. His religious upbringing was based on seeing and touching; therefore, believing by faith was a comparatively new experience. There are, of course, many today, who say that they will believe the resurrection of Jesus, if they see the evidence. The truth is, they still would not believe! They would find other reasons to deny it.

When Jesus appeared alive to His disciples again, Thomas was with them. Very lovingly, Jesus drew him off the uncertain ground of ‘seeing is believing’ and placed him on the secure ground of ‘by grace you are saved, through faith’. Jesus invited Thomas to touch His hands and side. Clearly, Thomas wished he had not made his earlier comments. In simple faith, he said to Jesus, ‘My Lord and my God’, verse 28. Jesus replied, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’, verse 29. Are you among this blessed group?