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In the evening on the very day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, “when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  After He said this, He showed them His hands and side.  The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”  (John 20:19-20).

The Gospel writer John makes a point of telling us that “Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus came.”  (John 20:24).

“Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”  But he said, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.” 

(John 20:24-25).

For Thomas, it was a matter of “Seeing is Believing.”  “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.  (John 20:25).

A week later His disciples were in the house again.  And, ‘this time’ Thomas was with them.” (John 20:26).

“Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side.  Stop doubting and believe.”  (John 20:26-27).

   Although Jesus extends this invitation to Thomas, there is no indication in Scripture that Thomas acted on it.  Thomas said to Jesus:  “My Lord and my God!”  (John 20:28).  The Doubter had become the great Shouter!:

“My Lord and my God.”

“Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are those who have not seen Me and yet believe in Me.”   (John 20:29). 

This is the “exact place” where you and I come in to this account in Scripture!! (John 20:29) – “Blessed are those who have not seen Me and yet believe in Me.”  – so that, “Believing is Seeing.”

The Bible says, (Hebrews 11:1):  “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

The apostle Peter writes:  “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”  (1 John 3:2).

Happy Easter!  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.