John 20:28 - Blessed Are The Believers with Doubts
There is not an unbelieving word, or, an unbelieving thought, that isn’t known by Christ. In this passage the Lord Jesus is pleased to make himself known to Thomas, rather than leave him in his unbelief. We have come to know this disciple of Jesus as Doubting Thomas. I sometimes feel like he got a bad rap for something that I’m guilty of every day. The scripture says he was not present when Jesus had appeared to the others and, rightfully so, couldn’t believe his ears when they professed to have seen Him. Thomas’ last vision of Jesus was of Him beaten, humiliated and dying on a cross. And now he is to believe that Jesus was alive again?
How many times have you heard of God doing the miraculous and find yourself doubting His sovereignty. How many times have you experienced the faithfulness of God and find yourself questioning His timing. It is not uncommon to experience the life changing presence of God in our lives and yet we still doubt His infinite love for us and grace towards us. I will believe it when I see it, Thomas says. Show me first God, and then I will believe. We place conditions on our belief while God has no restrictions to His love. Jesus shows grace towards Thomas even in this moment of unbelief by telling him to place his finger in the wounds. Jesus essentially tells Thomas, I know you struggle, that’s why I want to meet you in your struggle. He gives Thomas exactly what he needs to revive his faith again. And that’s the beauty and grace of God isn’t it. That he will meet you in your unbelief so that you can believe again.
Sometimes, we need our belief in Christ, to be strengthen by God. We often live lives full of Christ but sometimes don’t allow our lives to align with Christ. We don’t always allow the King of Kings to rule over our lives. We turn a bad day into a pity party. That anxious feeling into a medical emergency. Our faith in God and our believe of the truth of Christ needs to not be fleeting or compromised. We must change our mindset.
We must allow for God to take over our whole lives. We spoke of carrying your cross and letting go of your old self. That’s what having faith is. This faith can be minute, but it must at least be. Christ isn’t asking for an arm and a leg. He wants you to be his arms and legs. He wants a commitment. Not just when we’re down and out. Not just when we prayed and received the blessing. He wants the in between times as well. The time when everything is just going OK. He wants to be considered first and last. Your first thought, your last thought, and every thought in between. The true gift of salvation cannot be measured or felt. It’s not tangible. We can’t touch the garment of Christ as he walks by, we can’t feel the touch of Jesus as he heals our ailment. Like Thomas we can’t put our hands in his wounds. Our proof is in His miracles and our quality of life. Our relationships. Our ups and downs. Jesus Christ is still here holding it all together for us.
Jesus closes this encounter with a blessing. Thomas had the benefit of grace and believing because he felt Jesus’ wounds. But Jesus calls those who believe without this experience blessed. Blessed are those who hold on to their faith despite not feeling the presence. Blessed are those who cling to hope despite not seeing the miracle. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord even when His will does not align with ours. Jesus calls us blessed, when we can stand on our faith in Him, while facing the reality of doubt. Jesus almost echoes his own words from the sermon on the mount. “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God...”
-DW