Text: John 20:24-29

"Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

The first time Jesus appeared to His inner circle of disciples after His resurrection, He tells them, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Jesus' disciple Thomas wasn't present for this appearance. When his fellow disciples informed Him of this encounter with Jesus, Thomas didn't believe Jesus had actually appeared in the flesh. He adamantly stated, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

This first recorded attempt by the disciples to spread the good news of the resurrected Jesus was a failure (from a human perspective).  Thomas' disbelief turned to belief when Jesus appeared. But Jesus clarifies that Thomas' received a benefit we will not receive--visual evidence. Why? Why did Thomas get the empirical evidence he demanded?

Thomas' story serves as evidence to us that Jesus was indeed alive after being brutally crucified and killed. The appearance of Jesus instantly turned non-believing Thomas into a believer who passionately declared, "My Lord and my God!" Jon Bloom comments, "Thomas had been chosen by Jesus to be a unique authoritative witness of his resurrection (Acts 1:22) — that’s why Thomas was granted the gift of seeing Jesus with his physical eyes." God has used Thomas to build the faith of millions of believers over the centuries!

Faith is a gift from God. God is working all things for His glory. With this knowledge, be bold and confident in your witness for Jesus. Many won't believe. Some, like Thomas, will demand proof. But our job is to lift up Jesus, regardless of the outcome. And I would guess that much of our reluctance to speak Jesus to others is rooted in our lack of faith. But for that, there is grace. Join me in praying right now, "Jesus, increase my faith," and go live as a humble hero for the Kingdom of God.