Episode Details

John 20:27 (NIV)

Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Following this, Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God.” This was a high point of faith.

Jesus then says Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.

Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared. They told Thomas, “We have seen the lord.” Thomas replied, “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.

When Jesus decides to go to Bethany in Judea, it was Thomas who said Let us also go that we may die with him. he was aware of the danger facing Jesus in Jerusalem. These words show his loyalty and solidarity with Jesus.

Several times in the last days, Jesus tells the disciples that he is going away. It was Thomas who expressed what the other disciples were probably thinking. lord, we do not know where you are going. Jesus declared that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and only through Jesus can one go to the Father.

I believe Jesus was in no way attempting to shame Thomas, but giving him what he needed for faith, as he did many times in the gospels.

Over many years, I have had occasions when I felt I needed to see something to believe what someone had told me. Seeing is believing some folks say.

Jesus had told the disciples that he was going away but would return. That probably was hard for them to grasp.

I have at times pondered what group I would have been with during what we now call holy week. Would I have been a believer? There were followers, but were they believers before the resurrection? Where would I have been after the resurrection? Possibly trying to avoid people like Saul, who was persecuting Christians.

I am just grateful that I now believe in the resurrection and am a believer in Jesus. My faith is strong, and I feel more secure than ever that Jesus is my Savior.

Let us pray

Dear lord, help us all to become stronger in our belief in you and to confidently look for those opportunities to share our faith in Jesus. Amen.

This devotion was written and read by Emmit Rawls.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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