THINK TOGETHER.
Do you have any doubts or questions about Jesus?
READ TOGETHER.
John 20:24-29. 24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “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.” 26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Because of this passage of scripture, Thomas is often called “Doubting Thomas.” Or sometimes we call people a “Doubting Thomas.” Have you ever heard that before?
But Thomas was only saying what millions and millions of people still say – I won’t believe it unless I SEE it. To be fair, all the other disciples have already seen the resurrected Jesus. They’ve hugged him, and kissed his cheek, and ate fish with him. But somehow Thomas missed seeing Jesus for eight long days after he resurrected.
Then, in all of his grace and mercy, Jesus appeared to Thomas and gave him what his heart needed. He gave Thomas a chance to see, to touch, and to believe. How did Thomas respond? With one of the greatest declarations about Jesus ever – My Lord and my God. Thomas worshiped Jesus as God, and Jesus let him. Why? Because Jesus IS God.
I’ve heard people say, I won’t believe in God unless he comes down from heaven and appears to us. But that’s exactly what God did. Jesus IS God who left Heaven and appeared to us. Walked with us. Talked with us. Ate with us. Died for us. Rose for us. And then appeared, walked, talked, and ate with us some more after his resurrection. You see, what Thomas needed to see in order to believe, Jesus did. He physically appeared to Thomas. And Jesus still appears to us, just not physically like he did to Thomas.
How does Jesus appear to us today? First, he appears to us in the word of God, the Bible. When we read the Bible or hear the Bible taught to us, we are hearing and seeing Jesus. Second, Jesus appears to us in one another. Because Jesus lives inside of each and every Christian, when we see what Jesus is doing inside of each other, we are seeing Jesus. This is also why Jesus taught us that when we love and serve each other, we are loving and serving him.
Jesus said, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. We haven’t seen Jesus physically, not yet. But one day we will. Until that day let’s worship him for who he is – My Lord and my God.
Because of Jesus we can worship God, including Jesus himself.
With Jesus we get to see God inside of each other.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Talk together about any doubts you have about Jesus? It’s OK to have doubts and questions, but we must also be open to hearing and seeing Jesus and what he claims about himself – I am your lord and your God.
PRAY TOGETHER
Father, you are God and so is Jesus. Help me to see Jesus in the word and in others, and help me to see you in Jesus. Amen.
TLICfamily 