Blessed are those who have not seen…

Thomas was not with the apostles the first time Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection.  He declared he would not believe their claim to have seen the risen Christ.  On the next occasion, he was present and Jesus challenged him to not only look but also touch for confirmation.  The text does not tell us if Thomas touched Jesus.  It does record his declaration of faith:  “Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and My God!'” (John 20:28).

What Jesus says next tells us how God’s salvation plan is intended to work.  Jesus said:  “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”  (John 20:29).

God expects us to believe!  That faith must be the result of credible testimony.  God means for people to believe because of the evidence supplied, without personal physical proof.

So the text continues to explain:  “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name”  (John 20:30-31).