BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE WITHOUT SEEING

PROCLAMATION

“Then saith He to Thomas, ‘Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side …’  And Thomas answered and said unto Him, ‘My Lord and my God.’  Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ ”  John 20:27-29 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and His post resurrection appearances to Mary and to His disciples.  Mary Magdalene was the first to get to the tomb, and first to see that the body of Jesus was not there. (Mark 16:1-8) Then Peter and John went into the tomb and saw that the linen, which Jesus had been wrapped in, was lying where they had laid Him. (John 20:1-10)  After the men left, Jesus appeared to Mary who was standing outside of the tomb weeping. (John 20:11-17)  Later, Jesus appeared to His disciples but Thomas was absent. (John 20:19-24)  Jesus appeared to His disciples again eight days later when Thomas was present. (John 20:26-29)  Thomas had said that he would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw Him for himself, and he saw the print of the nails in His hands. (John 20:25)  When Jesus appeared to them the second time, Thomas believed in His resurrection because he saw the evidence for himself.  Then Jesus offered a special blessing for those of us who would believe in Him and the resurrection without seeing the evidence. (John 20:26-29)

 

APPLICATION

Some people will only believe that which they see for themselves.  There is an empty tomb where they laid the body of Jesus, The Christ, with the linen just as it was when they wrapped His body in it, to provide proof that He lives.  However, those who do not believe will not accept this as evidence.  After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, (Matthew 28:9, Mark 16:9, Luke 24:9-10, and John 20:14-18) to Cleopas and the man walking with him on the road to Emmaus, (Luke 24:13-34) and to His disciples. (John 20:19-24 and 20:26-29 and 21:4-14)  Jesus showed Himself to be alive, and He appeared to them multiple times over a period of forty days before ascending to heaven on a cloud. (Acts 1:3)  Blessed are those of us who believe in His virgin birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection without having seen the evidence. (John 20:29)